Before I Die and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more

Buy Used
Used - Good See details
Price: £1.45
Fulfilled by Amazon

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Start reading Before I Die on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Before I Die [Paperback]

Jenny Downham (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (223 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £3.67   -- --
Library Binding £13.42   -- --
Paperback £3.86   -- --
Paperback, 10 April 2008 --   -- --
Audio, CD, Audiobook, Unabridged --   -- --
Unknown Binding --   -- --
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more.

Book Description

Publication Date: 10 April 2008

Tessa has just a few months to live.

Fighting back against hospital visits, endless tests, drugs with excruciating side-effects, Tessa compiles a list. It's her To Do Before I Die list. And number one is sex.

Released from the constraints of 'normal' life, Tessa tastes new experiences to make her feel alive while her failing body struggles to keep up.

Tessa's feelings, her relationships with her father and brother, her estranged mother, her best friend, her new boyfriend, all are painfully crystallized in the precious weeks before Tessa's time finally runs out.

BEFORE I DIE is a brilliantly-crafted novel, heartbreaking yet astonishingly life-affirming. It will take you to the very edge.

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Join Amazon Family and receive £10 off in our Baby Store, three months' FREE One-Day Delivery and £50 worth of exclusive offers every month.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Definitions (10 April 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1862304874
  • ISBN-13: 978-1862304871
  • Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 19.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (223 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 172,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Jenny Downham Page
Jenny Downham
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Review

"Dealing frankly with teenage life, Before I Die will be the year's most talked-about novel . . . Novels for young teenagers do not usually feature drugs and casual sex within the first 20-odd pages. But most books for teenagers will not leave an adult reader's eyes so blurry with tears that it's hard to see the final chapters. Jenny Downham's extraordinary first novel does both" (The Sunday Times )

"Downham's prose is brave and bare, her characters relentlessly realistic" (Dinah Hall Sunday Telegraph )

"Destined to drive hundreds of thousands of readers to tears and to swift injunctions to all their friends to read it" (Observer )

"A novel that won't fail to touch those who read it, and despite the melancholy subject matter it manages to be hugely life-affirming. A book that will make you happy to be alive. 5 stars" (Jo Hoare Heat )

"A work of great humanity and profound empathy. I defy anyone not to cry reading this book" (Daily Express ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Description

An intensely moving and uncompromisingly honest story told in the words of a 16-year-old girl who is dying of leukaemia.
See all Product Description
Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
108 of 108 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wish List 11 Sep 2007
By kehs TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
An intense story narrated by Tessa, who is 16 and has only a few months left to live. She has a list of `to do before I die' wishes and is working her way through them, number one on the list is to have sex. Along the way the reader hears about Tessa's observations on life, how she faces what fate has dealt her with grace but also with rebelliousness and anger. She thinks about what it will be like for her family once she is dead and whether she will be able to haunt them. We also learn what her family think, and how they are trying to come to terms with the knowledge that they are going to lose their daughter.

This book could have been unbearably painful to read, but Downham has allowed Tessa to retain a sense of humour about her situation, along with meeting her first (and only) true love. I admit to having been moved to tears a few times, especially when she has some special moments with her younger brother.

I found this to be an incredibly moving read, while at the same time it retains a sense of dignity and humour. Downham writes beautifully and her words just flow over the pages. This was a page-turner for me and I highly recommend it.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
77 of 80 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Before I Cry... 3 Nov 2007
By Luanne
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book not realising it was aimed at the teenage market, but I thought I would read it anyway. And I am so glad I did, because this is a book for everyone, regardless of age. It is the story of Tessa, 16 years old and dying of cancer. Tessa seems bolshy and defiant on the surface but, as you read on, you peel away the layers and find a mass of compicated emotions so powerful they grab you by the heart and tug very very painfully.

The writing is economical, simple to read. I read the book in two days. On the first day I felt mainly anger at Tessa's seemingly uncaring, selfish best friend ("It's always got to be about you!") and Tessa's flighty mother who is never there for her. On the second day I felt so many emotions I cannot possibly begin to write them down. The last twenty pages or so of the book were read through a veil of tears.

It is not, however, a sentimental read. Tessa is spirited and her humour shines through, but the raw emotion towards the end can make the book a difficult read, though I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. Even after you have finished, you will likely read the last few pages again.

I urge everyone to read this book. It is raw and true, terribly sad and yet life-affirming, too. A marvellous achievement. Just thinking about it makes me feel like crying.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars heart rending 20 Feb 2008
By Mrs. Anne E. Burgess
Format:Hardcover
How I felt for Tessa and her urge to scramble as much into a few months as most of us would experience over many years. A book that could be so maudlin was exceptionally uplifting and even those who have never experienced the journey down this darkened path found insights into our own lives. When I was diagnosed with cancer as a middle aged adult how I experienced the panic of wanting to see my children happy and settled and not needing me - at least not too much. Tessa and her family touched my heart. Every time I speak to my daughter I find myself saying have you started that book yet. Thank you Jenny Downham for this wonderful read.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow.
What a wonderfully delightful book. It grasps at your heart strings and really pulls you into the reality that at some point, some sooner than others, we all join Tessa and no... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Louise
5.0 out of 5 stars weepy book.
This book arrived quickly and well packaged in great condition. I loved this book although I did cry quite a lot, certainly makes you think about life and death, and the cards some... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Andie
2.0 out of 5 stars Now is (not) good
Many have had their negative said on this book, and I'm just about to reflect their very impression and comments. Read more
Published 19 days ago by JR_82
4.0 out of 5 stars 'Now is good' really was good
I love this book... Had me in tears, couldn't stop reading. I would defiantly recommend you read it. Read more
Published 26 days ago by In my opinion...
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing story!!
OMG I cried so much while reading this book!! the girl is so mature yet so scared, I can't even imagine her feeling!!
Published 1 month ago by Anonyme
5.0 out of 5 stars Wowww
Incredible journey through life. Teaches you a lesson, fantastic book!

Shows that life doesn't stop for anyone and to not forget
Published 1 month ago by noelle loughran
4.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming
A well written book that makes life real. Despite her situation it's a happy book, I want to go out there and live life, enjoy it for those who can't. Read more
Published 1 month ago by book_luva
3.0 out of 5 stars So so
The book was very predictable. Riggs at your heat strings from time to Tim. Not really for me if I'm honest
Published 1 month ago by Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
I live this book but it is very sad at the end I have to admit it is very sad!
Published 1 month ago by it's really good but some of them are hard
4.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting and thought provoking book!!
I read this book after being interested by the film being at the cinema. I thought the story would be great as a novel and it did not disappoint me whatsoever. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jodie B
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      No discussions yet

      Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      childrens books discussion forum
      I'm being annoyed by my inability to remember a book I read 25 years ago!       		5 6 hours ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Book for a cool 13 year old boy that doesn't like spy, wizard or old fashioned books - Help       		30 9 hours ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Help: Anyone know what this book (read in the 1970s) was called?       		7 9 hours ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Suitable books for a 13 year old girl       		22 20 hours ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      searching for children's book from the 1970s-1980s       		58 22 hours ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      YA action-adventure - reviewers wanted       		2 1 day ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Books for a nine year girl old with an older reading age....without snogging and too much boy stuff       		213 1 day ago
      childrens books discussion forum
      Paleobotany for children ? Even a really good botany book?       		4 1 day ago
      Search Customer Discussions
      Search all Amazon discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback