Denton Little’s Death Date

Rubin, Lance. Denton Little’s Death Date. 2015. 352p. ISBN 9780553496963. Available at FIC RUB on the library shelves.

Science discovered a way to accurately predict someone’s death through DNA analysis, statistical predictions, actuarial tables, and secret algorithms. Just about everyone knows the date of their death. So society has evolved several rituals, including the funeral being held the day before someone dies, a death banquet, and a death watch.

Denton Little has always known that he would die early, at age 17. Unfortunately for him, this day falls on the day of his high school prom, and he will not be allowed to attend in case he were to die at the school. His death was always in the future, but now this is tomorrow. By 11:59 pm tomorrow, Denton will be dead.

The morning of his funeral, the day before his death, Denton wakes up at his best friend’s house … in his best friend’s sister’s bed … without clothes … and with a note from her asking him to make the bed when he gets up. Plagued with a massive hangover, these two events are both firsts (and most likely lasts) in Denton’s life: He got drunk, and he had sex. But now, what will his girlfriend think if she finds out?

What ensues is a hilarious ride through the last two days of Denton’s life with his best friend, from his funeral dinner where the DJ can’t remember his name to smoking weed the night before his death. But something is not quite right. What is this purple rash he has developed on his leg? And why is it slowly spreading? More importantly, why is it spreading to the two girls he had sex with? And to his best friend? Could it be what actually kills him? And why does he feel like there are people tracking him down? Why does the doctor that was there when Denton’s mother gave birth to him just before dying suddenly show up again in his life and tell him to beware of government agents?

Denton Little’s life was simple if close to its end, but now there’s a mystery at hand he needs to solve, he’s got to make things right for his best friend, his girlfriend, his first love, and the other people at school, attend prom, and avoid dying until the last possible minute on his death day. Buckle up the hearse, it will be a fast ride!

If you liked this book, you will love Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Grasshopper Jungle, both books where the protagonist is a teenage boy and does not censure his thoughts!