As human beings, a common goal of every person is to be able to do anything they’ve ever wanted to do before they die. We may want to do something daring, like jump out of a plane and parachute. Maybe we want to be subtle and fulfill goals of getting into the best colleges or tell that person that you’ve liked them since elementary school.

Before we die, all of us at one point want to disregard consequences and be brave. It’s easy to do this because we really have all the time in the world to do the things we desire.

What if we weren’t so lucky? What if our time was cut a little shorter than normal?

These questions consume sixteen-year-old Tessa’s thoughts and actions in the novel Before I Die by Jenny Downham. What is a girl with leukemia supposed to do when all of the years ahead of her disappear in the blink of an eye?

The novel follows Tessa and her family and friends through a very tough time. Before her diagnosis, Tess was outgoing and never backed down from a challenge. After, she shuts people out, acts a little too reckless, and believes that the months leading up to her impending death are too painful and numbing to live through. Tessa is forced to answer the question, “Am I ready to die?” way too early;  

Tessa sees the world through different eyes once she’s diagnosed. She may be depressed and unable to cope, but with the support of her family, friends, and newfound love interest, she truly starts to appreciate all that the world has given her in her short life. The novel manages to create a life affirming message while also avoiding the cliché.

The thing I love most about Before I Die is how raw and honest the novel really is. Our world is full of stories with this kind of plotline: A teenager is diagnosed with cancer and spends their numbered days devastated until someone new comes along and teaches them how to truly live.

While this does pertain to Before I Die, it explores much more in-depth issues that every person will have to face sooner or later.

I love how this novel shows that putting on a brave face during times of hardship isn’t always the best thing. It’s okay to be scared and it’s okay to lose control once in a while.

The character who experiences these lessons the most throughout the novel would be Tessa’s best friend Zoey. Zoey could be looked at as Tessa’s foil character, or opposite.

Zoey seemingly has everything she could ever want: she’s attractive, outgoing, kind to others, etc…

This may seem well and good on the outside, but we soon find out how distorted that picture of her really is. Zoey may not be dying like Tessa is, but that does not mean that her problems aren’t important. Throughout the novel, Zoey has to battle with her own demons as well as the news that her best friend will not make it past the year. Zoey believes that all she could possibly do for Tessa will never be enough. How does a sixteen-year-old girl live with such a problem?

Before I Die is a novel that will forever remind me that I should never take my life for granted. Most of us are happy, healthy people with not a care in the world. Others are not so lucky.

Whatever our circumstance, Before I Die shows us that [w6] we should take advantage of every precious moment we have.

Whatever our circumstance, Before I Die, reminds us to take advantage of every precious moment.