num_pages: 240
description: Life ahead: Proceed with caution. Sixteen-year-old Petula De Wilde is anything but wild. A family tragedy has made her shut herself off from the world. Once a crafting fiend with a happy life Petula now sees danger in everything from airplanes to ground beef. The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class. She has nothing in common with this small band of teenage misfits except that they all carry their own burden of guilt.When Jacob joins their ranks he seems so normal and confident. Petula wants nothing to do with him or his prosthetic arm. But when theyre forced to collaborate on a unique school project she slowly opens up and he inspires her to face her fears.Until a hidden truth threatens to derail everything.
language: English
title: Optimists Die First
publisher: Wendy Lamb Books