Alex and Becca have always been best friends. But when Becca does something nearly unforgivable at Alex's dad's funeral, Alex cuts ties with her and focuses on her grieving family. Time passes, and Alex finally decides to forgive Becca. Then she's hit with another shocker: Becca has cancer. It also turns out Becca has a bucket list, one she doesn't know she'll be able to finish now. That's where Alex comes in, along with a mysterious and guarded boy who just may help Alex check a few items off her own bucket list. Julie Halpern writes about illness, loss, love, and friendship with candor and compassion. Here is an unforgettable book about living fully, living authentically, and just . . . living. Gr 10 Up-Alex and Becca have been best friends since third grade. Then Alex's father dies at the end of their junior year, and Becca sleeps with Alex's boyfriend the night of the funeral. Hurt and angry, Alex stays away from her all summer. On the first day of school, she plans to make up with her and learns that Becca has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Because Becca doesn't know if she will live much longer, she asks Alex to take her bucket list, which they rename the F-It List, and carry out the items on it. Alex reluctantly accepts and fulfills a few of the assignments, such as eating a hot pepper and masturbating. The story chronicles Becca's illness and Alex's acts of friendship, which are performed primarily out of guilt that Becca is sick and she isn't. Alex is also trying to deal with a complicated relationship with a new boyfriend as well as the loss of her father. The characters have a limited vocabulary of curse words but use them constantly and gratuitously. Both girls have casual, unprotected sex with all of their boyfriends without any thoughts of taking precautions. The plot is predictable and the teens arouse little or no sympathy from readers.-Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SCα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Alex is still reeling from the shock of her father’s death—and the fact that her best friend Becca slept with her boyfriend the day of his funeral—when she gets more bad news: Becca has cancer. The two reconnect, and Alex agrees to help Becca cross items off her bucket list; only since bucket lists are for old people, they deem it the “Fuck-It List” (“noble, but with a hint of edge to it”). Some items are relatively easy to accomplish—bake cookies for the janitor, for instance. Others, like have sex with someone you love, are going to take some time. Along the way, snarky, horror-movie-obsessed Alex falls for Leo, but having sex with someone and connecting to them emotionally are two entirely different things. The Fuck-It List seems to get mostly abandoned somewhere along the way as Alex grapples with truly shitty things that have happened and learns how to live life with abandon in spite of them. Alex’s voice is a strong one, and fans of Halpern’s Get Well Soon (2007) and Have a Nice Day (2012) will embrace it. Grades 9-12. --Ann Kelley “Alex's voice is a strong one, and fans of Halpern's Get Well Soon (2007) and Have a Nice Day (2012) will embrace it.” ― Booklist “A memorable novel about a rock-solid friendship surviving trying circumstances that never loses its sense of humor.” ― Publishers Weekly “Incredibly personal, deeply emotional, and more than just a little bit sexy, The F-It List is a spectacular contemporary read.” ― The Book Muncher “ The F-It List is a dazzling novel full of spirit and laugh out loud moments.” ― BookYAReview “It would be a shame to miss out on this engaging story of grief, friendship, and love.” ― Super Librarian “Readers will cheer for Anna as she gains confidence in herself, dares to rebel a little, and gets well as she goes back to her life.” ― VOYA on 'Get Well Soon' “ . . . laugh-out-loud funny and immensely intelligent.” ― Kirkus, starred review on Have a Nice Day Julie Halpern is the author of several books for young adults, including Meant to Be , Get Well Soon , and The F-It List ; the adult novel Maternity Leave ; and the picture book Toby and the Snowflakes . Prior to her life as a full-time mom and author, Julie was a school librarian. In her imaginary spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching television for grown-ups, and eating baked goods. Julie lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Caldecott-winning author and illustrator Matthew Cordell, and their two children. The F- it List By Julie Halpern Feiwel and Friends Copyright © 2013 Julie Halpern All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-250-02565-4 CHAPTER 1 THE ONLY THING WORSE than having my best friend sleep with my boyfriend the night of my father's funeral would be if she killed my dad herself. Becca didn't, which was the one thing that redeemed her. Still, I allowed myself the entire summer after the trampful event to be m