Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist (KelpiesEdge)

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Normally I don't like this type of YA book, but what I really liked about this one was the Scottish setting. It's like John Green but with a little bit of Scottish culture... I would recommend this book to people who like reading YA books about reality, and people who enjoy stories set outside the US, because the Scottish setting is a great bonus.' Some of the Scottish slang was unclear (mostly because I don’t hail from Scotland), but I was able to figure it out with context clues. Don’t let the Scottish slang or occasional Gaelic phrases deter you from reading this book. Which is very true. I don’t like ‘cancer books’ and I hate bullies and irresponsible behaviour. But while Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist has all this, it also has a lot of charm and fun and happiness to offer the reader. And before anyone says ‘well that’s easy for the author to write,’ the very sad fact is that John Young wrote the book as his own child was dying. I can’t even begin to understand where he got his strength from. OMG this book was a major tearjerker for me. Connor and Skeates have an unusual friendship but aren't all friendships? The fact that Connor has terminal cancer but is trying to live his life to the fullest is heart-warming. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this!' But don't worry. I'll find out the truth about my dad before I snuff it. I have to. Just call me terminally optimistic.

Forming an unlikely friendship with fellow juvenile delinquent Skeates, the pair stage a break out and set off on a crazy route across Scotland to find Connor's dad, an inmate at Shotts prison. But Connor's left two things behind - the medication he needs to keep him alive, and the girl who makes living bearable.At least the adult reader sits there knowing this will not, cannot, end well. But what kind of not well will it be? How soon might Connor die? Or will Skeates or the Glaswegian football supporters kill him before the cancer does? Or maybe the skiing in Aviemore, wearing unsuitable clothes? The joyriding? This isn’t the only thing that Connor has going on with his life. His father is in prison and no one will tell him why. His mum works all the hours of the day and his younger sister was killed when he was younger. Basically, his family life is in a mess.

But Connor’s left two things behind — the medication he needs to keep him alive, and the girl who makes living bearable. LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. After a particularly painful bout of bullying in physics lab, Connor and Skeates both end up in the hospital. Connor's mom is out of the picture, and without anyone to care for him, he ends up in Dachaigh House - an institution for violent youths - with Skeates. Dun, dun, dun! Some of the Scottish slang was unclear (mostly because I don't hail from Scotland), but I was able to figure it out with context clues. Don't let the Scottish slang or occasional Gaelic phrases deter you from reading this book (although, it might help American readers if there were occasional footnotes). After a particularly painful bout of bullying in physics lab, Connor and Skeates both end up in the hospital. Connor’s mom is out of the picture, and without anyone to care for him, he ends up in Dachaigh House – an institution for violent youths – with Skeates. Dun, dun, dun!

I did initially think it was a little unrealistic that Connors sister died AND his dad was in prison AND his mum was having a nervous breakdown AND he had cancer . This is completely made up for by the ending though which was unexpected and ties Connor and Skeates together in a really interesting way . I thought it was amazing . Adele Geras Authors Autism/Asperger Syndrome Awards Blogs Books Bookshops Caroline Lawrence Christmas Crime Ebook Education Fairy tales Film Harry Potter History Horror Humour Interview Jacqueline Wilson Languages Meg Rosoff Michael Morpurgo Philip Pullman Picture book Poetry Reading Reference Review Romance Science Fiction Short story Siobhan Dowd Television Theatre Thriller Translation Travel War Writing

Connor Lambert is 15, lives on a tiny island in Scotland, and has the typical teen issues. Sure he’s crushing on his best “girl friend,” Emma, and he has daily run-ins with the school bully, Skeates. But Connor is definitely NOT your average teen. His sister died, and his dad’s in prison (although his mom refuses to let him visit or even tell him why his dad’s been incarcerated for the last 9 years). Oh, and he has cancer. Dodging the police, joy riding and extreme partying - if Connor's dying, he might as well enjoy one last wild adventure. John Young is a writer who is originally from Belfast and lives in Edinburgh. A former lawyer, he helped to found The Teapot Trust, a children's art therapy charity, with his wife Laura. He was a Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award winner in 2013. Press Articles path.clippath-edit [d="M187.5,58.16512107880641C214.4945046332268,59.30276163829959,240.41535832379228,68.72236200134503,261.78778803761725,85.2516316332289C282.6963949126211,101.42218431683145,296.2754933156812,124.37907582369479,305.2578826140189,149.23814455202273C314.5057597154312,174.83195982984464,320.0838754322527,202.03724793161848,313.5298613798452,228.44958427581457C306.6583326902681,256.1414881223187,290.83098734814035,281.1988876688588,268.20101111928966,298.5754126683334C245.16831466772666,316.2611681304027,216.53668119789893,325.62489475112585,187.50000000000003,325.2221577332822C158.73449362423528,324.82318189387473,130.91057796810622,314.28402967263787,108.40922684047621,296.3591102528553C86.58905693366876,278.9768301805616,70.90812686232724,254.59777998884854,64.70208061110648,227.39946266587222C58.8416634254869,201.71588252365981,67.79730141430146,176.29522490265987,75.24770143191402,151.027017247812C82.93310142028363,124.96180164091662,87.58075225990811,96.11399681754017,108.51928649173257,78.7923738613074C130.0109766221446,61.01314686243889,159.6321989020446,56.990676825663876,187.5,58.16512107880641" style="transform: scaleX(1) scaleY(1) translateX(0px) translateY(0px) rotate(0deg);"]

When you’re at death’s door, life’s not expected to be much fun, even – or especially – when it’s the door to Room 9, the one with the smiley. But then you don’t know Connor. He’s fifteen and he’s got terminal cancer. Well, we’re all terminal, because as Connor keeps saying, ‘nadie deja este mundo vivo’ which means no one leaves this world alive. Despite their former rivalry, Connor and Skeates form an alliance and set out on a road trip (of sorts) to see Connor's dad in prison with a little money and without Connor's seven medications he takes twice a daily to keep his cancer at bay.