Annette's Book Spot: cancer

Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Audio Book Review: Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand @elinhilderbrand ‏

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand book cover and review

Hilderbrand's writing is mesmerizing and her characters are complex, which kept me interested in Winter Solstice.

We meet the Quinns - a blended family whose patriarch, Kelly, lives on Nantucket in an inn that he and his second wife, Mitzi, run. Unfortunately, Kelly is in the advanced stages of brain cancer. We get perspectives from all of the kids, the ex-wife, and even some side characters.

Like I said, the writing is excellent. You can feel what the characters feel. But really, not much happens in Winter Solstice. It covers about three months, and we get background stories of all the characters. A few have been in prison, one son has returned from being a POW, and several have had extramarital affairs, so there is a lot to keep one's interest.

Winter Solstice is the definition of character-driven. And that isn't a bad thing once in a while, especially by a talented writer. I didn't understand why we were introduced to some of the tangential characters (i.e. Eddie and the lottery winners) especially when their story was just dropped at the end of the book, but this is a small complaint.

I like audiobooks when you forget they are audiobooks. When you forget you are being read to and simply enjoy the story. Erin Bennett is just such a narrator. No annoying voices, no extra drama. Excellent.

I totally didn't realize this was the fourth book of a series, Winter Street, and I can honestly say I don't think the reading suffered because I hadn't read any of the other books. But I would be interested to start from the beginning and see how these characters progress.

This is a clean, sweet story that I think teens would enjoy also. The characters will stick with you, and I'd recommend Winter Solstice if you enjoy heartwarming novels about the complexities of family.

Published by Little, Brown and Company, 2017, audio by Hachette
Audiobook obtained from the library
304 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Book Review: From Ant to Eagle by Alex Lyttle

From Ant to Eagle by Alex Lyttle book cover and review

I don't usually review middle school books. I don't usually respond to publishers' direct requests unless it's a book or author I've heard of. But I decided to read From Aunt to Eagle despite both of these conditions being true. And I enjoyed it.

Cal is our narrator and he's a big brother to Sammy. He reads to him and plays with him and basically keeps him entertained. But then he meets a new girl, Aleta, and he doesn't have much time for Sammy any more.

Aleta has her own mysteries, and she disappears for days at a time. Cal is so wrapped up in figuring out his relationship with Aleta that he challenges Sammy to some monumental tasks to keep him occupied. When Sammy gets sick and is diagnosed with cancer, Cal feels very guilty.

From Ant to Eagle follows a rather predictable path, but the story is engaging and kept my interest. As I said, I don't usually read middle school books, and there's a reason for that. From Ant to Eagle is definitely written for lower levels with short sentences and lots of telling rather than showing. It makes for a fast read, but for me it becomes monotonous. I felt like the subject matter is appropriate for middle school, but the writing is a bit lower.

From Ant to Eagle has been compared to Wonder. I was affected much more by Wonder and I didn't really see the bullied, disfigured kid connection. And Wonder had multiple narrators which really added to that story for me. But the comparison isn't really necessary. From Ant to Eagle is an engaging journey all its own.

For the intended audience who enjoy "cancer books" From Ant to Eagle is a worthy addition to the field.

Published by Central Avenue, April 1, 2017
eARC obtained from the publisher
256 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday, February 17, 2014

Book Review: Maybe One Day, by Melissa Kantor

Maybe One Day is a sad book about cancer...and friendship.

Zoe is the narrator. Her best friend, Olivia, gets cancer during their junior year of high school. They have been friends since grade school.

The bonds of friendship are thoroughly explored in Maybe One Day, and that is what sets apart this fairly predictable plot. It is just as difficult for Zoe to deal with this illness as it is for Olivia's family.

Zoe and Olivia have spent years doing ballet -- serious ballet. And, before their junior year, in the opening scene of the book, their ballet teacher tells them not to come back. Neither of them are going to have a career in ballet. To see how this affects each of the girls is interesting, because they don't deal with this life-changing event in the same way. But, they do continue to be best friends.

There's also a bit of a romance, which I thought played realistically. Zoe can't concentrate on romance when her best friend is dealing with a devastating disease, but she still find herself attracted to this boy.

Maybe One Day is a quick, well-paced read. Thank goodness. Because I wanted to hurry through it, to minimize the sobbing. Unfortunately, there's not much to guess about when it comes to the story. The characters are interesting, if a bit stereotypical.

A worthwhile read for teens who are interested in books about true friendship, family, and of course, cancer.

Published by HarperTeen, February 18, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
400 pages (this seems like a lot -- I read this quite quickly -- it qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green @realjohngreen

The Fault in Our Stars tore me apart. I'm not a crier--when a book gets to me, I usually get watery eyes. With this book I was sobbing out loud -- and not only at the end, but for much of the book. I had to clean my contacts -- they got so cloudy, I couldn't read. I remember crying this hard when I read The Notebook. I read one other Sparks book after that and decided never again. I don't like books that do this to me (not that The Fault in Our Stars is anything like The Notebook.)

So, besides the crying this was a great story. I loved Hazel's voice. And when combined with Augustus, there were many touching and funny moments. I'm glad that we meet Hazel long after her diagnosis. This isn't about learning to deal with cancer -- she is already doing this when we meet her. It's a romance -- under special circumstances.

