The Last Summer Of The Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork
D.Q. is dying from a physical illness. Pancho is dying from a soul illness. They are thrown together due to circumstances outside of both of their control and the following weeks are weeks in which both boys learn just what it means to be a Death Warrior.
What is a Death Warrior? Put aside all those pictures in your mind you might have of teenage boys with weapons out on a rampage. These boys are learning what it means to battle death – the big Death. They are learning what it takes most people years upon years to learn and, as usual, Francisco Stork tells the story so perfectly well I found myself walking away from the book with a renewed sense of faith and purpose – seriously, what is it about this guy?
Like Marcelo in the Real World, this story is one that kids need to read. There’s so much happening out there in the world and so many ways to make a difference. At one point in this book, D.Q. talks about how the first rule to being a Death Warrior is that you are not allowed to whine. Whining is not allowed in any form, including that little voice inside of you that complains that no one hears. Not allowed. There’s no use for it. And D.Q. struggles with that voice – we all struggle with that voice.
This book is beautifully written and filled with insights. I loved it, but for different reasons than I loved Marcelo. Marcelo made me really think about the corruption of a pure soul and how tragic it can be. Death Warriors took a corrupt soul in Pancho and began a path of redemption with it. Both are excellent novels and should be read and recommended.
