Before I Die by Jenny Downham

.. And this marks my first post of the year. Yay.

Tessa Scott is a young British girl of sixteen- and is no different to the average teenager. Except for the fact that she is on an express train to her death.

Doomed with leukemia at the age of thirteen, Tessa, three years later, has only a couple of months to live. Instead of rotting away in her bed she tries her hardest to make life something she won't regret- while battling with her cancer she puts together all the things she has always wanted to do on her Ten Things To Do Before I Die list. Number one is sex. Drugs, shoplifting, falling in love follow. Tessa knows it's the only thing that will keep her alive.

(The scenes aren't inappropriate, despite what I wrote!)

With her pregnant best friend Zoey's help, Tessa manages to get through all ten things on her list before her time finally runs out. She also manages to renew her rocky relationship with her estranged mother, father and little brother Cal while also getting to know her new boyfriend Adam. Tessa tries to make it easy for her family to finally accept her fast approaching death.

There were a few particularly painful scenes in the book. When her boyfriend Adam goes on a college interview, Tessa breaks down because everyone she loves has a future while she only has a few days left over and realizes that everyone will inevitably move on after her death. She is reminded of this later in the novel when best friend Zoey gets nearer to her due date- that the new life always follows death. Tessa then struggles to be there in time for Zoey's baby, but fails.

The most heartbreaking scenes were at the very last of the book. Tessa is seen counting her days and leaving 'Further Instructions' for everyone, including Adam, her parents, Cal, Zoey and her baby soon to be born. In the instructions she talks about her funeral arrangements and their life after her death. In her final moments, brother Cal is seen saying good-bye to her, 'giving permission' for her to die. The book ends with Tessa thanking everyone for such a blessed life.

This book was written by a middle-aged British lady, which I was surprised to find- mostly because it was as if a sixteen-year-old had actually penned the book. Before I Die isn't your usual chick flick but much deeper and moving, the kind which actually touches your heart... And no, I don't usually go around saying that to a random book. This is a book I won't soon forget.

.. and by all means READ IT !