The Living

• Genre: Fiction; young adult thriller/adventure
• Originally Published: 2013
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 700L; grades 9-12
• Structure/Length: 8 parts (“Days”); 51 chapters; approx. 364 pages; approx. 8 hours on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: American high school student Shy Espinoza takes a summer job on a cruise ship to help with family bills after the death of his grandmother, a victim of the epidemic known as Romero Disease. A series of strange events on the ship, such as witnessing a man’s death by suicide, discovering an unidentified man following him, and finding his cabin broken into, leave Shy mystified. When a terrible earthquake and subsequent tsunamis destroy the ship, Shy finds himself a castaway on a remote island home to LasoTech, creators of the Romero Disease vaccine. Amidst danger and intrigue, the truth begins to emerge.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Epidemic; death by suicide; murder; violence; natural disaster

Matt de la Peña, Author

• Bio: Writer of children’s picture books, short fiction, young adult novels, and essays; completed MFA in Creative Writing at San Diego University; earned the National Council of Teachers of English Intellectual Freedom Award (2016); a picture book, Last Stop on Market Street, earned the Newbery Medal (2016)
• Other Works: Mexican Whiteboy (2008); We Were Here (2009); Superman: Dawnbreaker (2019)
• Awards: Pura Belpré Award (2013)