Before I Die facts for kids
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| Author | Jenny Downham |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult |
| Publisher | David Fickling Books |
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Publication date
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2007 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 336 |
| ISBN | 978-0-385-75158-2 |
Before I Die is a powerful young adult novel. It was written by Jenny Downham and first published in 2007. The story is told from the viewpoint of Tessa, a teenage girl. It shares her thoughts and feelings as she faces a very difficult time in her life.
Contents
What Is Before I Die About?
Tessa is a 16-year-old girl. She has been battling a serious illness called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. After four years of treatments, her doctors tell her the sad news. Her cancer is terminal, meaning it cannot be cured. She has only a short time left to live.
Tessa decides she wants to make the most of her remaining time. With help from her best friend, Zoey, she creates a special list. This list includes all the things she wants to do before she dies. She wants to experience life fully, even if some of her ideas are a bit daring.
The book follows Tessa's journey over her last few months. It shows how she connects with her family and friends. It also explores her personal feelings about her body changing and her future.
Meet the Characters
Tessa Scott
Tessa is the main character. She is 16 and fighting leukaemia. She makes a "bucket list" of things to do. She often asks her best friend Zoey and her boyfriend Adam to help her with these plans.
Cal Scott
Cal is Tessa's 11-year-old younger brother. He sometimes feels left out because Tessa gets a lot of attention. But he is also very sad about her illness. Even in tough moments, Cal tries to make jokes to cheer Tessa up.
Zoey
Zoey is Tessa's best friend. At the start of the story, she encourages Tessa to be brave. She supports Tessa in trying new things. Zoey is always there for Tessa, no matter what.
Adam
Adam is Tessa's boyfriend and also her neighbor. He spends a lot of time with Tessa. He is a loving and supportive person. Adam is with Tessa during her final moments. He is the special love of her short life.
Tessa's Father
Tessa's father desperately wants to keep her alive. He struggles to accept that he cannot control her choices. He often worries about what Tessa is doing. He tries his best to support her.
Tessa's Mother
Tessa's mother and father are divorced. She has not been very involved in Tessa's treatments. She is not as close to Tessa as her father is.
Awards and Recognition
Before I Die has received several honors. It was considered for the 2007 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the 2008 Lancashire Book of the Year. It was also nominated for the 2008 Carnegie Medal. In 2008, the book won the Branford Boase Award.
Film Version
The novel Before I Die was made into a movie. The film is called Now Is Good. It was produced by Blueprint Pictures, with help from BBC Films and the UK Film Council.
The movie stars Dakota Fanning as Tessa. Jeremy Irvine plays Adam, and Kaya Scodelario plays Zoey. Filming started in July 2011 in London and Brighton. Now Is Good was released in September 2012.
