In The Memory Book, Sammie McCOY's thoughts and actions characterize her as a determined person. Sammie McCoy is determined even though she has a possibly fatal disease. Throughout the first half of this book Sammie, knowing she has a disease makes even more goals for herself. The additional goals she puts upon herself are quite possibly goals she has had for herself for a long time. Her new goals are to make at least one friend, tell a long time crush she likes him and to be more spontaneous. Her old goals which are still certainly going to happen are to graduate valedictorian of her class, to go to NYU, and to win nationals for her debate team. She is determined to follow through on these “new” goals and are possibly even more challenging