The Fitter, Happier UnLibrarian's Blog of Young Adult Books: Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
Publish Date: September 2007
ISBN: 0385751559
Page #: 420pp
Reading Level: Young Adult
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Real Life

Subjects: Cancer, Death, Drugs, Friendship, Leukemia, Relationships, Romance, Sex, Teen Pregnancy.

Annotation:

Tessa has only a few months to live so she has made a list of things she wants to do and having sex is number one on that list.

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Tessa has a list of things to do before she dies. She has battled leukemia for four years and her chemotherapy is no longer working, leaving her angry. With that emotion she decides to be defiant and conquer a list of things she has always wanted to experience including: drugs, committing a crime, falling in love and having sex-among other things. Tessa’s relationships with her family, friends, and new boyfriend are all painfully solidified in the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out.

Megan says:

This novel is a unique coming-of-age story simultaneously dealing with death about a sixteen year old girl named Tessa. The story is revealed through Tessa's interior monologue, exposing characters who are well-developed and believable. The story is so sincere that readers might forget it is fiction and be encouraged to think about their remaining days, making a list of their own. Additionally this book brings up questions I can imagine teens would ask - how does dying feel? What if I'm not ready? What if I feel fear? That is why I would recommend this for mature young adults and/or for parents to read first or along with their teen. Conservative parents may object due to the sexual content.

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★

An Interview with Jenny Downham

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