Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist (KelpiesEdge)

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I don't want to be remembered as Cancer Kid. I want to be remembered for something else -- anything else. Blog and Tweets Latest Blog: Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist shortlisted for the Cheshire Schools Book Awards!

Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuthAt 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? But Connor's left two things behind -- the medication he needs to keep him alive, and the girl who makes living bearable. 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! There’s no getting away from it, the nights are fair drawing in. So embrace the falling leaves, cold … I loved that the novel was set in Scotland! I liked the characters Connor and Skeates, and enjoyed the evolution of their relationship which was really sweet. It was exciting to read as you never knew what trouble or difficulty they would run into... overall I think it was a great debut novel.'

I love Skeates and Connors friendship and I also love Skeates character development , under the surface he’s very kind and caring and just really really nice. Terminally ill Connor Lambert sets off on a crazy tour across Scotland dodging the police, joy riding and looking for answers Not only is Farewell Tour of Terminal Optimist on the shortlist for Cheshire Schools Book Awards - it is off for a reprint already!KelpiesEdge publish Scottish books with attitude. Big sister to DiscoverKelpies and imprint of indie publisher Floris Books, based in Edinburgh. Connor is 15 year old and has cancer. His father is in prison and his sister is dead. After he fights at school, while his mother has a breakdown and ends up at the hospital, he is sent to a government housing for minors thing along with his sworn enemy, the boy he fought with, Skeates.

I wish there were half stars, because this is really a 3.5 book. It has some great things: Scottish slang, wild plot, male characters that are not overly sentimental and thus might be relatable to a certain kind of reader, but all the aspects that make it good are also the flaws. 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 . I really liked this book , it was funny and heartwarming and while I occasionally found it a little unrealistic I don’t think this caused any huge issues. John Young is a writer who is originally from Belfast and now lives near Edinburgh. A former lawyer, he helped 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.When Connor comes home to his neighbor, Mrs. MacDonald because his mother had to stay in Inverness overnight for work: Terminal Optimist recounts friendship between bully (Skeates) and his victim (Connor) as they run away from Stornaway to Shotts to discover why Connor’s dad spent the past seven years in prison. What act could be so vile that his Mum had to kept it a secret? There’s nothing like withholding information to fire a lad’s determination so he drops everything including his cancer medication to go on this quest. The answer blows that friendship apart then tests its strength as they fight off thugs and the Grim Reaper. It’s an uplifting story but, like life, Connor has his fair share of challenges. 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. If I could’ve held my eyes open for 20 more minutes, I would’ve finished this book in one sitting. It is really that good! I particularly enjoy books with quirky characters that make me laugh, and this one certainly does not disappoint. Somehow, Connor and Skeates find common grounds, escape before their hearing and start a trip from the isle of Lewis to Shotts, near Glasgow, where Connor’s father is incarcerated.