March 2014, HarperCollins Children's Books, 405 pages, Paperback, Review copy
Content: moderate amount of strong language,
a few strong teen romance scenes, some humour, lots of tissues needed
Summary from HarperCollins
Two best friends face the hardest future of all – a future without each other.
In the tradition of ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship and the agony of loss.
In the tradition of ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship and the agony of loss.
Zoe and Olivia have always been best friends. And becoming
professional ballerinas has always been their goal. But when they turn
sixteen the unthinkable happens as Olivia is diagnosed with leukaemia.
Falling in love, coping with school and falling out with each other – everything is thrown into a whole new light.
Falling in love, coping with school and falling out with each other – everything is thrown into a whole new light.
Nayuleska's thoughts
I think most will realise from the blurb
that Olivia does at the end. The last few chapters were a blur as I inevitably
cried over the separation of the two best friends whose closeness is one I'd
always wanted when I was younger, and now I'm having it I promise it is as
good as it sounds on paper. It was a little odd that despite their closeness
Zoe struggled with being comfortable in front of Olivia's parents, a frequent
situation as Olivia's hard to read treatment continued. The emotions are hard
hitting, made me whoop and giggle at some of the hilarious situations, sigh
with annoyance when Zoe did/thought/said something stupid, and cried a lot at
touching moments.
The one thing that both the friends love (Zoe
tries to deny it for most of the book) ends up being a comfort to them. Through
Olivia being ill Zoe spends times with girls she'd prefer to stay clear from,
and despite her preconceptions realises they have their hearts in the right
places, and aren't airheads. Their determination to stick by Zoe as well as
Olivia made for tissue needing moments.
This is a book about an amazing friendship that weathers the end of one life and the continuation of another. I'm definitely rereading this at some point because through Olivia's courage and Zoe's realisation of what she wants to do in life motivated me even more to keep chasing my own dreams. As much as we'd all love to live for decades, we all have a time limit on this life so put your all into it...and apparently don't drive in New York if you are 17 !
This is a book about an amazing friendship that weathers the end of one life and the continuation of another. I'm definitely rereading this at some point because through Olivia's courage and Zoe's realisation of what she wants to do in life motivated me even more to keep chasing my own dreams. As much as we'd all love to live for decades, we all have a time limit on this life so put your all into it...and apparently don't drive in New York if you are 17 !
Find more on Melissa's website.
Suggested read
Another touching read about a teen with serious health issues is The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (Young Adult, 9/10E)
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