BEFORE I DIE

TITLE: BEFORE I DIE
AUTHOR: JENNY DOWNHAM
Pages: 327
Date: 15/09/2008
Grade: 5
Library

On the back cover of this novel it says: "an extraordinary book", and it truly is.
16 year old Tessa has been fighting leukemia for years, but has now reached the terminal stages. She makes a list of things to do before she dies, starting off with sex.
But she soon finds out that you don't always get something just because you want it, and that when you do get it, it might not be what you imagined or what you need. By the same token though, sometimes you get things you didn't even know you wanted, or didn't think available.
Although this is of course a sad story (no miracle cures), it's not a depressing read. It is honest, and eye-opening and very much worth the time it takes to read and reflect on it.