



Your Final Moments
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A heartbreaking story of suicide, addiction, and hard truths from acclaimed author Jay Coles, for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, You’ve Reached Sam, They Both Die at the End, and Tiffany D. Jackson.
Hakeem goes to Narcotics Anonymous meetings to keep his addictions in check. But when his best friend Miles kills himself, Hakeem finds the days harder and harder to get through. He loved Miles -- maybe even loved loved him -- and he's haunted by the fact that there might have been something he could have done to ease his friend's pain. He meets a girl named Eliza in his NA meetings, and she is there for him when something truly out-there happens... Hakeem calls Miles's old phone number. And Miles not only calls back from beyond the grave, but has news to share: He didn’t kill himself. He was murdered.
Finding out the truth about Miles might end up helping Hakeem find his way to his own truth... and further strength to stay alive himself. But as his relationship with Eliza grows, other cracks begin to show... and holding his world together may be even harder than he thought it would be.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A grieving high schooler must uncover the circumstances of his best friend's death in this haunting speculative novel by Coles (Things We Couldn't Say). Nothing seems to matter to Hakeem after his best friend Miles dies by suicide. Grief over Miles's death—and internalized guilt around Hakeem's belief that he should have been able to prevent it—impacts Hakeem's ability to manage a substance dependency. While attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, he befriends Eliza, who self-harms to cope with her emotions about her incarcerated father and brother. Then Hakeem receives a phone call from Miles in the afterlife; he tells Hakeem that he "didn't walk in front of the bus. Someone pushed me." Seeking answers, Hakeem enlists Eliza in his investigation into Miles's apparent murder, but he must confront his unresolved feelings for Miles as Hakeem and Eliza grow closer. A somewhat predictable mystery plotline is enriched by sensitive depictions of Hakeem's substance use as well as his frank questioning and exploration of his sexual identity. The inclusion of excerpts from Miles's journal, through which Hakeem learns about his friend's secrets and personal challenges, adds heft to emotionally honest discussions of grief and moving on from one's past. Hakeem and Miles are Black; Eliza has "clear eggshell skin." Ages 14–up.