Search This Blog
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (7)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (2)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (3)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (3)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (8)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (2)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (2)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (2)
International:
- Australia (2)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (3)
- China (1)
- England (20)
- France (1)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (1)
- Russia (1)
- Scotland (3)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Friday, March 06, 2015
This Star Won't Go Out: Surviving Thyroid Cancer is Almost Guaranteed—Except When It Isn't
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in 2009, I heard a lot of people say, "Well, if you have to have cancer, that's the best kind to have." This is true. With a survival rate of 97-100%, it's a whole lot more common to survive it than otherwise. There are, however, exceptions. Like Ester Earl, a 12-year-old girl from Massachusetts, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2006. Four years later, it killed her.
Famous because of her friendship with popular YA author John Green (although The Fault in Our Stars is not based on Ester's life, it is dedicated to her), Ester became known for her bubbly personality, her positive outlook on life, and her courage in the face of a devastating illness. She was a prolific writer, crafting many journal entries, as well as stories and letters, in her short life. These pieces, along with some of Ester's sketches, many photos, and essays from family and friends have been collected into a thick, inspiring book titled This Star Won't Go Out. Published last year, it quickly became a New York Times bestseller. My 13-year-old daughter begged me to get it for her for Christmas because it's one of her all-time favorite books.
Although This Star Won't Go Out has been touching people's hearts for awhile now, I only read it a few months ago. For a book about a kid with cancer, it's surprisingly upbeat. It's also heartfelt, affecting, and deserving of the hype it's received. Ester's writing emphasizes the fragility of life and the importance of holding on to faith, family, friends, and hope when trials come into your life. As someone whose world has been changed forever by thyroid cancer, I appreciated these words of wisdom that helped me remember never to take life for granted. It's an important message delivered by a talented writer who continues to share her experiences for the good of others (see tswgo.org).
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing comes to mind except The Fault in Our Stars by John Green)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), mild sexual innuendo, and intense subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
The Story People2 hours ago
-
Sunday Post/Sunday Salon3 hours ago
-
Sunday Salon: October 13, 20245 hours ago
-
-
The Devil Hath a Pleasing Shape by Terry Roberts15 hours ago
-
Haven’t done that yet?17 hours ago
-
Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall18 hours ago
-
Audiobook: The Hotel Balzaar19 hours ago
-
-
-
-
83. The Phantom Patrol1 day ago
-
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!2 days ago
-
-
A couple of autumn/winter reads2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Reading Recap September 20241 week ago
-
-
-
WIP Wrap-up for September 20241 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Review: The Duke and I1 month ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus2 months ago
-
Sunday Post2 months ago
-
-
-
The Music of 2024: Q23 months ago
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
That's sad that she didn't make it but amazing that she was so upbeat and happy.
ReplyDeleteI should get this for my daughter. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDelete