Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

Sam is eleven years old, has leukemia and is dying. He decides to write a book about his experience. At once extremely funny and tear-jerkingly sad, this book is a fantastic read for middle school students. Sam's older friend Felix is also dying and they are home-schooled together by Mrs. Willis who loves science and keeps the boys engaged in unique and inventive ways with learning and expanding their minds, even in this rather hopeless situation. The boys develop lists of things they want to do and Sam puts them in his book, along with his description of what happens as they pursue some of the things on the lists. NOT just a wimpy story about a Make-a-Wish kid, this robust and real tale will make you cry and laugh out loud.