Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel
Release Date: May 12, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 165
What is the toughest request anyone can be asked to fulfill?
Travis Morrison is a champion diver and one of the most popular kids at school. On the first day of summer vacation, while boating on the lake with his friends, Travis attempts a silly stunt dive that goes wrong. He fears he has broken his leg. Instead, his trip to the hospital reveals he has a rare form of cancer, and to save him, the doctors tell his parents they must amputate. In an instant, Travis’s life and the lives of everyone around him are forever changed.
Travis is determined that he and only he should decide the course of his life. He has a plan, but he can’t carry it out alone. Will he convince one of his friends to fulfill his most important request?
McDaniel isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects, in her novel Breathless she exposes her readers to Euthanasia. Told in the perspective of four characters: Travis, Emily (the sister), Darla (the girlfriend), and Cooper (the best friend.) I found the novel severely depressing, yet at the same time thought-provoking and interesting.
Enlightening the reader to both positions, for and against, McDaniel is never preachy or judgmental. She allows the readers to retain their own perspectives on the issue. An awesomely written book on a delicate subject.
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I like the cover ^^
http://www.bloodybookaholic.blogspot.com
I like the cover as well. It's so short! I might pick it up… It seems interesting and now that I have read what it is about, I want to know more.
Wow. That is a heavy topic, but an interesting one. I know I wouldn't be able to handle it right now since losing my father to cancer a few months ago, but I will put it on my list to read in the future. It is an important topic when you're dealing with cancer and other fatal illnesses. You think the topic doesn't effect you and then you have something happen in your life and you realize it could be hitting closer to home than you ever imagined. I am lucky that this never came up. I am curious as to how this book ends.
I think I'd normally be scared of picking that up, but if she's handled the subject well I might. It sounds very depressing but also very interesting.
Wow, this is such a heavy subject, but I'm interested to read it and see how the author tackles such a risk. Thanks for the review!
This sounds like a deep novel and an excellent read. Great review
The cover reminds me of Would You, but with a boy obviously, not the girl. But the colours are the same, being that both are underwater. Only 165 pages to tackle such a topic as cancer? Wow. Thanks for the great review!
- Alex
This is actually the first review of this book I've read. It looks like a serious read. It's definitely going on my list.