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“Bou-Montes’s debut will have readers hooked, with writing that is deliciously grotesque when it needs to be and beautifully emotional in exactly the right places. A surreally fascinating world and magic system that altogether make for a can’t-put-down reading experience.”

– School Library Journal, Starred Review

“A teen discovers his necromantic powers and the cost of defying death when he accidentally resurrects his ex–best friend…Forgiveness and accountability are important parts of Jaxon’s character growth, elements that pair well with the underlying themes of culture and community. Bou-Montes also includes destigmatizing representations of mental illness; Jaxon’s anxiety is sensitively woven into his characterization. A nuanced romantic thriller.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Till the Last Beat of My Heart

Written by Louangie Bou-Montes
Published by HarperCollins

When you grow up in a funeral home, death is just another part of life. But for sixteen-year-old Jaxon Santiago-Noble, it’s also part of his family’s legacy. Most dead bodies in the town of Jacob’s Barrow wind up at Jaxon’s house; his mom is the local mortician, after all. He doesn’t usually pay them much mind, but when Christian Reyes is brought in after a car accident, Jaxon’s world is turned upside down.

There are a lot of things Jaxon wishes he could have said to his once best friend and first crush. When he accidentally resurrects Christian, Jaxon might finally have that chance. But the more he learns about his newfound necromancy, the more he grasps that Christian’s running on borrowed time—and it’s almost out.

As he navigates dark, mysterious magics and family secrets, Jaxon realizes that stepping into an inherited power may also mean opening up old family wounds if he wants to keep the boy he may be falling for alive for good.

Primary ISBN: 9780063296725
Publication Date: September 2024
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 13 or older

Community Represented: ,

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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