Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

Pages: 207
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Real Life / Dying
Notes for Parents: Some mature scenes.

The Inside Cover

My name is Sam.
I am eleven years old.
I collect stories and fantastic facts.
By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.
Living through the last stages of leukemia, Sam wants to know facts. Facts about UFOs, ghosts, how it feels to kiss a girl. He wants to break a world record, watch horror movies, go up the down escalator. And Sam is determined to find answers to all of the questions nobody ever answers—all of them.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This was originally published in London, England.

What’s good?

Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this story about a dying boy is written with humor and reverence. Sam is a charming and loveable pre-teen surrounded by interesting people who are dealing with imminent loss the best they can. I love Sam’s footnotes and True Facts, especially about such diverse topics as coffins and airships. His “Questions Nobody Answers” were painful to read, but his and Felix’s attempts to answer them were touching and often comical. Friendship, fear, sadness, compassion, and grief all drive this beautiful tale. Short chapters, peppered with lists and drawings, make this a quick and easy read.
Best Part: The end. You know it’s coming, and when it does—it is heart wrenchingly sad, yet beautiful.

What isn’t good?

Nothing isn’t good. There are a few British terms that may trip readers up, but overall I found nothing to complain about.
Worst part: Why do I read books about dying children?

Recommendation þþþþþ

I cried at the end. Definitely recommended.

Nicholls, Sally. Ways to Live Forever. New York: Arthur A. Levine, 2008. (Hardcover)