Ways to Live Forever

by Sally Nicholls

Reading a book about a child with cancer is not easy, but the main character in this story does not dwell on sentimentality. Sam McQueen, age 11, is being homeschooled by a tutor, along with another boy with leukemia, when he realizes he wants to write a book about himself. This book is Sam’s journal about his final four months. He asks difficult questions in it, the kinds of questions no one will answer for him, like “Why does God make kids get ill?” Then he and his friend Felix find their own answers to the questions – sometimes harsh, sometimes silly, and sometimes really deep. Sam and Felix also list the things they wish they could do, but probably won’t be able to do. When Felix encourages Sam to do as many of them as possible, they make through an amazing number of them, including kissing a girl and riding in an airship. It’s true, this book will make you cry in the end, but it is still worth reading and getting to know Sam.
Reviewed by Jennifer

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