Module 2: Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Downham, Jenny. 2007. Before I die. Oxford: David Fickling Books. ISBN 978-0-385-75183-4

Before I Die by Jenny Downham is a novel set in England and tells the story of 16-year old Tessa Scott who is dying of leukemia. The novel spans the last year of Tessa's life and shows how she faces death. Tessa has a list of ten things she wants to do before she dies, and with the help of her friend Zoey, her dad, and later her boyfriend Adam, she accomplishes much on her list. Some of the things on her list are to have sex, take drugs, say yes to everything for one day, break the law, become famous, visit another country and so on. As each month passes and Tessa gets sicker and sicker, the list expands and changes as Tessa re-prioritizes what is important in life.

This is a realistic problem novel that deals with a young girl's death. The central problem to the story is Tessa's fatal diagnosis of cancer and how she is going to spend the last year of her life and meet death. Tessa's journey is written in a believable way. Throughout the story, Downham shows the reader the various stages that Tessa goes through as she grapples with dying. For example, sometimes she won't get out of bed and wallows in depression (rightly so), and other times she is gung-ho about accomplishing the tasks on her list.

The author also does a good job of showing how the supporting characters are dealing with Tessa's diagnosis. The reader can not help but feel for the father who does everything he can to fight for his daughter's life in spite of the fact that doctors have given her a terminal diagnosis. The reader's heart also goes out to Cal, Tessa's younger brother, who has had to live in the shadow of his sister's illness for four years. He loves his sister, but his anger, at times, comes out, such as when Tessa won't get out of bed one day, and he tells her that he hopes she dies while he is at school (p. 42).

Downham treats Tessa's story with respect. She does not sugarcoat her battle with cancer. In fact, she goes into realistic detail about the side-effects of leukemia and its treatment. Tessa has to deal with nosebleeds, passing out, blood transfusions, leg pain, and so on. In spite of some of the dark and depressing moments in the novel, Downham tempers them with Tessa's hope and with her still wanting to be loved and not be alone, even in the face of certain death. Thankfully, Tessa meets and falls in love with Adam, and he helps see her through her illness and sticks around until the end.

I recommend this book for teens and even young adults. It deals with an important subject that is universal to all humankind, and one review in a December 24, 2007 edition of Publishers Weekly describes this book as a "luminous story," and a January 1/15, 2008 Book List book review describes the story as being told in "clear, beautiful words." On March 1, 2008, Booklist followed up its previous review of this novel by calling Before I Die a "fierce, devastating novel" that explores "end-of-life realities with honesty and grace." In spite of my recommendation, I must caution that this book should be used for independent reading and not as assigned curriculum because there are definite aspects to the book that will invite censors to come out of the woodwork, such as Tessa losing her virginity in a one-night stand, and later, her sexual relationship with Adam. Also, some of the language and realistic treatment of death may cause some parents concern.

Book Cover Art found at Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Before-I-Die/Jenny-Downham/e/9780375849374/?itm=1&USRI=before+i+die