An inspiring children’s book about reaching for one’s dreams.
First-time author McDonald, a three-time cancer survivor, crafts an uplifting children’s story that aims to give hope and inspiration to young people dealing with cancer.
A grandmother tells her life story to her grandchildren in this optimistic book about finding one’s purpose while fighting a dangerous illness. The story is simple and easy to understand, and there’s a quiet artfulness to Nana’s voice. At one point, she tells how she found out that she had cancer for the first time, when she was 3 years old: “[The doctor] felt my tummy and said, ‘You have a Wilms tumor and need to have an operation....But this was a long time ago, and no one ever said the word ‘cancer’ or talked about it. I was just told I had a tumor and its name was Wilms.” But although she receives treatment and spends significant time in the hospital, it never deters her from setting out to do what she wants to do—dance. Nana also finds strength and comfort in religion, which plays a big role in her recovery. The cancer returns when Nana is a young woman, but she has already achieved her goal of a dancing career and has traveled in Europe and started a family; once again, her faith and perseverance keep her spirits up. Now that she’s an old woman, Nana says, the cancer has returned for a third time, but she wants to make sure that her grandchildren know that no matter what obstacles life sets in front of them, they should never let it get them down. McDonald’s prose doesn’t shy away from the reality and danger of cancer, but it isn’t glum. This inspiring story and the bright, happy illustrations are likely to appeal to even very young children.
An inspiring children’s book about reaching for one’s dreams.Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2010
ISBN: 978-1449066161
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Xlibris
Review Posted Online: July 11, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression.
After surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself.
Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself; her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out; her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply; and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. After spending time in treatment with other young women like her—who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves—Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she "like-likes" but who had pined for Ellis instead. But things don't go as planned in the Arizona desert, because sweet Mikey just wants to be friends. Feeling rejected, Charlie, an artist, is drawn into a destructive new relationship with her sexy older co-worker, a "semifamous" local musician who's obviously a junkie alcoholic. Through intense, diarylike chapters chronicling Charlie's journey, the author captures the brutal and heartbreaking way "girls who write their pain on their bodies" scar and mar themselves, either succumbing or surviving. Like most issue books, this is not an easy read, but it's poignant and transcendent as Charlie breaks more and more before piecing herself back together.
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-101-93471-5
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
Summery fun and games with feeling.
A summer trip helps break 18-year-old Meredith Fox out of a haze of mourning.
Her cousin’s wedding means a return to Martha’s Vineyard, a well-loved destination but one filled with bittersweet memories. It’s been a year and a half since the sudden loss of Meredith’s sister, Claire, and the grief remains strong. Meredith, though, resolves to take this time to celebrate family and bridge the rifts resulting from ghosting friends. She didn’t plan on a meet-cute/embarrassing encounter with the groom’s stepbrother, Wit. Nor did she expect a wedding-week game of Assassin, a water-gun–fueled family tradition. What starts off as a pact of sharing strategic information with Wit grows into something more as the flirting and feelings develop. Only one person can win, though, and any alliance has an expiration date. To win and honor Claire, who was a master of the game, Meredith must keep her eye on the prize. Taking place over the course of a week, the narrative is tight with well-paced reveals that disrupt predictability and keep the plot moving. Early details are picked back up, and many elements come satisfyingly full circle. The short time frame also heightens the tension of this summer romance: What will happen when they leave the bubble of the Vineyard? The mix of budding romance, competitive hijinks, a close-knit circle, as well as dealing with loss make for a satisfying read. The main cast is White.
Summery fun and games with feeling. (family tree) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-72821-029-2
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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