"Before I Die" is a brilliantly crafted novel, heartbreaking yet astonishingly lifeaffirming. This is Jenny Downham's debut novel. She lives in England.
Review, NYTBR, October 14, 2007:
"This may sound too depressing for words, but it is only one
indication of the inspired originality of "Before I Die", by Jenny
Downham, that the reader can finish its last pages feeling
thrillingly alive ... I don't care how old you are. This book will
not leave you."
--John Burnham Schwartz
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007
"Lucid language makes a painful journey bearable, beautiful and
transcendent."
Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly, August 6, 2007
"The eloquent dying teen can seem a staple of the YA novel, but
this British debut completely breaks the mold. Downham holds
nothing back in her wrenching and exceptionally vibrant story."
Review, Entertainment Weekly, September 21, 2007
"Bound For Glory: This fall, five young authors deliver breakout
books packed with razor-sharp writing."
Review, Entertainment Weekly, September 28, 2007
"In luminous prose that rings completely true, Downham earns every
tear she wrings from her readers. I trust there will be many of
them--many readers, and of course, many tears. A-"
Review, NYTBR (circ: 1, 623, 697), October 14, 2007:
"This may sound too depressing for words, but it is only one
indication of the inspired originality of "Before I Die," by Jenny
Downham, that the reader can finish its last pages feeling
thrillingly alive ... I don't care how old you are. This book will
not leave you."
--John Burnham Schwartz
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews (circ: 5,000), September 1, 2007
"Lucid language makes a painful journey bearable, beautiful and
transcendent."
Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly (circ: 34, 456), August 6,
2007
"The eloquent dying teen can seem a staple of the YA novel, but
this British debut completely breaks the mold. Downham holds
nothing back in her wrenching and exceptionally vibrant story."
Review, Entertainment Weekly (circ: 1,800,000), September 21,
2007
"Bound For Glory: This fall, five young authors deliver breakout
books packed with razor-sharp writing."
Review, Entertainment Weekly (circ: 1,800,000), September 28,
2007
"In luminous prose that rings completely true, Downham earns every
tear she wrings from her readers. I trust there will be many of
them--many readers, and of course, many tears. A-"
Review, NYTBR, October 14, 2007:
"This may sound too depressing for words, but it is only one
indication of the inspired originality of "Before I Die", by Jenny
Downham, that the reader can finish its last pages feeling
thrillingly alive ... I don't care how old you are. This book will
not leave you."
--John Burnham Schwartz
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007
"Lucid language makes a painful journey bearable, beautiful and
transcendent."
Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly, August 6, 2007
"The eloquent dying teen can seem a staple of the YA novel, but
this British debut completely breaks the mold. Downham holds
nothing back in her wrenching and exceptionally vibrant story."
Review, Entertainment Weekly, September 21, 2007
"Bound For Glory: This fall, five young authors deliver breakout
books packed with razor-sharp writing."
Review, Entertainment Weekly, September 28, 2007
"In luminous prose that rings completely true, Downham earns every
tear she wrings from her readers. I trust there will be many of
them--many readers, and of course, many tears. A-"
Review, NYTBR (circ: 1, 623, 697), October 14, 2007:
"This may sound too depressing for words, but it is only one
indication of the inspired originality of "Before I Die," by Jenny
Downham, that the reader can finish its last pages feeling
thrillingly alive ... I don't care how old you are. This book will
not leave you."
--John Burnham Schwartz
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews (circ: 5,000), September 1, 2007
"Lucid language makes a painful journey bearable, beautiful and
transcendent."
Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly (circ: 34, 456), August 6,
2007
"The eloquent dying teen can seem a staple of the YA novel, but
this British debut completely breaks the mold. Downham holds
nothing back in her wrenching and exceptionally vibrant story."
Review, Entertainment Weekly (circ: 1,800,000), September 21,
2007
"Bound For Glory: This fall, five young authors deliver breakout
books packed with razor-sharp writing."
Review, Entertainment Weekly (circ: 1,800,000), September 28,
2007
"In luminous prose that rings completely true, Downham earns every
tear she wrings from her readers. I trust there will be many of
them--many readers, and of course, many tears. A-"
Sixteen-year-old Tessa, with terminal leukemia and little time to live, has a list of things to do before she dies, among them sex, drugs, breaking the law, and driving a car. Relentlessly honest narration and distinct character interpretations increase the emotional impact. Explicit sex scenes are sensitively handled and add to the realism of the story. Standard: Students will analyze the author's decisions on developing and relating elements of a story. Learning Activity: Examine Tessa's choices, exploring the reasons behind them, and discuss choices students might make in a similar situation. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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