First published 1992
Maya clutches her hospital bracelet as another round of chemotherapy begins. She joins six other young patients who face diseases that could end their lives before they truly begin. Each child wrestles with pain that adults struggle to understand. They worry about missing school, losing friends, and whether they will see another birthday. Treatment schedules dominate their days while uncertainty clouds their nights. Between medical procedures, they find moments of normalcy and connection. Their families hover with forced smiles and hidden tears. The children learn to navigate a world where hope and despair walk hand in hand. Through their individual battles, they discover strength they never knew they possessed and friendships forged in the crucible of shared suffering.
Genres: medical, contemporary, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
288 pages · Hardcover · Little Brown & Co
Content warnings: medical-trauma, terminal-illness