They Both Die at the End

Though Part 3 is located halfway through the book, it is titled “The Beginning.” Why? What changes have taken place that might make this a kind of beginning? Discuss them in terms of both Mateo’s and Rufus’ character evolution.

Unpack the following quote: “But no matter what choices we make—solo or together—our finish line remains the same […] No matter how we choose to live, we both die at the end” (79). How does this quote encapsulate the book’s themes about mortality and living without regret? How do those themes intersect with the concept of free will?

Mateo undergoes a transformation over the course of the novel, from someone who is scared and inhibited into—what, exactly? Chart the course of Mateo’s changes, drawing from one significant moment in each of the novel’s four parts. 

Rufus also undergoes a major character transformation over the course of the novel. How does Rufus change, and how does Mateo contribute to Rufus’ metamorphosis?

Throughout the novel, there is a sub-plot involving actor Howie Maldonado and journalist Delilah Grey. What is the purpose of this storyline? Analyze this sub-plot in terms of the book’s themes concerning mortality and technology.  

Throughout the novel, there are minor characters—from Vin Pearce to Delilah Grey—all of whom peripherally touch Mateo and Rufus’ lives. How do these minor characters contribute to the novel? What is the author trying to say about interconnectedness?

What is the meaning of “The Gang with no Name,” featured in Chapter 67? Examine each of the individual members, and explain how they fit in with larger themes of social disenfranchisement among teenagers of color.

Ironically, Mateo dies in Chapter 78 from an unforeseen danger lurking in his apartment, when a gas leak causes his stove to explode in flames. How does the irony of this moment underscore lessons about mortality and living without regret?