SUMMARY :
Sam Oliver McQueen is an eleven-year-old child, terminally ill with leukemia, who, during one of his special education sessions decides to write a book about his life. In that book, he will include stories, amusing facts, lists, and his own diary. One of the lists is entitled "Things I Want to Do". With the help of his best friend Felix Stranger, an ill 13-year-old child, he will make all his wishes come true.
Sam makes numerous lists of questions. With the help of his teacher, they conduct various experiments, Sam and Felix break world records (including the world's smallest night club). However things take a turn for the worst and Felix dies in hospital. This leaves Sam devastated. Eventually, the doctors realize the medication isn't working as well and Sam makes the decision to stop all medication.
Sam dies in his sleep about a month later; he has given his parents a form to fill in about his death so he could finish his book. The last comment is made by his mother, who says, "Sam died quietly in his sleep. He was in no pain."
(~adapted from wikipedia~)
REVIEW :
This is a beautiful story. Eventhough the premise of the story is a little sad but at the same time, it's also hopeful.
I like how the author wrote this in a very brutal honest point of view.
The author did a wonderful job in expressing how the main character felt and how he responded with everything that was happening.
The character development here is brilliant. Each character here is very well written. Through the main characters eyes, you can see the other characters behavior and thoughts.
This story made me think a lot. Mainly, I thought a lot of life and death.
And as you reach the end of the book, the author describes things really well and you can roughly guess that the main characters' life is going to end.
I felt that the ending is bittersweet.
For me, I love the idea of this story, the honesty here and the writing style.
If you love the slice of life genre, you would enjoy this a lot.
I rate this 8 out of 10.
