Throughout the story, there are numerous details of Will's daily life as a quadriplegic, from planning accessible activities to eating with assistance. When teaching Me Before You, you might consider having students keep a journal of their reactions and thoughts to each of these themes as they find examples in the story.
Because of the controversial subject matter, this book is suitable for older high school students. The book presents challenging ideas on the meaning of life, the morality of assisted suicide, and the importance of family relationships. Still, what she gains is an eye opener as well, and she comes away from her experience stronger, more confident, and more adventurous.Not a typical love story, Me Before You tells the story of the narrator, Louisa Clark, an ordinary young woman, and Will Traynor, a wealthy quadriplegic. It is a job that almost appears to take more than it gives, and although she wouldn't trade knowing Will for anything else, Louisa loses her long standing boyfriend, and is without a job at the end of it. What follows is a learning curve for Louisa as she discovers how difficult it is to do most everything as a quadraplegic, and determined to be successful, she soldiers on, taking Will on short outings at first, and culminating in a paradise vacation to Mauritius where she confesses she loves him and tells him that they can have a good life together. She asks that they support whatever she is willing to attempt to do to change Will's mind, providing it doesn't adversely affect his health. Camilla begs her to return, and she does but only under one condition. In fact, the news is so disturbing to her that she gives her notice effective immediately. Of course, she has no idea that her primary job description is to keep him from attempting suicide again, in the beginning, but she inadvertently overhears a conversation that reveals the truth and devastates her. Louisa Clark is recently unemployed, twenty six years old, and has no experience in this field, but she is a pleasant and bubbly human being with a positive attitude, and Camilla Traynor is praying that she will get through to her son when no one else has been able. Soon after, his mother hires a second caregiver to help with Will when his primary caregiver, Nathan is not there. At first horrified, his parents fight his decision, but when Will tries to take his own life by making use of a nail sticking out and scraping it across his wrists until they are in ribbons, they reluctantly relent, but only on the condition that he give them an addition six months. Finally, resigned to the new circumstances of his life, he tells his parents that he would like to schedule an appointment with Dignitas in Switzerland to enlist the help of a specialist to put an end to his non-stop suffering. He loses his girlfriend, and even though part of that is because he shuts her out of his pain filled, and chair locked life, he still misses her. He also loses his home, unable to stay there as it is not wheelchair accessible. He stoically puts up with the indignities that surround his new life in which every action requires someone else's help. For two years, he endures physiotherapy, uncounted doctors visits, bouts of pneumonia and constant pain. Will Traynor is a go-getter in every sense of the word until a motorcycle hits him as he is about to get into a taxi. He lives it with enthusiasm, both in business and in his personal time, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, scaling the cliffs in Yosemite, California, and trekking through exotic locations like Kenya, China, and even recreating in Mauritius. "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes is a novel about a vibrant and energetic young man who lives in the United Kingdom and has most of his life still ahead of him.
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