Talking to Lurlene McDaniel about her work is similar to reading a book of inspirational sayings; her conversation is sprinkled with such phrases as "life works out if you give it a chance," and "all things work to the good of those who love God." She is unflaggingly upbeat and cheerful--traits that seem surprising in the author of dozens of novels that portray teenagers faced with terminal illnesses and their own mortality. More often than not, some form of the word "death" finds its way into the titles of McDaniel's novels, as it does in the following: A Time to Die, Sixteen and Dying, and She Died Too Young.

As the titles suggest, McDaniel's specialty is dealing with some of life's most difficult blows. In Somewhere between Life and Death, Erin's younger sister is severely injured in a car accident. When the doctors declare her brain dead, Erin...