“The first time I saw the Bionic Man I was covered in sparkles.”

From Susin Nielsen’s Optimists Die First.

Petula and her parents used to live a happy life full of adventure, but in a few years since her young sister’s death, she has decided to live on the side of caution, and statistics, and safety.  Always.  Where her life used to be filled by crafts with her (former) best friend, now Petula’s main hobby is collecting news articles about terrible accidents from around the world which further fuels her many phobias.  But that all begins to change when she meets Jacob in her school therapy group.  This transfer student is all the things that Petula isn’t, most noticeably an outgoing optimist.  Jacob has a love for filmmaking so he convinces the other members of the therapy group (Alonzo with this failed suicide attempt, the alcoholic Koula, and the lonely young Ivan) to create videos to help them heal.  As Petula deals with trouble at home (mainly trying to keep her parents from fighting while also keeping her mom from bringing home any more rescue cats) she begins to fall for Jacob and his dangerously optimistic outlook on life.  While working together to film the make-amends videos, Petula begins to form unexpected friendships with the other members of her group and with Jacob’s help she may finally be ready to face her past… but her past is not the only one that will threaten Petula’s happiness.

While many readers will be drawn to the book because of its similarities to John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down with young lovers struggling with mental health, Nielsen does a solid job of keeping her story unique.  The attitude and spunk of the main character is a constant enjoyment throughout the book, while also being an honest way to develop the character.  Optimists Die First is a fun read that highlights the impact of grief and forgiveness.