I loved that The Fault in Our Stars was a problem novel with useful parents. They weren't out of the picture like we see in so many contemporary books. I loved that Hazel was intelligent and liked to read. The main story line (other than the "kid with cancer" one) is that Hazel wants to meet the author of her favorite book because he didn't tie up all the loose ends -- and she wants to know. We've all been there, right? But the author is a recluse and won't even answer her mail until Augustus comes along.

The slow developing romance was sweet and believable. I did anticipate the ending pretty early in the story, but it really doesn't matter. It doesn't come as a huge surprise, given the circumstances. The characters are so genuine, not over-the-top, as is the tendency when covering a heavy topic like cancer. Of course, this is not unexpected from John Green.

There have been so many rave reviews of The Fault in Our Stars, most of them much better than this one, so I'll just quit. Like everyone says, get out your tissues. I was really glad to finish The Fault in Our Stars, but I'm really glad I read it. I can easily recommend it to many teens in my library.

Published by Dutton Juvenile, January 10, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
313 pages (qualiifes for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 5/5

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Book Review: All These Lives, by Sarah Wylie @sarah_why

In a book market that seems to be inundated with books about cancer, All These Lives holds it own.

Dani and Jena are twins. Jena is battling cancer, and is very sick. Deni has always been told by her mother that she has nine lives. As a way of coping with Jena's desperate situation, Dani tries to give some of her lives to Jena. She believes that if she gives up some lives, someone in the universe (hopefully Jena) will grab on to one of them. So Dani puts herself in some dangerous situations.

It's really heartbreaking. Dani feels guilty because she's healthy. There's nothing she can do; she doesn't know how to handle this situation and her parents aren't helping very much.

Don't get me wrong, the parents in All These Lives are THERE. They are doing everything they can for Jena and trying not to neglect Dani, but it's not easy. I felt the desperation. The chaos. The not knowing which way to turn. The heartbreak when Jena turns worse, the joy when she has a good day. All the while not understanding why Dani is behaving the way she is. Wylie writes these emotions with expertise.

Jack is the main secondary character, and adds a little romantic tension. This isn't the main focus of All These Lives, but Jack helps Dani realize that she isn't the only one with problems. All These Lives is a pretty short book, but I still felt it lagged a bit in the middle. There was some down time where not much happened. But, it quickly picks up and it was never so bad that I wanted to give up.

Dani does grow and learn. The ending isn't all tied up neatly, but there's some adjustments by everyone and things are more hopeful.

This is an interesting contemporary about a topic pretty much everyone can relate to. Many teens will be interested in All These Lives and I won't hesitate to recommend it.

Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, June 5, 2012
eBook obtained from NetGalley
256 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 3.5/5

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Book Review: A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls reads like a fairy tale about a young boy who has visits from a monster in the middle of the night.

Conor's mother is very sick with cancer, and he's been able to "keep it together" on the surface. The only problem he is having is with some school bullies, and the recurring nightmare that Conor is unwilling to talk about.

One night, Conor is visited by the Yew tree that grows in the churchyard next door. The tree appears as a giant monster, but compared to other things Conor is going through, the tree isn't very scary.

The story is poignant, and simple. It is beautifully told, and accompanied by dark, mysterious illustrations. It explores the themes of grief, survivor guilt, adolescent rebellion, family relationships, bullying, and fear itself, as Conor is forced to confront his true feelings and accept the inevitable.

I'm not sure what to say about this one. It was OK. I'm trying to see how reading this might help some younger teens who were going through similar situations, and maybe it would. I can't see recommending this one for its entertainment value. It's a book with a purpose, and I think it fulfills that, but otherwise, I don't see much appeal to the general middle schooler.

Published by Candlewick, 2011
Copy obtained from the library
205 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 3/5

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Book Review: The Probability of Miracles, by Wendy Wunder

The Probability of Miracles is not about a teen girl with cancer, it's about a teen girl who learns to live, as she knows she is dying.

First of all, I don't know how anyone can write a book like this. I don't know what it's like to have cancer, of course I have loved ones who have succumbed to this disease, but it isn't the same. I felt that Wunder's story was spot-on.

Cam is sixteen, she's been fighting cancer for years, and she's got a snarky wit to go along with her disease. The news isn't good, but her mother and sister, Perry, haven't given up. They've decided to pack up and move to Promise, Maine, for the summer,, since there are rumors of miracles in this town.

They pack up their belongings in a U-Haul, and take off for the 1,500 mile trip -- stopping at Cam's friend Lily's house along the way. Lily is Cam's best friend, and they met while they were going through cancer treatments. They also stop at Nana's house, Cam's grandmother. All of these characters are so genuine, I think I've met them in my own life.

Once they arrive in Promise, miracles do begin to happen, even though Cam doesn't see it that way. The romance is simply cute. It develops slowly, and Asher and Cam's banter will have you chuckling out loud. Yes it's sad, but it's inspiring too. All of the loved ones around Cam behave realistically. They don't always say or do the right thing, but neither does Cam. Cam's evolution from quitter to believer leaves a warmth in your heart. It's a slow, difficult journey, but satisfying.

I'm sitting here trying to think of something negative to say, and I can't...

Excellent pace, believable plot, characters to connect with...I would recommend this to teen contemporary and romance readers, with the caveat that if they are dealing with cancer in their lives, they may want to wait on this one. I think it would be too difficult for someone if this situation is too close.

Published by Razorbill, December 8, 2011
Personal copy purchased
357 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Note: I really didn't intend to read this in a day, but I couldn't put it down, and did it!)

Rating: 5/5