Sick Kids In Love

Starred review from October 28, 2019
The jacket art promises that “they don’t die in this one,” which is both a spoiler and a nod to popular YA books, notably The Fault in Our Stars. Sixteen-year-olds Isabel and Sasha meet in the hospital drip room: your basic meet-cute, except with discussions of whether their diseases are fatal. They aren’t: #OwnVoices author Moskowitz (Teeth) is interested in what it’s like to have a chronic illness that makes it hard to get to school every day, go out with friends, and show up for planned events. Isabel’s a worrier who tries to manage her frustrations (her mother’s absence, her father’s consistent downplaying of her illness) by not talking about them. Adorable and funny Sasha, whose family is open about his illness, convinces Isabel to break her no-dating rule. Following the teens through relationship issues and health challenges makes for touching reading. Most refreshing is Moskowitz’s ability to take up real issues connected to chronic illness without insisting that the kids who have them be either heroes or martyrs. Ages 14–up.

A lovely teen novel is brought to life by narrator Amy Melissa Bentley. Bentley provides a New York accent that is accurate in cadence and intonation, setting the stage for this Queens romance. Isabel and Sasha, both suffering from illnesses that affect their day-to-day lives, meet at a local hospital while receiving treatment. Bentley approaches challenging moments with the questioning and apologetic humility that characterize young Isabel. As the duo continue to share their experiences and explore their relationship, Bentley helps listeners connect with Isabel's feelings about how her gender and "invisible" disease have affected her treatment and her outlook on her future. This is definitely worth a listen. S.K.G. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine