As a pediatric intensive care doctor, I have lived most of my adult life caring for sick children in the hospital. But I spent most of my childhood with my nose in a book and now I write middle grade novels. I am fascinated by the many creative ways authors tackle the sometimes very difficult subject of illness, medicine, and death and have so much respect for those who can do this in an honest and accurate way. While no one wants kids to get sick, kids (and their siblings and friends) can see themselves in these books.
Written by a fellow Canadian pediatric doctor, this award-winning and heartwarming novel has one of the best opening lines I’ve read in a long time: “My name is Calvin Sinclair, I'm eleven years old and I have a confession...I killed my brother.” The story follows Calvin’s experience when his younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia, spending time both at home and in the strange new hospital world. The scenes are realistic and both painful and touching. As a pediatrician, I thought Alex did a wonderful job providing glimpses of a child’s journey through illness from both sides of the hospital walls.
My name is Calvin Sinclair, I'm eleven years old and I have a confession... I killed my brother.
It's the summer before grade six and Calvin Sinclair is bored to tears. He's recently moved from a big city to a small town and there's nothing to do. It's hot, he has no friends and the only kid around is his six-year-old brother, Sammy, who can barely throw a basketball as high as the hoop.
Cal occupies his time by getting his brother to do almost anything: from collecting ants to doing Calvin's chores. And Sammy is all too eager -…
This novel in verse took my breath away. LaRocca, also a physician, captured huge emotion and raw detail with few (yet gorgeous) words on the page. Reha, lives between two worlds; an American middle school and a vibrant Indian community (her parents immigrated from India). Both worlds are turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia. LaRocca’s verses are simple, sparse, and pierce the soul. Her poetic explanations of pathophysiology, chemotherapy, and medicine were both accessible and accurate and blew me away.
Newbery Honor Book! A heartbreakingly hopeful novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.
* Walter Award Winner * New England Book Award Winner * An NCTE Notable Verse Novel * Golden Kite Award Winner * Goodreads Choice Nominee * A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year * An SLJ Best Book of the Year * A BookPage Best Book of the Year * An NYPL Best Book of the Year * A Mighty Girl's Best Book of the Year * An ILA Notable Book…
Willem and Jurriaan have a miserable childhood thanks to their cruel, controlling mother—Louisa Veldkamp, a world-renowned pianist. Dad turns a blind eye. One day, Louisa vanishes without a trace during a family vacation.
Adoptee Anneliese Bakker survives a toxic childhood and leaves home, vowing never to return. While searching for…
This book is stunning and rocked me to the core. Since his mother became ill (also with cancer), 13-year-old Conor is wakened every night at the same time by an ancient monster. The monster declares it will tell Conor three true stories, after which Conor must tell a true story of his own. Through these stories, Conor faces the truth about his feelings and fears and the reader joins in the profound and incredible journey shared by unlikely allies. It may be a bit scary and sad for very young readers, but the overall message about self-forgiveness it being ok to feel our feelings is executed beautifully.
The bestselling novel and major film about love, loss and hope from the twice Carnegie Medal-winning Patrick Ness.
Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It's ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking…
This book was an inspirational and eye-opening read on both personal and professional levels for me. Melody is an 11-year-old girl with severe cerebral palsy who is non-verbal and wheelchair-bound. We learn from her narration that she is clever, funny, and completely unable to express herself so is constantly misjudged. She describes agonizingly frustrating experiences with the medical community which hit close to home and have changed me for good. When Melody is literally given a voice, she learns to use it to its fullest and to show up as she truly is. This is a heartwarming, funny, and inspiring story.
A New York Times bestseller for three years and counting!
"A gutsy, candid, and compelling story. It speaks volumes." -School Library Journal (starred review) "Unflinching and realistic." -KirkusReviews (starred review)
From award-winning author Sharon Draper comes a story that will forever change how we all look at anyone with a disability, perfect for fans of RJ Palacio's Wonder.
Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can't walk. She can't talk. She can't write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She's the…
A breathtaking journey across Iran where war and superstition, jealousy and betrayal, and passion and loyalty rage behind the impenetrable walls of mansions and the crumbling houses of the Jewish Quarter.
Against the tumultuous background of World War II, Dr. Yaran will find himself caught in the thrall of the…
This graphic novel portrayal of a young girl with gastrointestinal symptoms and significant anxiety likely rings true for many children (especially over the last two years!) and is the story of the author’s own struggles with anxiety. A unique exploration of the intertwined and complex relationships between mental health and physical symptoms, Telgemeier’s powerful images depict dramatic internal struggles in a more clear and honest way than anything I’ve seen. She also does a great job taking readers through healthy solutions like therapy sessions, communication, and acceptance and does so with hope and humour.
2
authors picked
Guts
as one of their favorite books, and they share
why you should read it.
This book is for kids age
8,
9,
10, and
11.
What is this book about?
A true story from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts!
Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What's going on?
Eleven-year-old Meranda thought her life was complicated enough with physical challenges (she uses crutches to walk) and her helicopter parents. But when her great-uncle Mark dies, Meranda and her family visit Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where her parents grew up and where she hasn’t been since the age of three.
Soon, secrets begin to unfold: Why does the newspaper headline say her great-uncle Mark’s death was suspicious? Why do strangers keep calling Meranda “miracle baby”? Why does her usually calm mother seem so panicky and scared? And what on earth does all this have to do with mermaids? Meranda and her new friend, Claire, decide to investigate on their own. But as Meranda begins to separate fact from fiction, she finds herself in very real danger…
What is the most important thing to remember about stargazing? When to do it, who to do it with, what to look for? It’s none of those! This picture book’s spare, lyrical text offers many suggestions for enjoying stargazing – but there’s really only ONE thing you need to remember,…
An ambitious orphan. A ruthless warlord. An impossible destiny.
Arya Nameless is a lowly Raider posted to an isolated fort in the most dangerous place in Dunidaen. She has few prospects, and as much as she loves her fellow soldiers, she burns for more—more control, more autonomy, more power.
When…
