Book Club: The Cast Chapters 3-4

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading The Cast by Amy Blumenfeld!  Catch up on Chapters 1-2.

Read our participants’ reactions and follow along with us each week as we read through the book! Caution, spoilers below!

Week 2: Chapters 3 and 4

By Marie K:

Chapter 2 – Nolan

We are still so early in the book and there has been an allusion to a big secret that Becca, our main character, has, and one that her husband, Nolan, has as well. Honestly, my mind immediately went to one of them (most likely Nolan) having an affair. I think it’s because I found the writing style and maybe type of fiction book very similar to Maeve Binchy, Liane Moriarty, or Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. It was very difficult for me to read this book in order and not skip around to read each character’s story all at
once.

Anyways, did I get an answer in Chapter 2? This chapter is told from Nolan’s perspective and gives a little history about his and Becca’s relationship and how he related (or didn’t) to Becca’s cancer journey as a teen. We also hear about Nolan’s first time speaking with Becca’s closest friend, Jordana, and his initial take on the video (Becca Night Live) that her friends had made her while she was in isolation in the hospital. (Did this book give anyone flashbacks to your own time in isolation, whether for treatment or for this COVID-19 pandemic? Very relevant.)

Back to Nolan… We see a little of his character in this chapter and can see that he uses humor a lot to get him through a stressful or confusing moment but also, he’s not always very good at expressing himself (which definitely becomes a big issue later). The big reveal (at least to Nolan) is that Becca had Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teenager. He seems to take the news in stride and even (very prematurely) blurts out that he’s ok with him and Becca adopting children if she can’t have her own. (And this is their
first date!!!) He and Becca watch the video from “The Cast” and twenty years later, in the present, Nolan and Becca are planning to attend a 20-year reunion with the cast and their significant others.

Interestingly, and I think this is why I was a little confused until much later in the book because I thought this chapter was present tense but maybe it’s Nolan’s recollection after the reunion, there is foreshadowing about Nolan recording a video for the Cast reunion and how he hopes it will help regain his wife’s trust. Bring on the drama?

Chapter 3 – Jordana

Next up is the preparation for the reunion from Jordana’s perspective. She has done A LOT of work planning and trying to make everything perfect. From the color-coded “to-do list”, and her own admission, we know that Jordana is an uber-organized person (possibly to the point of being OCD, I think). Jordana’s got everything in place, including some auntie time with Emma, Becca and Nolan’s daughter to create a collage of family photos, and then Becca drops a bomb: “Something came up. Change of plans. Can’t go tomorrow.” Jordana freaks out, showing us a little how much she needs to be in control. This also seems to trigger a recollection of her perspective of seeing Becca in the hospital. We see how important Becca is to her and we get a glimpse of how hard it is seeing a loved one so ill. Her reaction seems very real – she’s angry and sad and scared and accuses the universe “It’s not fair.” I’m sure all of us can relate a little to that. Being a caregiver is so difficult and even though Jordana was too young to really be called that, she and her friends played an important role in Becca’s journey and helping her deal with the trauma of her illness. Jordana tries connecting with Becca again but doesn’t get any answers, which makes her anxious.

Chapter 4 – Seth

I admit, at this point, I really needed to know what was going on so I read ahead and had to come back to read this chapter. So, Seth is the lone male in The Cast and we meet him for the first time as he’s parked illegally at the airport to pick up Lex (another member of the Cast) and her husband, Jack. He doesn’t recognize Lex but thinks to himself several times how attractive she is. She has arrived without Jack and, as she and Seth drive to the reunion, she makes several little comments that indicate she is not happy with Jack. She, however, appears completely in love with her kids and says she has never left them before. (This is a characteristic I absolutely can’t identify with and hearing parents say their life is their children makes me a little crazy. But, when I think about it, this means the author is really trying to create characters that feel like people you could actually meet.)

In terms of Seth’s character, we hear a little of his backstory through Lex’s mention of his parents and their obsession with their (and his) weight, his dropping out of college, his sense of humor in his childhood (there is a reference to crank calls he made – who didn’t?). Seth reflects on how he eventually ended up finding his path (“getting his shit together on his own timeframe”) and becoming a physical therapist. There is a brief mention of Seth being Nolan’s physical therapist and we see a text from him to set about referral for a surgeon, even though, as we learn from Lex’s great memory, Nolan’s broken collarbone was repaired months before. (The text message is more foreshadowing and seems to be a little out of place in the timeline. I think though that the book skips back in forth in time a little bit between characters, ie. each chapter isn’t a linear continuation of the last one). Lex seemed to be leading the discussion of Seth’s past a little as they drive as if she’s trying to figure out how to find her own path. She seems to be at ease away from home in Chicago and says a couple of times that she’s glad to be home. (Did I mention: more foreshadowing? It’s all building up to the reunion weekend!)

And, just in case you haven’t gotten there yet: good news! Becca’s “big secret” is going to be revealed in the next chapter!

By Alyssa G:

Chapter 3

This chapter is written from the perspective of Jordana. We get to see more of Becca and Jordana’s relationship. Jordana babysits Emma while Becca and Nolan go do something, but we don’t find out what it is they did. Whatever it was they were doing, I don’t think it was a fun date. Later in the chapter, Becca tells Jordana that she won’t make it to the reunion on Saturday. She’s pretty vague on the reason why. Jordana thinks she wouldn’t flake unless it was something serious. Did her cancer come back?

