Ways to Live Forever

by Sally Nicholls Narrated by Charlotte Parry

Overview

British author Sally Nicholls presents her powerful and heart-stirring debut about Sam, an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with leukemia. Sam bravely faces the possibility that he will die, and doesn't want anybody's pity as he seeks answers to some very difficult questions about life and death. Young adults and their parents will find this poignant representation of terminal illness both profound and uplifting.

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

"If I grow up," 11-year-old Sam informs readers, "I'm going to be a scientist." He says "if" because he has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and knows he probably won't. With the encouragement of his tutor, he starts to write a bit about himself, then more, until he is using his writing to sort out his death. Interspersed with Sam's lists, questions and odd bits of mortality facts on notebook paper, his narrative proceeds in short, candid chapters that reveal a boy who, though he's not ready to die, nevertheless can confront the reality with heartbreaking clarity. As his parents wrangle about treatment (he doesn't want it), his little sister grapples with the changes to the household and his best friend and fellow cancer-sufferer dies, Sam methodically works through the things he wants to do before he dies, from going up a down escalator to the more problematic ride in an airship and seeing the earth from space. Nicholls's debut skillfully avoids bathos at every turn, sketching a fully-formed character readers will be glad they've met and sorry to bid farewell. (Fiction. 9-13)

NOVEMBER 2010 - AudioFile

Sam, who is only 11, has leukemia. His mother cries a lot, and his father is in denial, but Sam doesn’t hesitate to ask hard questions as he faces the end of his latest course of treatment. Mostly, he tries to keep living life instead of waiting for death. This is a first-person point of view story with collections of lists, assorted oddball facts, and poignant, often-funny, observations. Charlotte Parry does a wonderful job with the Brit-accented lads Sam and his querulous friend Felix, who wants to blow something up rather than go quietly into that good night. This is no sad end-of-life tale but rather a gripping how-to-live-forever quest. Parry makes us wish Sam’s voice could be with us at least that long. M.C.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171026646
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	09/19/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged

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