Ways to Live Forever
Encyclopedia
Ways to Live Forever is a children's
novel
by Sally Nicholls
, first published in 2008. The author's debut novel
, it was written when Nicholls was 23 years old.
It won the 2008 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
, 2008 Glen Dimplex (Irish) New Writers Award, 2008 German Luchs des Jahres and 2009 Bristol-based Concorde Children's Book Award. It was shortlisted for the 2009 Manchester Book Award
.
decides to write a book about his life. In the book he talks about he life while being ill , the things he'll remember when he dies and, in a section called 'Things I want to do',Sam makes numerous lists of questions. With the help of his teacher and friend Felix Stranger(who is also ill with cancer
), 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 becomes ill,this surprises Sam as Felix was known as a 'fighter'.But in this scenario the opposite happens and felix dies in hospital.This leaves Sam devastated.Sam and hes family go to felix's funeral.Sam is puzzled by the sadness and writes in his book that everyone should have been happy and making jokes and felix should have worn his Favorite top.Having said, that he told in his book he wanted to make sure no one would do that at his funeral. A couple of weeks later , the doctors realize the medication isn't working as well and Sam makes the decision to stop all medication.About a month later he has a dream,all his family(his dad,his mum and his sister Ella) are all sleeping together... then he wakes up and sees his dads face.His dad says 'I love you',but Sam drifts back asleep.Sam dies in his sleep; 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."
This is being made into a film in 2010.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Sally Nicholls
Sally Nicholls
- Life :Nicholls was born and grew up in Stockton-on-Tees. She attended Great Ayton Friends' School until its closure and subsequently Egglescliffe School until 2001.On finishing school, Nicholls chose to travel around the world...
, first published in 2008. The author's debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, it was written when Nicholls was 23 years old.
It won the 2008 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
The Waterstone's Children's Book Prize is an annual award given to a work of children's literature published during the previous year. First awarded in 2005, the purpose of the prize is "to uncover hidden talent in children's writing" and is therefore open only to authors who have published no more...
, 2008 Glen Dimplex (Irish) New Writers Award, 2008 German Luchs des Jahres and 2009 Bristol-based Concorde Children's Book Award. It was shortlisted for the 2009 Manchester Book Award
Manchester Book Award
The Manchester Book Award is a project run in Manchester, UK, organised by School Services at the Manchester Library & Information Service; it is funded by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund. The project is currently in its fourth year....
.
Plot summary
Sam Oliver McQueen is an eleven-year-old child, terminally ill with leukemia, who, during one of his special education sessionsSpecial education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
decides to write a book about his life. In the book he talks about he life while being ill , the things he'll remember when he dies and, in a section called 'Things I want to do',Sam makes numerous lists of questions. With the help of his teacher and friend Felix Stranger(who is also ill with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
), 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 becomes ill,this surprises Sam as Felix was known as a 'fighter'.But in this scenario the opposite happens and felix dies in hospital.This leaves Sam devastated.Sam and hes family go to felix's funeral.Sam is puzzled by the sadness and writes in his book that everyone should have been happy and making jokes and felix should have worn his Favorite top.Having said, that he told in his book he wanted to make sure no one would do that at his funeral. A couple of weeks later , the doctors realize the medication isn't working as well and Sam makes the decision to stop all medication.About a month later he has a dream,all his family(his dad,his mum and his sister Ella) are all sleeping together... then he wakes up and sees his dads face.His dad says 'I love you',but Sam drifts back asleep.Sam dies in his sleep; 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."
This is being made into a film in 2010.
Translations
At launch, Ways to Live Forever was translated into Dutch and published using a different title. The Dutch title Als je dit leest, ben ik dood (When you read this, I'll be dead) is adapted from one of the book's opening lines. It is also translated to Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal) and Indonesian, with the Portuguese title being O Menino que Sonhava Chegar à Lua (The Boy who Dreamed of Reaching the Moon), the Brazilian title of Como Viver Eternamente (How to Live Forever), the Indonesian title of Setelah Aku Pergi (After I'm Gone), the French title of Quand vous lirez ce... (When you read this book ...), the italian title "Volevo vivere per sempre" (I wanted to live forever) and the German title of Wie man unsterblich wird (How to become immortal).External links
- Ways to Live Forever, Publisher's website.
- Opening extract from Ways to Live Forever.