In Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, sixteen-year-old Samantha D’Angelo has death on the brain. Her summer internship at the local newspaper has her writing obituaries instead of soaking up the sun at the beach. Between Shelby, Sam’s boy-crazy best friend; her boss Harry, a true-blue newspaper man; and AJ, her fellow “intern scum” (aka the cute drummer for a band called Love Gas), Sam has her hands full. But once she figures out what—or who—is the best part of her summer, will she mess it all up?

As Sam learns her way around both the news room and the real world, she starts to make some momentous realizations about politics, ethics, her family, romance, and most important—herself.

A Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year for 2014

“It’s easy to fall for Sam’s self-deprecating wit, go-getter enthusiasm, occasional stumbles, and fascination with boys; her dedication to the imperiled newspaper and her eccentric colleagues will endear her to readers, too. A satisfying office romance set against the backdrop of tight deadlines and a changing media landscape.” —Publishers Weekly

“A smart, compact, and pleasurable read.” —Booklist

“Doktorski has written a satisfying novel that readers will enjoy. There are no superheroes or fairies here—just good, everyday people dealing with day-to-day issues as life presents them, learning about love, trust, and honesty.” —VOYA

“Something of a love note to print journalism. . . . Snappy and contemporary, furthered by Sam’s wry, self-deprecating narration and convincingly colloquial dialogue. Cleverly titled, realistically written, and on the whole engaging and sympathetic, this story rings true.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Famous Last Words is sweet and fun with just the right amount of poignancy.” –Carrie Arcos, National Book Award finalist author of Out of Reach.

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 

Published: July 2, 2013