Live While We're Young- One Direction

The book starts with the quote "wait for death with a cheerful mind". This is exactly what the two main characters, Sylvie and Richie, plan to do. Both of them have cancer, and both of them are spending the last of their days in a hospice unit. They are determined to make the most of the situation. Their adventures start on the night before Halloween, where they dress up in costume and set things on fire in the hospice lobby. After that, they begin to do everything that they can to liven up the hospice. Richie sneaks out to a party, Sylvie tells her parents off, and together both of them decide that they will not let themselves die.

I Need A Minute- Imagine Dragons

This song represents Richie. He's a seventeen year old boy who has a really hard time wrapping his head around the whirlwind that has entered his life, going by the name of Sylvie. Before he met her, Richie had kind of wrapped his mind around dying young. Sure, he didn't want to, but he didn't see the point in fighting it. He stopped eating and stopped caring about how he looked. That's when he met her. Sylvie. She told him that she wasn't going to die, that the doctors were wrong. He had never seen somebody with a death sentence look so hopeful. The song is all about needing some time to figure things out, and that's exactly what Richie needs. Some time to figure out Sylvie.

Flashlight- Jessie J

Richie's been sick for nearly half of his life. He's been in and out of hospitals and has had dozens of tests and surgeries done. Basically, his life is crazy. The only normal thing in it is his mom. She's slept in every single hospital room with him and even when he does crazy stuff (like setting things on fire in the hospice lobby, for example), she still loves him. A single mother that's far too busy to socialize, Richie really is all that she has. Even though he hates to admit it, because he's a teenager, she's all that Richie has, too. Both Richie and his mom know that he doesn't have much longer to live. This might be why they love each other so much and spend as much time together as they possibly can.

Good Girls- Five Seconds Of Summer

This song is the perfect description of Sylvie. Before she got cancer, she was in the popular crowd. She was gorgeous. She also had gorgeous friends, a supportive family, and a handsome boyfriend. After she got cancer, people assumed that she was too weak to really cause any trouble. However, she soon proves that this is anything but true. Although she plays innocent when it suits her, for the most part she's quite the firecracker. For one thing, she hates how protective her parents are and disobeys them whenever she gets the chance. She's also quite determined to lose her virginity as soon as possible, and determined to fight against death until she's not sick anymore.

Believer- American Authors

Like I said before, Sylvie is very determined to stay alive. She somehow knows that she'll be healed, even though nobody believes her. With lyrics like, "I'm just a believer that things will get better," this song perfectly describes Sylvie's optimistic personality. No matter what happens, she knows that things will turn out okay.

Polaroid- Imagine Dragons

One of the other main characters is Phil, Richie's uncle. He's been an underdog his entire life. He gets into fights, he dropped out of school, he sleeps around, he's constantly getting fired, and he's gotten sued a few times. Yet somehow he's incredibly happy and constantly looking for new ways to have fun. He has made it his mission to brighten up Richie's life as much as possible, usually by doing things that he shouldn't, like bringing Richie suggestive magazines or sneaking him toys (like the time he brought Richie an entire badminton set, net and all) that aren't allowed in the hospital. He's an amazing artist, and even though he doesn't say it, he really does care about his family.

Victorious- Panic! At The Disco

Phil loves having fun and breaking rules at the same time. This is why, on Halloween, he takes Richie out of the hospital for a few hours and they go downtown. For a while, they watch little kids trick-or-treat. Phil soon gets bored and takes Richie to a bar that's full of loud music, bright lights, alcohol, and people in costumes. Although the description is very vague, I thought that it would feel a lot like this song.

Tiptoe- Imagine Dragons

Besides of cancer, the biggest problem in Richie's life is Sylvie's dad. He's convinced that Richie's main goal is to hurt his daughter. He'd probably kill Richie if he was allowed. Instead, he settles for the next best thing: prowling the hallway in front of Sylvie's door at almost all hours and threatening Richie whenever he gets the chance. The man terrifies Richie, but he tries not to show it and instead threatens him right back. In one instance, Richie actually punches him in the face.

Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars

Of course, as luck would have it, Sylvie and Richie fall in love. Perhaps it's because they're the only kids in the hospice unit. Or maybe it's just to spite Sylvie's dad. Whatever it is, they fall fast and hard. Pretty soon all that they want to do is spend time together, especially because they know that any day might be their last. It's actually a very sweet relationship. Neither of them care about themselves that much anymore, but they start to again so they can better care for each other. Both of them try to look nice for their "dates" and Richie even begins eating again to get his strength back up.

Won't Stop Running- A Great Big World

Because they're irrational teenagers, Sylvie and Richie decide that they have to have sex together. And soon. With some help from Richie's grandmother and the nurses, they get Sylvie's dad out of the hospital for a few hours. Then they "do the do" and are the happiest that they've been in a long time.

Say Something- A Great Big World

As I said before, Richie and Sylvie are irrational teenagers. They had sex without thinking about what the consequences might be. The next day, Richie finds out that Sylvie hemorrhaged and could bleed to death. Richie, of course, feels completely responsible. What makes it even worse is that he can't help her. All he can do is hope that she can keep her fighting spirit and stay alive.

Bad Blood- Bastille

When Sylvie's dad finds out that his daughter is on the brink of death, and it's because of Richie, he snaps. He tackles Richie, throwing punches until some of the nurses pull him off. However, he's still not satisfied. He calls a meeting with the staff, Richie, and Richie's mother, and they all agree that Richie is no longer allowed to talk to Sylvie. In fact, he's not even allowed to go on the side of the hall where her room is. Sylvie's dad is determined that his daughter and Richie will never see each other again. Richie thinks that it's outrageous. Yes, he made a mistake and he feels like crap. But Sylvie's dad hasn't exactly been an angel. In Richie's mind, both of them should just put the past in the past and let things go back to where they were.

Human- Christina Perri

A few days later, Sylvie's dad challenges Richie to a game of cards. Instead of playing for money, though, they're playing for hours. Days. Time to live. Sylvie's dad is playing for Sylvie and Richie is playing for himself. It's near the end of the game, when Richie knows he has the winning hand, that Sylvie's dad says, "She's fifteen, Richard. Fifteen." It's then that Richie realizes that he's already lived two years longer than she has. He's had more time than she probably ever will. When he looks at Sylvie's dad, he no longer sees a scary man. He sees a scared one that isn't ready to say goodbye to his daughter yet. And so, Richie puts his cards down on the table and lies. He tells Sylvie's father that he just won, that all of those days are Sylvie's now.

I Lived- OneRepublic

The book doesn't say whether Sylvie and Richie die. I don't think it really matters. The main thing is that they lived. They took the time that they had and made the most of it. Many of us seem to just go day to day, without really thinking about how amazing it is that we're our hearts are beating. I think if we all lived like reckless teenagers on their deathbeds, the world would be a much more colorful place.