Tag: cancer

REVIEW: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

REVIEW: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Hannah’s work is her life which gets problematic when her mother dies and her boss forces her to take bereavement leave. And that’s complicated even more by her complicated feelings about her mother. And the fact that her boyfriend dumped her the day after the funeral.

But instead of getting a distracting new protection assignment far, far away from her ex and her grief, Hannah’s next client is two-time Sexiest Man Alive, Jack Stapleton.

Jack’s in town to help his mom go through cancer treatment. And he’s fiercely protective of her. Nothing can stress her out – like a bodyguard or talk of stalkers. So he wants Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend while she’s on duty. Whatever. How hard could that be?

Review

I have had this book on my wishlist since I first read the synopsis months ago. First, it has a fake relationship at the center – a trope that is like catnip to me. Then, the protective agent is the woman – awesome! And the plot is right up my alley as a reader.

I had high hopes for this – and it met every one. The characters are endearing (well, not Robby). The romance is sweet and cozy. And an unexpected bonus? This is HILARIOUS! I could not have asked for a more delightful reading experience.

Romance fans, fake dating fans – don’t miss this one! The minute I finished I was ready to flip back to the first page and start all over again. Another favorite for 2022.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best!

REVIEW: Elfie Unperfect by Kristin Mahoney

REVIEW: Elfie Unperfect by Kristin Mahoney

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. But since I had already purchased the book when I was approved for the ARC, I am reviewing my published copy. Still, all opinions are my own.]

Summary

Elfie was convinced transferring to Hampshire Academy was the solution to everything. She was certain the kids there would be more school-focused and rule-conscious like she was. She was certain this would be the place where she “thrived” and would make friends.

Instead, she was expelled. On the first day.

Now she has to go back to Cottonwood Elementary – with the kids who have never understood her, and the cousin who is good at all the things Elfie isn’t, like sports and making friends. But as Elfie returns to Cottonwood for 5th grade, a lot of things in her life are changing. It’s going to make for an unforgettable year.

Review

This was lovely! While I enjoyed the premise, I bought this one because I adored one of the author’s previous books, Annie’s Life in Lists. Once I knew she had written this, it became a must-read for me. And I was not disappointed.

I thoroughly enjoyed Elfie. She’s endearing and sympathetic. I was cheering for her from the start. I enjoyed tracking her whole journey through the book.

One of the things I especially appreciated is that a lot of the difficulties Elfie is working through aren’t wrapped up in the end. There’s no tidy ending wrapped in a bow. And that’s great. Rarely are life’s challenges wrapped up perfectly in a couple months. But in that time, Elfie has changed and grown. And that’s what is most important, and most enjoyable, about the book.

My fellow fans of Annie’s Life in Lists should give this one a try. The format is more straightforward (the structure of Annie is a big part of what makes it special), but the story and characters are just as enjoyable. (TW: cancer, chemotherapy, divorce)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Goodbye, Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

REVIEW: Goodbye, Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Mr. Terupt’s favorite students are back for another year of middle school. Their summer is full of camp and festivals and babysitting Mr. Terupt’s daughter, Hope. But when their 8th grade year starts, Mr. Terupt is teaching 7th grade science. All the kids are disappointed to not have him as their teacher for another year.

But when the school announces a one hour advising block every two weeks, the “Babysitters Gang” is thrilled to find out their advisor is Mr. Terupt. The kids are looking forward to the projects Mr. Terupt comes up with for them, like the time capsule, before they move on to high school.

In the midst of their season of change at school, the kids are also dealing with personal issues:

  • Peter is maturing, getting in less trouble, and doing well in school and wrestling. But he’s also watching his friends struggle, not aware that his own crisis is coming.
  • Jessica’s dad is moving back to town, hoping to reconnect with his family. But will he stick it out this time?
  • Anna misses the quality time she used to have with her mom before she got engaged to Danielle’s older brother.
  • Jeffrey is determined to make varsity wrestling as an 8th grader, in a lower weight class, no matter what it takes.
  • Lexie wonders if she carries the breast cancer gene now that her mom is in remission, so she steals a test to find out.
  • Luke is trying to excel in his advanced courses, which includes spending a lot of time with Danielle on the farm for a project.
  • Danielle is adjusting to the logistics of an insulin pump and wondering about her new feelings for Luke.

