The Living

Although some may call Matt de la Peña’s newest novel, The Living (Delacorte Press, 2013), a commercial, fast-paced dystopian, I prefer to think of it as a quiet, character-driven novel wrapped in the warm cocoon of “high-concept.” The novel follows Shy Espinoza, a Mexican-American teen working a summer job on a luxury cruise liner. Shy needs money—he wants to help out with some of the bills at home—and when he discovers that a relative has contracted the deadly Romero Disease, he knows every little bit of money he saves will help cover medical care. Of course, as responsible as he is, Shy’s still a teenager, and he can’t help but notice a few of the girls on the cruise—especially Carmen, another half-Mexican teen with a similar background.

Then the earthquake hits, and everything changes.

While the novel is full of action and suspense, it doesn’t shortcut the real-world issues. Shy is both amazed and disturbed by how some of the guests throw around money. Whether he likes it or not, he knows how to “play the game”—to laugh at the bad jokes and smile at the rotten kids—to receive his much needed tips. However, once he and the others are fighting to survive, it’s immediately noticeable how little wealth matters.

The Living has received much acclaim, including starred reviews from Kirkus, VOYA, and Shelf Awareness. Shy’s story continues in The Hunted, forthcoming in Fall 2014.