Adam Silvera

4 Sad Stars

There’s nothing like this kind of story to really put things into perspective - that we all know we should live life to the fullest, to not sweat the small things, and to never take anything for granted. It’s cliche but oh so true.

Definitely morbid in the set up, Mateo and Rufus live in a world where you’re notified of your death approximately 24 hours before it happens, and both these boys get the dreaded late night call that they won’t live to see another day. What unravels is the eternal question of whether or not knowing really is the best thing or really the worst thing ever and the desperate struggle between denying and accepting the truth. It’s quite the mind boggling, anxiety inducing premise and horribly tragic all at the same time.

So despite the spoilery title, this was still a poignant tale of Mateo and Rufus trying to live their last few hours on earth to the best of their ability, to fulfill some wishes and dreams, and to die knowing they made a special connection.

Bittersweet as this comes full circle with a crazy self-fulfilling prophesized destiny, the storytelling was impressive and had me at the edge of my seat, fretting over how this would end for our dear protagonists, hoping against hope that these two would subvert the inevitable.

Painful but worth it.

Every new minute we’re alive is a miracle

… (meer)

“I kiss the guy who brought me to life on the day we’re going to die.”

Mateo, a Puerto Rican teen, feels completely alone in life. The guilt for his mother's death looms as a constant shadow in every aspect of his life. And things have only gotten worse recently—his father is in a coma. Today was surely the cherry on top when he received the call he had been terrified of all his short life; Death-Cast had called, and he would die today.

Rufus, a Cuban American, is an orphan in a group home. A new reality he had been working to accept over the recent months. In his new home, Rufus created a friendship circle that became family to him—the Plutos. The Plutos always had his back, including tonight when he rearranged another kid's face for dissing him. Rufus had his fist pulled back when the all-knowing ringer rumbled from his pocket. Ironically, the notification of his pending death from Death-Cast is what saved the other kid's life.

“You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.”

Two teens, lost between boys and men, search for someone who understands their feelings of looming death. They create profiles on the Last Friend app and take a chance on friendship. The teens vow to be better versions of themselves and finally live in the little time they have left.

“My Last Message would be to find your people. And to treat each day like a lifetime.”

Together, Rufus and Mateo battle grief, but in the dwindling hours, they find acceptance, friendship, and love.
I am not going to lie. I was really rooting for these two and hoping the title wasn’t, in fact, the end.

It was odd that only parts of society were advanced. For example, society could predict death and simulate experiences, but everything else in the world was pretty much the same. It just seems like all levels of technology would have advanced to be more science fiction. But maybe the writer didn’t do this because he thought it would shift the area of focus away from the young teens.

I was proud of the changes in both characters; there was a lot of character development in less than 24 hours. It wasn’t until I got closer to the end that I recognized the foreshadowing of their deaths. If you are searching for an action-packed book, this isn’t for you. If you want the nostalgic deep feels of young teenage angst and the helplessness of our mortal demise, this is for you.

These characters don’t necessarily ‘live’ their last moments in life going on a quest for an achievement but on a journey inside themselves. They live through self-acceptance, internal growth, love, and shared moments. It's funny how we think we need all the material things, but when it comes down to our last moments, what we really ache for is the stuff we can’t buy; moments with friends and family, happiness, and above all else—love.… (meer)