The BookThe book has the more downbeat title of "Before I Die" but with a quote from Heat magazine saying "A book that will make you happy to be alive".
The story is of sixteen year old Tessa who has been diagnosed with leukemia and given a few months left to live. She draws up a Bucket List of many of the things that you would expect to be typical behaviour for a teenager living today - sex, shop-lifting, driving, become famous. Not being a teenager, some of these immediately grated with my programmed social norms!
The author does a very good job through first person narrative of putting you into Tessa's short-term life view and priorities and there is empathy there. I did find myself feeling more sorry for the family and friends that would be left behind, however.
The most affecting piece for me was where she learns that her boyfriend Adam has been making long term plans behind her back - going to University - and she sets about destroying all her clothes and possessions in a frenzy of anger and frustration. Her father comes in to her room and calls her a monster, as she is leaving nothing intact behind as an object to remind him of her.
