Breath

March 1, 2013
Death speaks, and Xander Atwood listens in this conclusion to a gripping, if uneven series. Xander has been accepted to colleges, welcomed a baby brother and finally worked up the courage to ask out Riley Jones. Or has he? The day after an alcohol-fueled party, Xander wakes up to find Death on his balcony. Xander hates heights, but he leans out to coax Death off the ledge to tell his story. Neither Death nor Xander is a reliable narrator, but Death's cinematic celebration of human evolution and Xander's booze-induced memory loss make for a riveting read. Unlike the other self-harming teenage horsemen--a cutter War, anorexic Famine and bullied Pestilence--the Pale Horseman is a deity. He recounts the creation and the evolution of mankind and confesses his loneliness and suicidal impulses. If Death dies, this world might too. Suicide, binge drinking, anorexia and other destructive behaviors are still a focus, and the tidy conclusion mimics an after-school special, but ironically, Death is a more fully realized and human character than his fellow Horsemen ever were. Death and his riders strive to bring balance, and Kessler (Loss, 2012, etc.) begins to achieve it in this series conclusion. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

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March 15, 2013
Grades 7-10 In the fourth and final title in the Riders of the Apocalypse series, Death is suicidal. Because his soul mate did not follow him into the world of sadness and dying, the Grim Reaper has decided to end it all, a decision that will mean the end of humanity. Fortunately, he doesn't consider the fact that high-school senior Xander Atwood, although similarly depressed, might worm his way into Death's heart and provide insight that could change his mind. Kessler once again highlights a common teen affliction, this time depression, in her allegory of hopelessness turned to hope. The three Riders featured in the other booksFamine, Pestilence, and Warintervene in Death's (and Xander's) deep sadness and decision to take his own life. The series is a strong and unique attempt to encourage troubled teens to consider their options and accept the help they need, while exposing all readers to the pain their friends may be experiencing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)