Before You Die...

Okay, that sounds really morbid, and it kind of is. There is a terrific new high school-level book by Jenny Downham called Before You Die, about a girl who is dying from a terminal illness. Tessa creates a list of things she wants to do before she dies, and they aren't small things like see the ocean or fly on a plane. Nope, it's stuff like have sex and steal something. Along the way, she also falls in love and faces other, unexpected situations. This heartbreaking book provides a realistic sense of the issues, challenges and triumphs when faced with terminal illness. I recommend listening to the audio version if you can, and definitely keep the kleenex nearby.