Before I Die

The story is about Tessa Scott, a 16-year-old teenager diagnosed with terminal leukemia. She lives in England with her father and younger brother, Cal. Her mother left the family when Tessa was 12 years, but returns later when she learns that Tessa is ill.

Faced with death, Tessa makes a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies. Her list consists of somewhat extreme goals such as sex, drugs, breaking the law and falling in love. With the help of her best friend, Zoey, the two girls slowly start to cross off each item on Tessa’s list. We follow Tessa through her journey of ups and downs, and the struggles of her family as they try to cope with the tragedy.

Her father is constantly wavering between needing to discipline her, for example when she gets caught stealing in the store, and wanting to cherish his last months with her. He is a rock in Tessa’s life, all the way through the story, until the end. He’s with her at the hospital and even though he doesn’t understand her list, he tries to be a part of it by arranging the radio-show interview. Furthermore, Tessa’s dad is in denial, determined to save Tessa through organic foods and new experiments he reads about.

By the end of the story Tessa realizes what her father has been through, and what sacrifices he has made for her: “For hours you sat in hospitals and never, not once, complained. You gave up work for me, friends for me, four years of your life for me.

Tessa’s mother is the complete opposite. She left them when Tessa was 12 years because she wanted to travel the world. When she finds out that Tessa is ill, she returns, but she’s not a big part of their lives. They visit her sometimes on Sundays, and when Tessa asks her to come with her to a hospital appointment, her mother feels awkward and tries to dodge the question. It seems as if she’s distanced herself from Tessa and the disease as a way of protecting herself.

It must be

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