The First to Die at the End

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2022

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-9

Part 2, Chapters 10-31

Part 3, Chapters 32-62

Part 3, Chapters 63-91

Part 4, Chapters 92-105

Part 5, Chapters 107-115

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Background

Series Context: The Death-Cast Series

The First To Die at the End is the prequel to They Both Die at the End (2017). Both novels are written by Adam Silvera, and they tackle similar themes relating to the Death-Cast service begun by Joaquin Rosa. In each novel, two gay teenagers are the protagonists, and the storyline follows those boys as they progress through one day. The First To Die at the End is different in that only one of the lead characters—Valentino—has received a call from Death-Cast, while both boys in They Both Die at the End are Deckers.

Silvera also alludes to the main characters of They Both Die at the End, as each makes two appearances in this novel. Rufus Emeterio is the son of Dr. Emeterio, who cares for Valentino and Orion, and Férnan Emeterio, and he meets Valentino and Orion at the pawn shop. Mateo Tellez Jr. is the other protagonist of They Both Die at the End, and he meets Valentino and Orion at Times Square, where they go to have their first date. Both boys receive a chapter from their perspective, in which they feel encouraged to live based on their or their parents’ interactions with Valentino and Orion. Additionally, they themselves nearly meet when Mateo begins to go up to Rufus, but Rufus rides away on his bike, not noticing the other boy getting closer to him. However, past readers of this series know that the two boys will interact on their End Days in the future.

Historical Context: September 11, 2001

Orion’s parents died when a plane crashed into the World Trade Center—also known as the Twin Towers—on September 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 were killed that day in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Their deaths are the primary reason Orion signs up for Death-Cast, as he wonders what would’ve happened if his parents had known they were going to die that day and if he would’ve at least gotten to say goodbye to them.

The tragedy on 9/11 was a distinctive moment in the lives of many New Yorkers, as Orion notes when he recounts his story to Valentino: “I’ve also learned that you can’t wait too long because if you’re not running your mouth, someone else will start running theirs to tell you their own 9/11 story […] That’s what happens when your city lives through a traumatic disaster like that” (56). In this instance, Orion is grateful that Valentino is an outsider, and it allows him to tell his story without being interrupted. Additionally, the city at the time this novel takes place is still working to open up the memorial at Ground Zero, which Orion and Valentino visit. Ultimately, this helps Orion come to terms with his parents’ deaths. The memorial itself opens up a year later, on September 11, 2011, which Orion alludes to, adding that the memorial pools being built when he and Valentino visit will also include inscriptions of the names of everyone who died in the attacks.