Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark and light battle over teen guitarist in thrilling tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
People are starting to flock from far and wide to small-town, backwoods Minnesota, where metal band LAST THINGS -- high school seniors all -- is tearing it up at a local coffeehouse every Friday. Most of the fuss is about lead guitarist Anders Thorson, who's bursting with creative energy from his songwriting to his solos, trying to come to terms with the sudden adulation, and increasingly worried that it all seems to go back to a mysterious guy who'd promised him everything he'd ever wanted and handed him a guitar. Anders isn't the only one who's worried. Some would-be protectors know exactly what sinister forces are in play and are determined not to let them have Anders -- but being a drunk, crazy old lady and her weird teen niece, they may not be up to the task.
Is It Any Good?
Jacqueline West's vivid, page-turning fantasy features a Minnesota teen guitarist who may have inadvertently sold his soul -- and the unlikely light warriors trying to keep the dark forces at bay. Two narrators -- Anders, the guitarist, and Thea, his oddball classmate who's quite a bit more than she seems -- are complex, relatable, and trying to do the right thing in a world full of invisible powers at play in the everyday world. Along the way, there are many emotional punches, like this one:
"But they aren't my band anymore.
"I still can't wrap my head around this. It's like learning your mom isn't actually your mom, and that she'll never be hugging you or helping you with anything again, and she'd really like it if you moved out of her house ASAP."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the storytelling theme of people who sell their souls to the devil (or some other dark force), as happens in Last Things. Why do you think this theme is so popular? Do you think there's a lesson that applies to everyday life?
Do you like heavy metal? Who are your favorite bands and artists?
In Last Things, several characters turn out to be quite different -- for good or ill -- from your first impression of them. Has this happened with people you know in real life? Did the person turn out to nicer -- or meaner -- than you expected?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Greenwillow
- Publication date : May 7, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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