• Optimists Die First

  • By: Susin Nielsen
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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Optimists Die First  By  cover art

Optimists Die First

By: Susin Nielsen
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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Publisher's summary

Award-winning author Susin Nielsen has written a laugh-out-loud and heartrending novel for fans of Robyn Schneider's Extraordinary Means and Cammie McGovern's Say What You Will.

Beware: Life ahead.

Sixteen-year-old Petula de Wilde is anything but wild. A former crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula shut herself off from the world after a family tragedy. She sees danger in all the ordinary things, like crossing the street, a bug bite, or a germy handshake. She knows: Life is out to get you.

The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class with a small group of fellow misfits. Then a new boy, Jacob, appears at school and in her therapy group. He seems so normal and confident, though he has a prosthetic arm; and soon he teams up with Petula on a hilarious project, gradually inspiring her to let go of some of her fears. But as the two grow closer, a hidden truth behind why he's in the group could derail them, unless Petula takes a huge risk....

©2017 Susin Nielsen (P)2017 Listening Library

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A story of hope and despair

This story was cute. The struggle of letting go of your fears and being vulnerable is very relatable.

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