Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin

Brianna Pelletier is, simply put, a math genius. She’s a brilliant AP Calculus student (whose thoughts often drift to interesting calculations) that could easily get into MIT. But that doesn’t matter—because Brianna has cystic fibrosis.

Or does it?

Brianna is accustomed to her daily routine; her father must pound the mucus out of her lungs bright and early in the morning. She knows her life will be short lived and that she can hardly live a normal life with her condition. But as a new school year starts and Brianna enters AP Calculus, her perspective just may change.

With a quirky teacher who has a colorful past and interesting new ways to look at various mathematical theories, Brianna might have to start looking at things a new way. As fellow AP Calculus student, Adam, finds out with a bit of research, their math teacher, Mr. Eccles, was formerly part of the band Love. After Adam burns CDs of their music for Brianna to hear, Brianna finds comfort in the band’s lyrics. Calculus has also proved stimulating for Brianna in a different way; she beings to contemplate infinity, and the different possibilities numbers provide. Can she still make something of her life? Can she learn to live again?

Forever Changes is a fantastic and inspiring novel that I really recommend! All the characters are well developed and have their own, believable and loveable quirks. From Brianna’s loving father, to nerdy but well-meaning Adam, to Brianna’s crazy but fun loving friends and the interesting but inspiring Mr. Eccles, amazing characters surround Brianna as she goes on an incredible journey when the desire to live is reawakened in her.