YA review: Before I Die by Jenny Downham

If you had 8 weeks to live, and you were 16, what would you do?  Tessa decided to make a list.  Ten things the will do before she dies, and there is no doubt that she would die soon from leukemia.  Sex is at the top of the list, and drugs, and breaking the law.  But also on the list is saying yes to everything for one day... and the list gets longer.  This is definitely a book that will offend some parents, especially if passages are taken out of context.  It will offend some students.  But who can say what they would do in the same situation?  Ultimately, this is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story that will quite likely leave you in tears, affirming all the great things and blessings in your own life. For a similar and more recent story, see Wendy Wunder's Probability of Miracles.