10% off all books and free delivery over £40
Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks.

Optimists Die First

"How to hope for the best even when you’ve been through the worst"

View All Editions

£8.99 £8.09

In Stock. Same day dispatch on orders before 3pm.

Add To Wishlist
Write A Review Read An Extract

LoveReading4Kids Says

LoveReading4Kids Says

Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award |

Susin Nielsen puts her protagonists through the most terrible situations, but always manages to keep the tone of her novels light, positive and ultimately uplifting. Teenager Petula’s little sister died in tragic circumstances and the effect on the family has been shattering: her parents are both coping in their own way, but growing further apart, while Petula sees danger and threats in everything. Because of her terrible anxiety she’s been signed up to a youth art therapy group which is where she meets Jacob. Jacob has his own tragedy to deal with, but his arrival changes the dynamics of the group and helps all the different members to move on in one way or another. He and Petula become a couple, but there’s a growing realisation for her and readers that he’s not been completely honest. Readers will be gripped by Petula’s story and the way she tells it; Nielsen gives her a totally authentic teen voice, loaded with cynicism, sarcasm, humour and flashes of hope.

Recommended for readers who enjoy Nielsen’s poignant, sensitive novels is I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloane.

Andrea Reece

Recommended Children's eBooks

Find This Book In

Suitable For:
Other Genres:
Recommendations:

About

Press Reviews

Author

More

Collections Featuring This Book

You Might Also Like...

13+ readers

Finding Phoebe

Gavin Extence

Paperback

In Stock

£8.09 £8.99

13+ readers

The World Between Us

Sarah Ann Juckes

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

13+ readers

Out of the Blue

Sophie Cameron

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

13+ readers

The Serpent King

Jeff Zentner

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

13+ readers

Tease

Amanda Maciel

Paperback

Not Available