I'd heard a lot of good things about Sally Nicholls' Ways to Live Forever, but I was put off by the fact that it's the story of an 11-year-old boy with leukaemia. I'd tried to read Jenny Downham's Before I Die, but found it too upsetting, but I convinced myself to try Ways to Live Forever and I'm so glad I did.
Since he's being homeschooled due to his illness, Sam decides to keep “a collection of lists stories, pictures, questions and facts” as a project. Sam's voice is charming, sweet and funny and, inevitably, it's this voice, combined with the issues Sam is having to deal with that makes this book so heartbreaking.
Sam's questions are things like, “Why does God make kids get ill?” and “Does it hurt to die?” and he tries to answer them with the assistance of his fellow leukaemia sufferer and friend, Felix. The book also illuminates how his illness affects his family's relationships both with him and with each other.
It's very easy to read (in the main - some of the more painful parts are harder) and it's done with a very light touch.
Because I knew the ending was inevitable, I worried about it all through the book and was almost afraid to read it, but it's dealt with beautifully. Although that's not to say I didn't cry - clutching my mercifully healthy son - for about ten minutes after finishing it. It's incredibly moving, but also sweet, charming and funny.
Sally Nicholls was just 23 when she wrote this book. I can only imagine what she's going to come up with next.
Speaking of covers, (we were, weren't we?) I would never pick this book up because it looks like those horrible misery memoirs. I know it's not, now, but on a bookshelf? I'd pass it right by.
Posted by: Stella | 03 February 2009 at 11:11 AM
The original cover was completely different, Stella.
http://tinyurl.com/cvjnql
I think they changed it to appeal to Jodi Picoult fans.
(Funnily enough, the pic looks exactly like David when he was a kid!)
Posted by: Keris | 03 February 2009 at 11:18 AM
this the first book i ever read and it love
and i'm going to save this book fr my grand childern and tell them about you
and again i really really love this book keep up the heard work
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: ayan | 22 February 2009 at 04:27 PM
and it made me cry 3 time and i never cry over a book
and is the boy real or did you just amke it up coz
that is good i tell u
Posted by: ayan | 22 February 2009 at 04:31 PM
Its Amazing!!!
Posted by: Erica | 17 June 2009 at 02:24 AM