Breathless

Travis, a champion diver and one of the star athletes at school, is hanging out with his best friends on the first day of summer vacation. The cliffs over the lake call to him, and he climbs up to dive from them, only to hear his leg snap when he jumps. Days later, he's still in the hospital, facing amputation due to osteosarcoma, and he knows he'll never get back to the life he had. His parents, sister, best friend, and girlfriend all want what's best for Travis, but Travis' parents' opinion of what's best is the opposite of what Travis wants. Travis' only hope is that his friends will help him with his final wishes.

I read so many of McDaniel's books when I was a kid/teenager, so I was pleased to see this inside the review envelope. It was everything I wanted it to be--a bit predictable, a bit melodramatic, and I don't mean these as negatives. It's been a long time since I've read one of her books, so I don't know how much new ground this one is treading, but she does handle the subject very sensitively, so readers can really understand where Travis' decisions are coming from. There's one spot with a weird jump of almost a year and a half that's just summed up as, basically, "oh, hey, it's a year and a half later and now this this happening," which is a little clunky but serves the plot well--we don't need to know what, specifically, happened in there, just that Travis has been dealing with this for a long time. This is McDaniel's standard mix of bleak but hopeful--there's something empowering here about this 17-year-old making his own decisions about what's best for him. This is a sensitive book on a delicate topic. ( )

Seventeen year-old Travis Morrison’s life is drastically altered after he breaks his leg cliff jumping. A champion diver, Travis convinces himself he will heal in time for swim season. But, his perspective on healing and life quickly change after he learns that he has an aggressive form of bone cancer that result in his leg being amputated. After coming to terms with the loss of his leg and failed rounds of chemotherapy, Travis’s prognosis for survival is slim. As he finds peace in his inventible death, his closest friends and family struggle to see his desire to die with dignity. Cooper (his outcast best friend), Emily (his God-fearing sister) and Darla (his beautiful girlfriend) learn about having dreams in a small town, themselves, loyalty and each other as they watch Travis deteriorate. McDaniel writes in such way that unveils a variety of emotions, perceptions, opinions and stances surrounding the topic of euthanasia. The alternating points of view of the four main characters add interest to a story that otherwise might be mediocre. With that said, this quick read, will provoke one to think about the ethics and morals behind having the choice to die.

Age Appropriate: 9th Grade and Up

This book deals with a sensitive topic and I would caution readers who have recently lost a close friend and/or family member to terminal illness.

The book would be good for a reluctant reader because of the fast moving storyline and controversial topic. ( )

I read this book because it was recommended to me by a friend. After reading this book I would also recommend it. I enjoyed the suspense in this book and how you were never really sure what would happen next. I enjoyed how there was a sense of romance in the book between the main characters sister and best friend and also with the main character and his girl friend. There is a lot of uncertainty and not knowing what will come next in this book and I enjoy books like that. In this book the character has to deal with being diagnosed with cancer and have to get his leg amputated. He was a very good athlete before his diagnoses. He was an amazing swimmer and diver. He has to deal with the affects of the cancer and his life and the affects cancer has on everyone around him. As he gets worse he makes a decision and asks his friend to do something for him that most people would not consider. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading books about romance and controversy. This book would also be good for someone who likes books with illness and injury and how that affects the life of the patient and everyone in their life. It is also a good book for those who like to read about medical problems and cancer. In this book everyone in it must come to terms with their relationship with the main character and how they would feel if some day he was gone. I would not recommend this book for people who don’t like to read books about death and the end of life. I don’t think that you will regret reading this book and that is why I so highly recommend it.

I read this book because it was recommended to me by a friend. After reading this book I would also recommend it. I enjoyed the suspense in this book and how you were never really sure what would happen next. I enjoyed how there was a sense of romance in the book between the main characters sister and best friend and also with the main character and his girl friend. There is a lot of uncertainty and not knowing what will come next in this book and I enjoy books like that. In this book the character has to deal with being with diagnoses cancer and have to get his leg amputated. He was a very good athlete before his diagnoses. He was an amazing swimmer and diver, He has to deal with the affects of the cancer and his life and the affects cancer has on everyone around him. As he gets worse he makes a decision and asks his friend to do something for him that most people would not consider. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading books about romance and controversy. This book would also be good for someone who likes books with illness and injury and how that affects the life of the patient and everyone on their life. This book would also be can be for people who like to read books about death and the end of life. It is also a good book for those who like to read about medical problems and cancer. In this book everyone in it must come to terms with their relationship with the main character and how they would feel if some day he was gone. I don’t think that you will regret reading this book I am sure I did not and that is why I so highly recommend it.

Excellent book with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Told by each of the four main characters chapter by chapter, this book looks at the question of Euthanasia and dying with dignity, and what choice we might make if faced with the slow, painful demise of a loved one. Travis is a champion diver who breaks his leg and discovers he has inoperable bone cancer. His leg in amputated, ending his career and hopes for the future, and despite radiation and chemotherapy, the cancer invades his entire body and slowly and painfully destroys him. With him on this terrible journey are his younger sister Emily, who's belief in God is shattered as she watches what happens to her idol, despite her ardent prayers. His best friend Cooper, a boy trying to protect his alcoholic mother, hide his trailer-park life from those around him and carry out the last wish of his only friend. And finally Darla, his girlfriend, who's father beats her and who has sworn to love Travis no matter what happens because he didn't believe the evil gossip about her and loves her for who she is. A beautifully written, moving and very thought-provoking novel in only 165 pages. ( )