Living with Cancer

July 1, 2011

Gr 7 Up-Written primarily for teens surviving cancer, this guide is chock-full of advice, tips, and firsthand accounts. The views of teens with a sibling or a parent battling the disease are also presented. Honest and heart-wrenching, this title doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of the disease. Chapters are broadly organized, focusing on topics that include the initial diagnosis, treatment, family, friends, self-image, and school, among others. One chapter of particular interest is about camps that offer medical and emotional support. Source notes and additional resources at the end of each chapter are extensive. Sidebars highlight topics such as celebrity battles with cancer, books and movies featuring characters with the disease, or more scientific information, such as the fact that the first bone marrow transplant was done on a teen. With a few exceptions, the material is current and relevant, and the many black-and-white photos are dynamic and well chosen. Read cover-to-cover, the personal anecdotes become overwhelming at times; taken in smaller chunks, this is a valuable resource, reminding those affected that they are not alone. This title provides a nice complement to Cancer Information for Teens: Health Tips About Cancer Awareness, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment (Omnigraphics, 2009), which offers more in-depth medical information while Living with Cancer better addresses the emotional needs particular to teens.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.