A totally immersive read. Conner is such a sympathetic character - you feel for him so strongly because of everything he's going through, and his decisions in the book to make this grand journey is so engaging. It explores themes of identity, about the links of identity and how it relates to mental health and cancer and other sicknesses. Lots of emotion, lots of tears!

Ultimately, this is a repeat of several other books, but with Scottish slang. It's tried and true, and ultimately forgettable.

Combine a standard "kid with cancer" story and a standard "unexpected road trip" story and that's a fair idea of what to expect from this book. It's not entirely predictable, of course. A couple of unique twists. More importantly, the background attitude is unique. Connor displays an unusual blend of optimism and existential dread.

I couldn’t finish this book. I really struggled to read the book with all the Scottish slang. It is a funny YA story about a road trip but sadly I couldn’t not get into it. The slang being a big reason for that.

A heartwarming story about a boy who has terminal cancer, trying to live life to its fullest

Oh look, another quirky cancer book. I always hope that one of these books is going to stand out but they never do. This subgenre is all the same. The cancer kid is quick witted and charming. You feel sad and yet hopeful by the end. But sadly after the 100th time you've read it you just feel bored. Mess with the trope, turn it on its head, do something different! IF you like the same old same old cancer kid stories this book is for you, but I'm just kind of done with them.

Laughter and tears all mixed into one friendship adventure package!

One trend in YA fiction is to give the main character a medical condition. It’s not new but it has been happening a lot. In John Young’s Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist his protagonist Connor Lambert has cancer. It is never going to go away, he is just managing it.

This isn’t the only thing that Connor has going on with his life. His father is in prison and no one will tell him why. His mum works all the hours of the day and his younger sister was killed when he was younger. Basically, his family life is in a mess.

Connor and the school bully Skeates go on a wacky adventure to try and find Connor’s dad in prison. It is the first time in his life that he hasn’t allowed his cancer to dictate his life. This, for me was the most relatable thing about Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist. I have a chronic condition and I often let it control my life. Young really got that right.

Unlike some books of the YA/illness genre the book isn’t set to pull at your heartstrings. It celebrates friendship and making the most of life. It is a really uplifting read.

Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist by John Young is available now.

For more information regarding John Young (@jonhyoungauthor) please visit www.j-a-young.com.

For more information regarding Floris Books (@FlorisBooks) please visit www.florisbooks.co.uk.

This is really a very nice book to read while you’re on vacation.
It’s a light read which will make you laugh out loud but will also make you tear up a bit because after all it’s about a dying teen (and to be honest it’s not possible to not like him).

The writing in general is great, no hard words so readable for any age.

The characters are very interesting and unique, which made the book fun to read. unfortunately the plot is a bit unrealistic & rushed over which made me enjoying the book less.

I do recommend this book to whoever wants to have a fun book to read and doesn’t mind to tear up now and then and trust me if you have a heart, you absolutely will tear up.

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.
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.
Lots of crazy shit happens along the way.

I truly enjoyed this book, the characters were very loveable and interesting. I laughed a lot, cried a bit too.
The writing was great.
The plot was fun and interesting but a bit unrealistic.
All in all, a great time.

I am definitely glad to see an adventurous and funny YA book about male friendship and crazy road trips, but for me there was something missing. I found the book to be very “on the surface” and with no real depth. I never felt any warmth from the characters and some of the events played out too quickly and unrealistically for my taste. But I did enjoy the silliness and Scottish slang.

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.

When Connor comes home to his neighbor, Mrs. MacDonald because his mother had to stay in Inverness overnight for work:

"<i>Yes, Mrs. MacDonald. Thanks, Mrs. MacDonald. I'm fine, Mrs. MacDonald. My mum is OK, Mrs. MacDonald. She likes to be busy, Mrs. MacDonald. No, she won't have a breakdown, Mrs. MacDonald. The Hoover is broken, Mrs. MacDonald. You don't have to get yours, Mrs. MacDonald. (She nips home to get it anyway and sucks the life out of the carpet.) Yes, I have remembered my medications, Mrs. MacDonald. That's been blocked for ages, Mrs. MacDonald. I just keep the door shut, Mrs. MacDonald. Yes, it's mingin in there, Mrs. MacDonald. We don't have a rabbit any more, Mrs. MacDonald. Those are raisins not rabbit shit, Mrs. MacDonald. Sorry for swearing, Mrs. MacDonald. Yes, they are terrible boys down at that arcade, Mrs. MacDonald. Shocking news about that boy Jenson, Mrs. MacDonald. That's blood, Mrs. MacDonald, and we store dead bodies in there, Mrs. MacDonald. Just joking, Mrs. MacDonald. I know it smells like, but I really was just joking, Mrs. MacDonald...</i>"

The humor is similar to that of Frank McCourt in <i>Angela's Ashes.</i>

Connor Lambert is 15, lives on a tiny island in Scotland, and has the typical teen issues. Sure he's crushing on his best "girl friend," Emma, and he has daily run-ins with the school bully, Skeates. But Connor is definitely NOT your average teen. His sister died, and his dad's in prison (although his mom refuses to let him visit or even tell him why his dad's been incarcerated for the last 9 years). Oh, and he has cancer.

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!

Despite their former rivalry, Connor and Skeates form an alliance and set out on a road trip (of sorts) to see Connor's dad in prison with a little money and without Connor's seven medications he takes twice a daily to keep his cancer at bay.

Fast-paced, full of action, humor, suspense (What happened to his sister, Erica? Why is his dad in prison? What is the big secret Connor's mom is keeping from him? Will he get to Shotts Prison before being caught or hospitalized for being without his meds? Will his dad even see him once he gets to Shotts Prison? How will Skeates get them out of this mess?), and heartwarming emotions.

Some of the Scottish slang was unclear (mostly because I don't hail from Scotland), but I was able to figure it out with context clues. Don't let the Scottish slang or occasional Gaelic phrases deter you from reading this book.

I normally dislike books about dying teens, but this one had me feeling all the feels. I laughed (often), my heart raced during the get-aways, and yes, I even cried. Real tears! The last time a book made me cry was . . . well, I can't exactly remember, but it was a long time ago. The real beauty of this book is that it's about two boys on an adventure who form an unlikely alliance and "never give up."

'Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist' doesn't live up to its description. Unfortunately it's neither funny nor hillarious. I must admit that I found it 'wee' boring (there's a lot of 'wee' in there and even some Gaelic). Half of the novel is dedicated to the journey of two former archnemeses ( Connor the Cancer Guy and Skeates the School Bully) now friends, to the prison where Connor's dad has spent the last 9 years. Only for patient readers who appreciate slow pace of the book.