They Both Die at the End
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
September 5, 2017: Mateo Torrez, 12:22 a.m. Rufus Emeterio, 1:05 a.m. Mateo, 1:06 a.m. Rufus, 1:18 a.m. Mateo, 1:32 a.m. Rufus, 1:41 a.m. Mateo, 1:52 a.m. Rufus, 1:59 a.m. Mateo, 2:02 a.m. Rufus, 2:21 a.m. Mateo, 2:52 a.m. Rufus, 2:59 a.m. Mateo, 3:14 a.m. Andrea Donahue, 3:30 a.m. Rufus, 3:31 a.m. Malcolm Anthony, 3:34 a.m. Mateo, 3:42 a.m. Rufus, 4:09 a.m. Aimee Dubois, 4:17 a.m. Mateo, 4:26 a.m. Rufus, 4:46 a.m. Mateo, 4:58 a.m. Delilah Grey, 5:00 a.m. Mateo, 5:20 a.m. Rufus, 5:53 a.m. Mateo, 6:14 a.m. Rufus, 6:48 a.m.  Patrick “Peck” Gavin, 7:08 a.m.  Rufus, 7:12 a.m. Aimee Dubois, 7:18 a.m. Mateo, 7:22 a.m. Rufus, 7:53 a.m. Mateo, 8:32 a.m. Lidia Vargas, 9:14 a.m. Rufus, 9:41 a.m. Tagoe Hayes, 9:48 a.m. Kendrick O’Connell, 10:03 a.m. Mateo 10:12 a.m. Rufus, 10:39 a.m. Mateo, 10:42 a.m. Delilah Gray, 11:08 a.m. Mateo, 11:32 a.m. Mateo, 12:22 p.m. Rufus, 12:35 p.m. Delilah Grey, 12:52 p.m. Vin Pearce, 12:55 p.m. Mateo, 12:58 p.m. Rufus, 1:14 p.m. Mateo, 1:28 p.m. Rufus, 1:46 p.m. Deirdre Clayton, 1:50 p.m. Mateo, 1:52 p.m. Rufus, 2:12 p.m. Damien Rivas, 2:22 p.m. Mateo, 2:34 p.m. Zoe Landon, 2:57 p.m. Mateo, 3:18 p.m. Peck, 3:21 a.m. Mateo, 3:26 p.m. Rufus, 4:24 p.m. Officer Andrade, 4:32 p.m. Patrick “Peck” Gavin, 4:59 p.m. Rufus, 5:01 p.m.; Patrick “Peck” Gavin, 5:05 p.m. Mateo, 5:14 p.m. Howie Maldonado, 5:23 p.m. The Gang With No Name; 5:36 p.m. Delilah Gray, 5:37 p.m. Rufus, 5:39 p.m. Mateo, 5:48 p.m. Rufus, 5:59 p.m. Dalma Young, 6:20 p.m. Mateo, 6:24 p.m. The Plutos, 6:33 p.m. Rufus, 7:17 p.m. Mateo, 7:34 p.m. Rufus, 7:54 p.m. Mateo, 8:41 p.m. Rufus, 8:47 p.m. Lidia Vargas, 10:10 p.m. Delilah Grey, 10:12 p.m. Victor Gallaher, 10:13 p.m. Rufus, 10:14 p.m.
Themes
All Themes Mortality, Life, and Meaning Human Connection and Social Media Choices and Consequences Friendship and Chosen Family Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Mateo Torrez Rufus Emeterio Lidia Delilah Gray Andrea Donahue Aimee Dubois Howie Maldonado Malcolm Anthony Dad Peck/Patrick Gavin Victor Tagoe Hayes Deirdre Vin Pearce Dalma Young Mateo’s Mom Kendrick O’Connell Elizabeth Officer Andrade Gabriella Penny Rufus’s Parents Wendy Mae Sandy Guerrero Graham Olivia Zoe Landon Jenn Lori
Terms
All Terms CountDowners Death-Cast Decker End Day Herald Last Friend Make-A-Moment World Travel Arena
Symbols
All Symbols Nametags Photos Mateo’s Birth
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They Both Die at the End

by

Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End: Mateo, 12:22 p.m. Summary & Analysis

Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
Human Connection and Social Media Theme Icon
Choices and Consequences Theme Icon
Friendship and Chosen Family Theme Icon
Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Themes Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in They Both Die at the End, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
Mortality, Life, and Meaning
Human Connection and Social Media Theme Icon
Human Connection and Social Media
Choices and Consequences Theme Icon
Choices and Consequences
Friendship and Chosen Family Theme Icon
Friendship and Chosen Family
Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization
Summary
Analysis
Mateo tells the reader that 12 hours ago, he received the call saying he’s going to die. He’s said lots of goodbyes since then, none more important than the one he said to Past Mateo. Past Mateo stayed home when Rufus took the current Mateo out into the world. The boys are here together, and Mateo wants to help Rufus in any way he can. Mateo feels more alive than ever.
Having said goodbye to his mom, Mateo can now turn his attention to helping Rufus achieve his own sense of closure. As Mateo comes alive and comes to terms with his decisions, he chooses to take the words on his headstone to heart: he’s going to live for Rufus now.
Themes
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
Human Connection and Social Media Theme Icon
Choices and Consequences Theme Icon
Friendship and Chosen Family Theme Icon
Quotes
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