Last Alive
A moving, unflinching novel that faces loss squarely and
never loses hope. Dawn Hart - Indies Today
Grief takes many forms in David B. Seaburn’s heartrending
novel of interconnected lives, Last Alive. Although the story follows a large
cast, their personalities are distinct, and Seaburn keeps the shifts between
them clear, so the multiple perspectives never blur together. The book is full
of soul-searching conversations and tender scenes, and one standout moment
happens when Kendall finally reveals his secret to his new friend Tyler. The
boys stand back to back while Tyler pretends to be a priest, offering Kendall
forgiveness. There’s something genuinely heartbreaking about watching a child
carry adult-sized guilt and hand it to another child to help bear the burden.
The story’s pacing is steady and grounded, keeping readers engaged as it moves
through each person’s challenges. And for readers going through loss or family
difficulty, the novel offers real comfort in the realistic way each character
finds to cope. None of them heal by pulling away: Janene’s isolation costs her,
while Griffin, Kendall, and Leon each start to recover only once someone else
is let in. Calvin, having lived through his own loss years earlier, already
knows that letting others in is what makes healing possible, and it’s that
insight he passes on to Leon throughout the book. Written with a warm and kind
tone, Last Alive is a moving, unflinching novel that faces loss squarely and
never loses hope.
Dawn Hart
Indies Today
