Before I Die by Jenny Downham

I think I read these books in the wrong order. I went from a teenage girl who commits suicide to a teenage girl addicted to crystal meth to a teenage girl dying from cancer. Needless to say, quite a depressing few days. However, I did quite enjoy Tessa's story. It was a very different perspective on having a terminal illness than I have ever experienced before. Tessa is only 12-years old when she is diagnosed with leukemia. She is about 16 when the story begins. Her story deals with handling of impending death. One way she handles this fact that most adults can deal with is by creating a list of what she wants to do before she dies. At first, her list includes having sex, doing drugs, doing something illegal-all the things she feels she will miss out on experiencing. Closer to her death, the list becomes the more important things like really experiencing love and letting her family know she loves and cares about them.

Her love experience comes with the neighbor boy next door, Adam, who is always home looking after his mother who hasn't quite recovered from his father's tragic death. Tessa's family, each in their own way, have been a part of her illlness too. Her dad is the responsible parent who is always there. He takes Tessa to all of her appointments and looks for alternative ways to prolong, or even save, his daughter's life. Tessa's mom, on the other hand, is rarely present and has a hard time dealing wiht her daughter's illness. She left the family when Tessa was 12 and returned to the area when "things" got bad. Cal is Tessa's little brother. He treats her as any little brother does and is probably dealing with her illness the best out of the whole family. Along with the family is Tessa's friend, Zoey. Zoey, at the beginning, is a wild college kid up for anything and everything. She is more than willing to help Tessa accomplish the items on her list. However, Zoey experiences her own life-changing "diagnosis" when she discovers she is alone and pregnant.

Throughout the book, Tessa eloquently tells her story and feelings. Toward the end of her life, the tone of the writing changes. Her words become fewer and fewer as her body fails her.