Deadline by Crutcher

The summer before senior year, Ben Wolf is diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Because he's 18 and wants a "normal" life for as long as possible, Ben decides not to tell anyone. Instead, he does everything he was too afraid to do - go out for football, pursue the volleyball player who's a foot taller than him, challenge his teacher, and befriend the reclusive McCoy who has a secret of his own. In fact, just about everyone has something they've kept hidden, bringing up the question of whether secrets ultimately help or hurt others. Some of the book is intense and there is frank conversation about sexual abuse, but it doesn't get too heavy. A worthy read for anyone wondering what life is all about.

If I Stay by Forman

Mia's a talneted cellist living in rural Oregon with her former rocker parents and a younger brother. Her future is bright, but complicated. A waiting spot at Julliard makes her relationship with her rising rock star boyfriend even more difficult and there are some big decisions coming up.

All of that is suddenly unimportant when Mia's family is involved in a devastating car crash on a snowy morning. Mia faces her hardest question yet: is it better to live or to give up and die?

I understand they're making a movie of this book. Unless it's made very carefully, it's going to be awful. What keeps this book from drowning in its own tears is Mia's unique voice, and I'm not convinced Hollywood can pull that off. Through flashbacks and Mia's narration, we come to appreciate who Mia is an exactly what her life means.