Before I die, by jenny Downham is a young adult, published in 2007, and obviously an internationally bestselling book. This book is described as " heartbreaking and devastating, yet sparkling with life." I believe, there cannot exist a better description of this book in such few words.
The name of the book gives a sheer idea of what it could be about. But no, don't be in a hurry to judge a book by its name. As I said about, 'the fault in our stars', this book too is not about death, its about life.
The story revolves around a 16-year-old girl, Tessa, fighting leukaemia. Downham was beyond perfect in shaping Tessa, who precisely makes us feel what it is like to be in her shoes.
The book cover has a list which gives us an insight into Tessa's sweet little "to do" life narrated in the story. But we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover either, are we?
This story will take you along young Tessa, trying to live her life through a bucket list, before she dies. You will see Tessa trying her best to take large bites from the dish called life, as she knows it wouldn't last long for her.
Downham did a great job in narrating the cancer journey. The best thing about this cancer story is, it isn't just another story about a victim being engulfed by immortal cells. It's beyond it, it's unique and one of a kind, just like every other cancer story. My favourite part of this story is the magical difference in sex and lively sex, written remarkably by Downham. This book will ask you to frame and reframe your perception of life, it will make you ponder what exactly living means to you. Like for young Tessa, living was a small list scribbled on a paper, having no mentions of being a millionaire or a gazillionaire, no mentions of conquering the world, and yet to her, that list meant living. It makes us rediscover the idea of life that usually lays covered underneath the dust of what the world thinks living is. Tessa will help you clean this dust and find immense life packed in the tiniest moments. Downham keeps on bringing up one emotion after another, just like a never-ending line of ants, that crawls up to your heart. She surely did justice to the end of this story, it's one of the best ends I have ever read with teary eyes and wet pages.
My rating for the book 4/5