Too Young to Die

These companion novels are set in Florida during two friends' junior and senior high school years. The two girls seem to have everything: Melissa is brilliant and pretty, and Jory is wealthy and full of energy. In the first book, Melissa discovers that she has leukemia. Determined to become a lawyer someday, Melissa decides her illness and its treatment will not hinder her academic goals. Melissa realizes, however, that there are other important things that she doesn't want to miss. In the second novel, Jory must decide on her future. Her parents want her to go to college, but Jory has very little ambition, especially since she has been so wrapped up in Melissa's troubles. Because they span two years, the novels cast the events of high school into a meaningful perspective and allow for convincing character development. McDaniel's writing is light and well suited to this refreshing and involving story. Ages 12-up. (Aug.)