But the kids don’t know Mr. Terupt has his own changes on the horizon – and those changes will impact them most of all.

Review

What a perfect send off for this delightful series! Oh, how I cried. It’s been years since I spent time with these characters, but I felt like I was with old friends. They are older, wrestling with more mature life moments. But they are still sweet and loyal and compassionate. Wonderful friends. And they are soaking up time with the teacher who loves them and has drawn out the best in them over the years. (I wrote a post about my favorite teachers in children’s literature, and Mr. Terupt is on the list. You can read that post here.) And aside from some coaching, literally and figuratively, he gives them the space to step into their own opportunities to care for others and make a difference.

The focus of the book is relationships – the relationships between the kids, including some dating relationships (hand holding, a couple kisses), as well as the kids with their families, and ultimately their relationship with Mr. Terupt and his family. Through the lens of relationships, the book addresses communication, warning signs of trouble, service, friendship, and loyalty. There’s also a faith component for some of the characters that is lovely and feels genuine. With the dating and relationship pieces and some of the other material these 8th graders face, this might appeal more to the older end of the middle grade age range, even pushing up to “Older Middle Grade” readers between 10 and 14.

Fans of the series will NOT want to miss this final installment. Mr. Terupt even gets a point-of-view chapter in this book! If you are a parent or teacher planning to read this aloud, bring your tissues. I cried often. This is a beautiful story! If this series is new to you, be sure to grab all of the books – Because of Mr. Terupt (♥♥♥♥♥), Mr. Terupt Falls Again (♥♥♥♥♥), and Saving Mr. Terupt (♥♥♥♥♥) – and read them in order so you can enjoy the evolution of the relationships and watch the impact of this great teacher on his beloved students. You can read my reviews of the author’s other series, The Perfect Score, here. (TW: Eating disorders, cancer remission)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

♥♥♥♥½* = I loved it! Would re-read.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on October 6, 2020.]

Summary

In 1972, Joan, a young wife and mother, teaches herself to cook from her mother’s recipes. When cancer strikes, she continues to cook, when she feels up to it, using the recipes to connect with her children. Family time is precious as they fight for her survival. Through the year, her husband finds some respite working on a table for their kitchen.

In 2012, Lauren and Travis discover they’re going to have a baby. As their friends help the newlyweds prepare their home for a new arrival, Lauren gets a refurbished kitchen table. The table has a secret drawer. Inside, she discovers a stack of recipe cards which include family stories. As she experiments with the recipes, Lauren is determined to do all she can to return those cards to that family.

Review

This is book 10 in the Christmas Hope series by Donna VanLiere. I think the books can be read alone (I started with book 8, The Christmas Town) without too much trouble, but to get everything out of the relationships, readers might try the books in order.

I liked the dual timeline/split timeline in this. The 1972 story keeps you wondering all the way through about how things will turn out for this family. For me, it was stressful. There’s a strong prayer/faith component to this timeline in the book which I enjoyed. For some, the cancer/chemo pieces could be difficult to read.

I preferred the 2012 timeline. I have loved Lauren’s story since The Christmas Town, so I was happy to spend more time with her in this book. The ending, where all was connected and revealed, was terrific and satisfying.

I liked the idea of using recipe cards as a storytelling mechanism. But in reality, it got old to me at times to read the cooking details. I felt like it slowed the story down. Cooking is not something I enjoy, but those pieces might be perfect and enjoyable for other readers who do. The book includes several recipes for readers who want to try some of the items on their own.

