Book Review

Summary: Eleven-year-old Sam knows that he is dying from leukemia. He has decided to write a book that includes his thoughts on the matter as well as his lists and his questions, particularly those that no one ever answers like, "Why does God let kids get ill?" The author has drawn a portrait of a family coping with a child's terminal disease. Readers meet Sam's mother, father, and younger sister, each of whom is dealing in a different way with his illness. Sam knows that his father rushes off to work each day because he cannot admit to himself that his son is dying. He knows that his mother keeps Ella home from school during an unexpected snowstorm in March so they can have one last sledding day together. But, he does not verbalize this knowledge, just as his parents and Ella don't speak of his death. Sam is a child whom readers would want as a friend and he will be missed when the book is done.

I picked his book up because I saw the movie trailer (big surprise).... I thought it looked interesting. I had to order it because the local bookstore didn't have it. It was more of a children's book, then young adult like I had thought. So, I pretty much read it in one sitting. The book was very good, but very sad (along the lines of Bridge to Terabithia). But it was still a good read. This is a UK movie, so no idea when it will make it's way here...