IL Professional Teaching Standard 1 - 1L

1. Leah Giarritano
March 19, 2012
LIS 590SML
Germ File Assignment
Before I Die
Author: Jenny Downham
Bibliography
Downham, Jenny. Before I Die. New York: Random House, Inc.,
2007. Print.
Summary
Tessa, at sixteen years old, has been diagnosed with acute
lymphoblastic leukemia and will die within the next six
months. She’s made a list of things that she would like to do
before she dies including having sex, driving a car without a
license and falling in love. Along the way, Tessa learns a lot
about what is most important in a life well lived. Touching and
memorable, this story will stay with you long after you’ve
finished the book.
Awards received
2012 Abraham Lincoln Award Winner: Illinois’ High
School Readers Choice Award
Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year
Winner
Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice Winner
Book Sense Children’s Pick List Winner
Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award Winner

2. Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author Winner
ALA Best Books for Young Adults Top 10 Winner
Reviews
"This may sound too depressing for words, but it is only
one indication of the inspired originality of Before I Die,
by Jenny Downham, that the reader can finish its last
pages feeling thrillingly alive ... I don't care how old you
are. This book will not leave you."John Burnham Schwartz
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007
"Lucid language makes a painful journey bearable,
beautiful and transcendent."
Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly, August 6, 2007
"The eloquent dying teen can seem a staple of the YA
novel, but this British debut completely breaks the mold.
Downham holds nothing back in her wrenching and
exceptionally vibrant story."
Author Information
Jenny Downham
http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/authors/jenny-
downham
Discussion Questions
What message did you take away from reading Before I
Die?
What do you think about Tessa’s transformation
throughout the book? How did her character change?
What did you learn about yourself through Tessa’s
experience?

3. If you were to draw a picture that represented what you
found to be most important in this book, what would you
draw and why?
How do you think the story would have been different if it
had been told from Zoey’s perspective?
Would you want to read another book by Jenny
Downham? Why or why not?
Curricular Activities
Writing: Each student should create a bucket list of ten
things they’d like to do before they die with an
explanation for each one on what it would be important
to them.
Science/Human Physiology/Biology: Have an oncologist
come in to speak to the students about acute
lymphoblastic leukemia to tie in with one of their lessons
on diseases. The doctor can discuss cutting-edge
treatments, life expectancy, how the disease spreads
throughout the body, etc.Each student will then write a
research report on a different type of cancer and give a
presentation to the class.
Technology: Each student will use video creation
technology, like Animoto, to make a book trailer for
Before I Die, depicting his or her own unique
interpretation of the story.
Art: Reread Chapter Forty-six, the final chapter, in which
Tessa’s death is recounted. Create a piece of artwork
representing the feelings and emotions expressed by
Tessa during this dramatic decline.
Drama/Writing: Watch the movie, Now Is Good, based on
Before I Die and write a paper comparing the book to the
movie, explaining which you preferred and why. Explore

4. whether or not you feel the actors and actresses captured
the essence of the characters as introduced in the book.
Related Books
The fault in our stars by John Green
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fault-Stars-John-
Green/dp/0525478817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&q
id=1332959448&sr=1-1
One of those hideous books where the mother dies by Sonya
Sones
http://www.amazon.com/Those-Hideous-Books-Where-
Mother/dp/1416907882/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&
qid=1332959574&sr=1-1
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
http://www.amazon.com/My-Sisters-Keeper-A-
Novel/dp/0743454537/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&q
id=1332959628&sr=1-1
Deadline by Chris Crutcher
http://www.amazon.com/Deadline-Chris-
Crutcher/dp/0060850914/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8
&qid=1332959659&sr=1-1
Other titles by author
You Against Meby Jenny Downham
http://www.amazon.com/You-Against-Me-Jenny-
Downham/dp/0385751605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF
8&qid=1332958734&sr=1-1

5. Websites for further study or enrichment
Learn more about acute lymphoblastic leukemia on the
following website:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acute-lymphocytic-
leukemia/DS00558
Plan a lesson around talking to young adults about death
and dying on the following website:
http://www.hospicenet.org/html/talking.html
Have young adults create their own bucket list of things
they’d like to do before they die by using the suggestions
on the following website for guidance:
http://www.squidoo.com/100things
Extras
Interview with Jenny Downham:
http://bwibooks.com/articles/jenny-downham.php
Read the following full New York Times book review of
Before I Die by Jenny Downham:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/books/review/S
chwartz2-t.html
Learn more about the movie, Now Is Good, based on this
book:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1937264/