Fans of Grandon and the Christmas Hope series will want to pick this one up. Readers who enjoy stories of faith, warm Christmas tales, and dual/split  timeline stories should check this out, too. (CW: Cancer/Chemo. One reference in the ARC to a newborn sleeping on her stomach. Due to SIDS risk, babies should be put to sleep on their backs.)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Zits: Chillax by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

REVIEW: Zits: Chillax by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jeremy, star of the Zits comic strip, and his best friend Hector bought two concert tickets to hear their favorite rock band, Gingivitis, from Tim, the bass player in their band. At first, their only concern is how to convince their parents to let them go to the show. Then they find out why Tim sold his tickets. His mom has cancer, and the day of the concert, he’s having surgery to give his mom some bone marrow.

Fitting the teen boy stereotype, Jeremy doesn’t know how to relate to Tim or to the situation. After talking to his parents and his girlfriend, Jeremy decides that he and Hector will get Tim a gift at the show as a sign of support. But nothing that night goes like they plan.

Review

This is an illustrated novel like a Dork Diaries or a Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Fans of the Zits comic strip will recognize all the major players. And the usual humor over teen stereotypes and parent interactions are present as expected. The cancer story could be heavy for a book with this format, but it’s balanced well with the humor.

I have enjoyed the Zits comics for years. While this was a new format, I enjoyed it.  The story felt familiar, but I can’t pinpoint what came from a previous comic and what might have been changed or added for this book.

I think this could be a bridge book from middle grade to teen, maybe a good fit for readers in the 10-15 year old range. There’s a lot of fun music/band stuff that musicians might enjoy. But compared to contemporary teen fiction and graphic novels, this skews younger in my opinion. Might be a good fit for teens who don’t want the heavier or more mature YA themes.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Friend or Fiction? by Abby Cooper

REVIEW: Friend or Fiction? by Abby Cooper

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Life was weird in Tiveda, Colorado. It was a small town, and no one every stayed there long. People there were generally passing through on their way somewhere else. For Jade, Tiveda was extra weird because her family was sticking around. That wasn’t the plan at first, but her dad’s been way too sick to move away, find new doctors, etc. And while she stays, her friends tend to come and go.

Until Zoe.

Zoe is a character Jade created. Jade’s a writer. And she writes stories about a fictional Jade and her best friend Zoe. All of the stories fit in a notebook that Jade takes everywhere so she always has Zoe with her. She can add to their adventures any time, which comes in handy when you don’t have a best friend at school any more. And Jade’s dad loves to hear any new Zoe story she writes.

When a kid named Clue takes Jade’s notebook for a “project,” she is beside herself. What dose she even do without Zoe? But the project seems to be a success because Zoe – Jade’s made up Zoe – has come to life, and she’s is living across the street from Jade and going to her school!

Review

This was great. There’s a touch of magic to the story that brings Zoe to life. But the rest is a realistic story about friendship, family and writing. And it all comes together so well.

I loved the revelations Jade encounters in the last part of the book – about her brother, about Zoe, about the kids at school, about storytelling, and about herself. There’s so much here, and it’s all so rich. Jade grows and changes so much from the start of the novel to the end. It’s a fantastic journey.

This would be great for classroom reading or a book group. This fits in the “older middle grade” category, for kids 10 and up. There are tons of friendship pieces to talk about, but so much more – cancer, grief, isolation, family. There are great pieces about writing and writers in this, too, that could have classroom connections. The fact that Jade is a writer, that she connects with a teacher at school who encourages her writing, and her dad’s enthusiasm about her stories – those were some of my favorite parts of the book. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Solving for M by Jennifer Swender

REVIEW: Solving for M by Jennifer Swender

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Mika (Mee-ka) starts middle school, there’s a lot to adjust to.  Four elementary schools feed into the middle school, so there are lots of new kids. The fifth grade is split into “pods,” and Mika’s best friend isn’t in her pod. She barely even sees Ella at lunch, and even when she does, Ella is with a whole new group of friends. While Mika loves art, she never gets to draw in class because it’s “not in the fifth grade curriculum.” But her quirky math teacher has the kids using math journals. So Mika does get to draw – in math class!

