The End.

by kieeau309

*SPOILERS*

They Both Die at the END.

The ending of They Both Die at the End was expected still left me shocked and in suspense, since it never really states what actually happens to Rufus at the end. But there is a death scenario implied just not said. This being the possibility that Victor bumped him while passing the street across from the diner, since moments before the end Victor comes back into the story and is rushing from the diner. In a car, obviously. Yet, it never does announce Rufus’s death this can give us the opportunity to be creative and create many different scenarios because he could have died in any way.

There was many different transformations going on through-out the book. This being mainly Mateo’s change, since in the end he becomes vastly different to the beginning of the book Mateo. At the start, Mateo was a very socially-awkward, introverted, and shy teenage boy who prefers being home rather than going out with friends which he doesn’t have much of. One, actually, he has one friend. Not including his dad. This changes all because of Rufus. Rufus convinces Mateo on their last day to make the most out of it, since it is their last 24 hours they shall ever have. Mateo becomes more loosened up and comfortable once out of the house and doing things with Rufus. The difference between beginning Mateo and ending Mateo is so drastic that I don’t even think Mateo would believe it.

Overall, the ending of They Both Die at the End is a great way to end the story. I personally really enjoyed it and found it satisfying evening though they did both die at the end.

Tone Switches

by kieeau309

*SPOILER WARNING*

In “They Both Die at the End”, there are many times where the tone switches very quickly during different types of situations. The book includes many different tones through out, since there are many characters and other stories going on aside from the main one being Mateo and Rufus’s end day.

One of the tone switches in the novel is when Rufus, Mateo, and Lidia decide to go to a dance club and meet up with Rufus’s pals. Before this tone switch Lidia and Mateo were having a sympathetic, passionate moment together and during this Mateo wants Lidia to tell him everything will be okay without him, but Lidia cannot do this because she does not know if things will be okay. All of a sudden Mateo feels that something is not right and notices that Peck – the guy Rufus jumped – and his gang of friends was there with a gun. The tone was mournful and melancholic but then becomes amiss and shaken due to the sudden conflict caused by Peck and his gang. 

“Please lie to me,” I say [Mateo] “Come on, tell me you’ll keep moving. Penny needs you at one hundred percent, and I need to know you’ll be strong enough to take care of the future global leader.” “Damn it, I can’t-” “Something is wrong,” I say [Mateo]. My heart is pounding, Aimee is standing between Rufus and the Plutos and three guys who are yelling over her” (323).

Another tone switch in the story that I find very intriguing is when Mateo and Rufus are chilling together at Mateo’s then Mateo decides to make tea for them, but something suddenly happens once Mateo turns on the oven element causing the tone to switch. The tone is originally very hopeful and pleasant, but then instantaneously becomes serious, somber, and despairing. 

”I set the pot over the stove’s burner and check the cabinets for tea selections and decide on peppermint. When I switch on the burner my chest sinks with regret. Even when you know death is coming, the blaze of it all is still sudden” (347).

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

The Significance of the Photos in They Both Die at the End

by kieeau309

In “They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera the photographs posted on Instagram by Rufus are a symbol for life. Before Rufus and Mateo met on their “End Day” Rufus would only post photos in black in white since his life “lost colour” after his family passed. But after meeting Mateo and truly “living life” he began to post his photos in full colour showing that he is really living life.

This symbol of life is significant because this connects to the course theme “Making Meaning”, the full coloured photos representing life shows how Rufus is making meaning with the rest of the time he has left.

The style of text in They Both Die at the End

by kieeau309

In They Both Die at the End, the text is usually using “everyday speech”. The book is mainly told through character dialogue or the thoughts of a certain person.

But it also has a use of text messages at the beginning of the book. On pages 74-75 it shows messages between Mateo and Rufus showing when their relationship starts forming. The use of text messages also shows how social media is a big thing during their time period, which is 2015. 

Overall, Adam Silvera uses everyday speech and social media to show how their setting – which has a different society than ours – connects to our current life, and can find the text relatable in different ways. Without this style, the book would’ve had a totally different tone, and mood, and even change the entire meaning of the book.

 

Conflict: struggle between opposing forces

by kieeau309

The main conflict in They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, is that they both die at the end. Not surprising, but the two main characters; Mateo and Rufus have a conflict of dying at the end of September 5, 2017. 

This conflict is what created the entire idea of the book. Without the conflict of dying at the end, this book simply wouldn’t have initiated.

How Setting Can Affect the Text

by kieeau309

In They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, setting can be seen as a symbol – “two boys sitting in a cemetery as it begins drizzling” (221). The rain can symbolize how Mateo is truly feeling about this day and all the emotions that are in it or how much he has grown as a person through out this day or even just a serene moment with Rufus.

These symbols can change how someone feels about this chapter of the book. They can see it as a sad and important moment between Mateo and Rufus or just a “casual” conversation with a friend 

novel intro

by kieeau309

My novel I am reading in this course is They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. I chose this book, because it has an interesting title, explaining what will happen at the end. The first few sentences are filled with an overthinking and anxious mind, since he did just get told he’ll be dying today, which is a very “hooking” start of a book making the reader curious to how he’ll manage this and spend the rest of his day. The protagonists of TBDATE is Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who are both facing the same conflict of dying on that day. 

aloha

by kieeau309

My name is Kiera and I’m from Manitouland Island. I am currently in grade 10 and am interested in psychology. The thing that excites me most about this school year is having art, science, and computer technology <pretty sure it’s called> next semester. The course themes really catch my attention, because they’re connected to the “real world”. Since, in the “real world” there is a lot of choices to be made, making sense of the world/making meaning of life, and the different values and beliefs in cultures.