The Last Message Received

November 15, 2016
An anthology of final communications.Ruminating over the unpredictability and fragility of life, Trunko, the teenage creator of both the titular Tumblr and its sister site, Dear My Blank, sought submissions from the world at large to share their last interactions from meaningful relationships. Breezy breakup texts ("Please stop using my Netflix") share space with heartbreaking messages, such as one that preceded an unexpected death ("miss u like crazy glue lol") and the ominous and affecting last words before taking one's life ("I'm so sorry. Don't follow me"). This collection hauls its readers across an emotional spectrum. Utilizing a variety of typefaces and accompanied by complementary doodles, the messages are followed by expository explanations spanning pithy to page-length. Unlike Dear My Blank (2016), which was organized into categories, this companion is more loosely grouped, moving quickly and quietly back and forth between the mundane and the grave. Following the messages are anonymous comments that share how reading these pieces may have affected their contributors' lives and decisions. Since such serious topics as suicide, depression, and grief are covered, backmatter resources are particularly welcome; these include hotlines, websites, and books. The emotional gravitas on display is not to be denied. (Nonfiction. 13 & up)

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January 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-Trunko started the titular Tumblr account as a way to provide a platform for those dealing with loss. Users submit to Trunko the last messages they received from or sent to a person of significance. These messages are often fraught with emotion and explore subjects such as suicide, lost love, divorce, and death. Though most entries are brief, they are a powerful exercise in how to convey a complex backstory in only a few choice words-a number of great creative writing prompts and lessons can be mined from this collection. A variety of fonts and font sizes are used throughout, along with Ingram's illustrations, making for a visually pleasing and vibrant reading experience. VERDICT Readers will return to this volume again and again, especially those in need of a bit of reassurance about the world.-Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

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