When Mika’s mom gets sick, Mika discovers that life doesn’t always work as neatly as math can. But Mika’s math journal is a place where she can work on her math concepts while also wrestling with all the changes in her personal life. And that’s just a taste of what a difference this one class – and one teacher – will make in Mika’s life this year.

Review

This book is brilliant! I sat down just to read a couple chapters to get a feel for it. Next thing I knew, I was done. I adored this!

Mika is a stellar character. Her meekness early on and her responses to her mom’s illness felt honest and genuine. But she also changes and grows in believable ways through the story. And I adored her school friends and her math teacher. I love a middle grade story with a fantastic, creative teacher in it!

I’m not familiar with teachers who use math journals in the classroom. But the way Mika uses hers – and the way the assignments are set up to have students apply concepts to personal interests was cool. Kids enjoy middle grade stories that are a mix of text and illustration. This fits that trend perfectly in a fresh, new way. I’d love to see a 6th grade sequel for Mika and her peers with this format. It was so cool!

Mika’s mom deals with her illness and treatment options in very realistic ways. She’s scared and angry and fatigued. She wonders if the improved chances of survival are worth the traumas of the treatment. She tries to shield Mika as much as she can, which leaves Mika feeling angry and out of the loop. It’s all handled honestly without ever feeling like “too much” for the age group. It’s beautifully done. My favorite moment in the book is one where Mika sort of takes charge of something related to her mom’s illness, calling in her supports and resources. It’s fantastic.

I highly recommend this one for elementary and middle school libraries and classrooms as well as home libraries. This would be fun for a math teacher who loves to engage with students about what they are reading. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: In Another Life by C. C. Hunter

REVIEW: In Another Life by C. C. Hunter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Chloe and her mom have moved to Joyful, Texas in the wake of her parent’s divorce. And she’s furious. Her dad cheated, her folks split, and then her mom got cancer. Thankfully, her mom is recovering. But it’s an awful thing for a kid to have to go through on her own. Now she’s just focused on getting through her senior year as the “new girl” and coaching her mom back toward health.

Cash is stunned when the gorgeous girl crashes into him at the gas station. But it’s less about the slushie he’s now wearing and more about the girl’s face. She looks exactly like the age progression picture of Emily.

Cash’ foster parents, the Fullers, lost their daughter Emily when she was almost three. She was kidnapped, and the Fullers – especially Mrs. Fuller – have never stopped hoping she’d be found. At first Cash is afraid Chloe might be there to scam the Fullers. But her adoption story seems to be legit. If Chloe really is Emily, what does that mean? Did her adoptive parents kidnap her? What will the Fullers expect of her? How will they feel about the growing attraction between Cash and Chloe/Emily?

Review

This was terrific! Lots of great emotion to this story. Chloe and Cash are fascinating characters – and they feel absolutely real. The author does an outstanding job building an emotionally intricate story that makes the questions about Chloe’s identity a nuanced and complicated situation.

Chloe and Cash made this book for me. They both feel “broken” – Cash, because of his history before foster care and Chloe because of the break up of her family and the difficulty of life with cancer. And they recognize that brokenness in one another and are drawn together. They see in each other someone who knows pain and isn’t afraid of it. They are lovely together.

The mystery/suspense story of Chloe’s identity was great. This drew me into the book at the start and was engaging all the way through. I think if the emphasis of the book was the mystery, the suspense in the end would have played out with different timing. A suspense story would probably end with a big, explosive moment. The way this wrapped up left me feeling like the REAL story is the relationships at stake in the book rather than the suspenseful part of the story. And the ending is 100% satisfying. If you enjoy Young Adult suspense, you should definitely check this one out! (Language, sexual content takes place mostly off the page)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller

REVIEW: Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller

Posted on by Jaymie

[Profuse thanks to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the priviledge of reading an electronic review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Jane is a “blend into the background” sort of kid by choice. She keeps her head down. She avoids attention. Her grades are good enough to get by. And that is her focus – to get by.

