DEAR BRUNO

by Alice Trillin ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 8, 1996

Alice Trillin was 38 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Bruno Navasky was 12 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Trillin wrote Bruno a letter of support and commiseration, which was saved for 20 years. Both survived their ordeals, and now the letter is being published, with illustrations by Ed Koren, for children and grown-ups alike who face cancer. Trillin is never patronizing; her blend of empathy, warmth, and simplicity are perfectly directed at her 12-year-old correspondent. On the vicissitudes of hospital life she writes, ""The thing that always astonished me was how incredibly well-behaved I was, even when I had to wait in the hallway until I thought I'd been abandoned."" She allows Bruno to share her anger at being chosen for such a painful fate: ""After all, I am a reasonably nice person, had always done my best to behave myself, and there were all sorts of awful people wandering around perfectly healthy . . . while I had to lie in bed having tubes and needles stuck into me."" Everyone needs a friend like Alice Trillin--and now everyone can have one.

Pub Date: May 8, 1996

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 32

Publisher: New Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1996

Categories: NONFICTION