Guys it's such a heartwarming story and so vitally important. Before I continue however you probably should know what the books about.
This story written by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis follows two Cystic Fibrosis patients, Stella and Will. Stella is dead set on doing everything right to extend her life span to it's fullest potential. She takes her medication and treatments and is biding her time until her name makes it to the top of the lung transplant list. Will however has given up. He's waiting for his eighteenth birthday so he can defy his moms wishes and go out and see the world and live whatever life he has left to the fullest.
Not only can being around him crumble her mindset it can also kill them both. For people suffering CF the rules are simple. Six feet apart at all times and this rule is especially important when it comes to Will. Not only does he suffer CF but Burkholderia Cepacia (b. cepacia) as well. Not only did it take him off the lung transplant list but it's also extremely contagious for others with CF. Stella cannot risk contracting it or everything she's work for will go down the drain. The more she gets to know Will the harder it becomes to stay true to her rules and those placed by others.
I cannot stress how important this book is for people to read. Illnesses with no or very few treatments have a tendency to get overlooked, especially those we aren't familiar with. This book brings light not only to CF and b. cepacia but all other terminal illnesses that people seem to forget about.
A girl I knew had an older sister with a rare type of cancer, ASPS, named Nathalie Traller. Stella reminds me a lot of Nathalie because they both use their illness to touch other people. Stella has a YouTube channel where she shares things about her treatment and even her day to day life. They help other people who are going through the same thing and even inspire others who have no clue what it's like living with a terminal illness.
Not only is the story important but it's also very well written. I did some research on CF and b. cepacia after I read this book and all the information is extremely accurate. Sure there was things the book didn't mention and I had some questions about it afterwords but I think that is what makes it even more special. It gets people curious enough to go do their own research and learn more on their own. A good author doesn't leave any holes but a great one gives us what we need to go find the rest of the answers ourselves, especially when it comes to a topic such as this.
And raising awareness for terminal illness isn't it's only strong intent. The book does a marvelous job of presenting it's main theme: Don't take life for granted. Every breath you breathe is a miracle so treat it as nothing less. Be grateful for the things you have because not everyone has them. Cherish life while it's still here. It sounds so cheesy! But it's so true. All of our days are numbered. In the great words of Beetlejuice the musical "Time to face the brutal truth ‘Cause we're all on a hit list, Might not live ‘till Christmas, Choke to death on Triscuits, Hey, that's just statistics." Guys that is one amazing musical... anyway. This book really gives you an appreciation for how fragile life is.Finally (even though I want to talk more) lets talk about characters. OMG such great development. Even the secondary characters were well thought out. But Stella and Will... all I have to say is bravo. They have to be two of my favorite characters ever. They balance each other out really well. Stella convinces Will to try and save his life however probable and Will convinces her to loosen up a bit. It's the ultimate opposites attract story.
Of course a great book like this has been turned into a movie, one I have not yet seen but am so looking forward to. It has Cole Sprouse as Will eeeeekkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!