But something is very different at school that January. Some kid is walking around dressed as a superhero, calling herself Captain Superlative. Who does that?! Kids will think she’s weird. They’ll call her a freak!

Captain Superlative catches Janey’s imagination, though. She watches the Captain help kids all around the school. She opens doors for the kid in a wheelchair and makes a study guide for the whole seventh grade to help with a tough test. And she stands up to the Queen Bee, Dagmar, when she bullies her favorite target.

Before she really knows what’s happening, Janey finds a little bit of the heart of a hero in herself. She steps out of the shadows and joins Captain Superlative as she tries to make a difference in the lives of every single person in the school. But when things turn rocky, Janey will have to decide if she’s going to run back to the shadows again or if she is brave enough to stand alone in the spotlight.

Review

If I could give more than five stars to this, I would! (In fact, I looked back and one other time I gave a book a 5+ rating. I think I have to do that again for this book.) This was spectacular! In fact, just before I read this, I read a book I thought would surely be a favorite for 2018, and after reading this book, I can barely remember what I liked about the last one. This one has just consumed me since I finished it. This book has everything I love – a fascinating story, amazing characters and tons of heart. But this went one step farther with a hint of a “message.” It’s subtle, and it is woven into the entire fabric of the book. And it is perfect.

Oh, how I love Janey. She exemplifies everything I love about middle school students. She’s full of heart and strength and fear. She’s trying to make her way through difficult situations and do the right thing. Sometimes she fails. But you understand her heart. You know where her choices are coming from. I wanted to hug her. A lot. She’s a delight.

This was an emotional one for me – at least a six-tissue read. It would be hard for me to read this out loud without crying. But this begs to be read out loud – to be experienced “together.” It’s a bullying story on one small level. But it is so much more! It’s about a culture of kindness, about finding your voice, and about then using it to help others. It’s about family and friendship and legacy and character. And it’s wholly superlative.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

REVIEW: The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

For Lucy, the hits just keep on coming. Her boyfriend put their relationship on “pause” for the summer so they can re-evaluate their relationship. Instead of spending the summer hosting church groups at her family’s church camp, Lucy’s mom asks her to counsel at Dayspring. Dayspring is a camp for kids who’ve experienced difficulties in life – teen pregnancy, grief, loss, family issues, and abuse. And Lucy feels like she HAS to do what her mom asks because her mom’s cancer is back. Not knowing what might happen to her mom, how can she say no to a request from her?

Working at Dayspring will give Lucy a chance to grow in ways she can’t even imagine when the summer begins. It’s a safe place to work through her crisis of faith and her feelings about everything happening in her life. And she will find a community she didn’t know she needed.

Review

Stellar. Outstanding. I almost don’t have the adjectives to describe how amazing this story is.

This is not a Christian novel, per se. It’s not published by a Christian publisher. It includes lifestyle pieces that a traditional Christian story wouldn’t address. But there is a DEEP faith core to this story. And it’s about faith in hard times. Where is God when tragedy strikes, when cancer returns? And for me, the faith pieces were right on target – from Lucy’s awkwardness in the face of things she has never encountered before and her earnest desire to be compassionate to the question of “Is it okay to be a Christian and be mad at God?”

Having lived through a similar situation of recurring cancer at a similar age to Lucy’s, I identified with her thoughts and feelings. Her wrestling felt genuine. There’s a scene towards the end with Lucy’s dad that just wrecked me. It was all too familiar – and so authentic. This book left me feeling known and understood.

I think this is an amazing book even if you haven’t faced the same things as Lucy because her story is told so well. There is some mature content in the book (language, teen pregnancy, drinking, sexual identity), so this is a good fit for older teens/young adults and adults. If I could give this more than five stars, I absolutely would. This was fantastic!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