The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair By Michael F. Stewart

‘The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair’ is the latest book by Michael F. Stewart.

Seventeen years old. Rich. Hot. Captain of the Drone War team. Head prefect of a surreally elite boarding school. Tremmy is dying.His illness strips everything from him—including the support of his teachers and friends who once nurtured his bright future. Worst of all, his best friend’s meteoric rise has come at the expense of Tremmy’s spectacular fall. Far from going out with the bang he’d hoped for, Tremmy faces betrayal. But his illness has the power to expose the best as well as the worst of his school, his friends, and himself. Tremmy sets out to prove that the community he loves has to overcome its fear of death in order to truly begin to live. And Tremmy receive the momentous end he so fervently desires.

For a book that is marketed towards young adults, this book is hard hitting and reactive, so it’s good that it comes with a warning.

The story is seen through 17 year old Tremendous Sinclair, he’s got his whole life in front of him only to be diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. Once the popular and successful boy of the school, he’s been moved to the shadows as people fear dying is catching and all Tremmy wants to do is spend his last days with his friends.

This book is quite the emotional rollercoaster. I found Tremmy to be a fascinating character, now dying he has a fascination with death and wants to able to control his remaining time. As much as he fears death, he’s frank and honest and regularly rebuffs his parents idea of miracles happening. His family are extremely rich and think they can pay for a miracle. The story is a countdown to his last days and it’s terribly to read his slow demise from an athletic prefect to a frail young boy who still wants to go to school. It’s hard hitting in parts, how people rebel and behave towards him particularly the staff who describe the school as for the living and not the dying.

The book is dark in humour in parts, as Tremmy refers to his tumour as ‘Peanut’ that brings the odd smile to the readers face. It also touches on other issues such as bullying and peer pressure, these issues featured predominantly in scenes with Tremmy’s best friend Jenkins, who was jealous of Tremmy and uses Tremmy’s demise to his own advantage. He’s overpowering jock who doesn’t realise his actions until they are almost too late and he was least likeable character in the story.

This story is a story of courage, that really connects with the reader. The lead character is just starting out in life and instead of looking forward to university, is looking for help with assisted suicide and this really is sad reading. It’s also a reflective story as Tremmy makes amends for his wrong doings and apologises for his past behaviour.

Hard hitting, honest and poignant ‘The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair’ is a tough read about no matter the wealth or class in life, everyone has an expiration date.

You can buy ‘The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.