Last Words

Gr 7-10–Claire Winters witnesses a suicide on the Lion’s Gate Bridge one afternoon as she’s out taking pictures. The boy, Will, apologizes to her before handing her his phone and jumping to his death. Claire tries to reckon with the tragedy, but struggles with the admission that she’s been deeply scarred by this event. The book follows Claire’s journey to uncover the mystery behind Will’s death, and the people she meets along the way. Life lessons handed down from friends, family members, and community leaders—through poetry, touches of mysticism, and paranormal readings—are unnatural and add little. The story jumps around a lot, while various characters blend together. There are many clichés, dated tropes, and unnecessary plot diversions. With the book’s heavy-handed message and superficial characters, it’s hard to sympathize with Claire’s struggle.