Possibly. That would be reason enough to miss the reunion. Jordana gets very upset that Becca won’t make it. After all, Jordana planned all of this for Becca. Since the book is set in New York I can visualize everything pretty well since I spent a lot of time there for treatment. There is mention that the hospital was on East 68th St. This jumped out at me because that’s where Sloan Kettering is and that’s where I had treatment so I could see myself in that place. I cannot wait to see how the next chapter goes!

Chapter 4

This chapter is set from Seth’s point of view. Seth is at the airport to pick up Lex. They will drive together to get to the party. Seth doesn’t recognize Lex since they haven’t seen each other in about 15 years. Lex now lives in Chicago with her husband. Her relationship with her husband seems strained. He didn’t come with her on this trip because he had a golf tournament. Seems pretty petty of him to miss the reunion. Seth and Lex catch up a little bit during their drive. They get so caught up that Seth gets pulled over for speeding. In this situation, Lex helps Seth get out of the ticket by talking to the cop about his hometown near Chicago. I definitely like in this part of the chapter how the Midwestern accent is written. After the cop lets them go, they continue talking and Lex says she is glad to be back home in New York. Later Seth gets a text from Nolan about a referral for surgery further leading to the assumption that Becca has cancer again. Seth tries to cover it up by saying Nolan needs surgery for a
broken collar bone, but will the issue arise at the reunion?

By Alexa J:

We reach chapter 3, which shares Becca’s best friend, Jordana’s, point of view. As best friends usually do, Jordana senses something is amiss. Nolan, Becca’s husband, requested Jordana babysit their daughter Emma for a reason not quite specified. Endearingly referred to as “Aunt Jojo”, Emma and Jordana look through photos to make a collage for Becca as a gift. While reflecting on the last several years of life through the lens of photographs, Jordana receives a call from Becca’s mom, Arlene, and after receiving a glowing review of the “girl’s day” they had together as told by Emma, Arlene informed Jordana that Becca and Nolan would not be returning to pick her up, and could she please pick Emma up. Jordana insisted that she needed to get a few things and that she would drop Emma off.

After Emma is reunited with her grandparents, we see part Jordana’s personality show. The well organized, color-coded to-do list, with many more tasks to accomplish, true to her “Type A” personality. A text comes in from Becca informing her that she wouldn’t be there on the first day the 4th of July weekend she had been tediously planning. I’ve heard it said anger is the bodyguard of hurt, and we see Jordana ride the waves of pain and confusion, disguised as anger and betrayal. Jordana ends the evening reflecting on the simpler days of childhood, with an overwhelming sense to pray like she did with her parents before bedtime. A prayer of “God bless our family and friends with health, happiness, and peace.” was mentioned, but I think the prayer of simple tears is just as valid.

In chapter 4, we visit with Becca’s friend Seth as he picks up a fellow “cast” member Lex at LaGuardia airport. It has been a long time since they reunited, and life has certainly changed. Marriage, families, careers, the typical grown-up stuff, Seth on the other hand is on a different path. Notorious for not settling down and dropping out of Princeton, (including some ribbing about it from Lex), Seth is now listening to Lex talk about her husband and children. Reunions and seeing where our long lost friends are on the path of life always makes me reflect on my own, and it’s no different here. Sharing memories, good and bad, and comparing lives, and a brief snafu with being pulled over, a text comes through from Nolan. It’s asking for a “surgical referral, ASAP.”, after some creative story remixing from Seth, he tells Lex, it’s just about Nolan’s old shoulder injury and not to think too much of it, while hiding his feelings of concern for the actual situation. Seth quickly changes the subject to dinner, and later at the restaurant states “I’m really glad you came home.” to Lex.

In our next blog post, look for the comments and discussion on chapters 5-6!

We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!

Book Club: The Cast Chapters 1-2

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading The Cast by Amy Blumenfeld!

Read our participants’ reactions and follow along with us each week as we read through the book! Caution, spoilers below!

Week 1: Chapters 1 and 2

By Xenia R:

Chapter 1: Becca

The book started with a scene that many can relate to – a school bus drop off and reconnecting with a munchkin at the end of their day.  Having spent most of my life working with kids I can relate to the idea of Emma wanting to watch either her parent’s wedding video or Becca Night Live. I found the interactions between Becca’s parents and her friends in the hospital room to be very authentic especially since this was the first time they left her in 7 weeks.

The reader could visual each moment that was described on the pages of her friends in the hospital room – how uncomfortable Jordana feels, how much Lex wanted to appear to be most attentive, how Becca felt she was missing out on Lex’s date, or Holly’s need to be the mother of the group.

Chapter 2: Nolan

This chapter switches to Becca’s husband and how they met in college and how he first experienced watching Becca Night Live. Becca shares with Nolan, very nonchalantly that she had cancer, which I find myself doing many times. You drop it into a conversation, hope for not a big response, and keep on moving. It is a part of you, a major part of you but it is not, most of the time, an individual’s most defining characteristic. And Nolan responded like 95% of the population citing ever person they knew who had cancer.

It was easy to transition to the present as the book did using the touchpoint of the video and the cast, citing how the majority had stayed friends, the last time they had all met up was at Becca and Nolan’s wedding, and seeing how Jordana had become the key organizer of the weekend.

The end of the chapter did provide a cliff hanger by letting the reader know that Nolan had hurt Becca and now we have to continue reading to find out how.

By Rachel C:

I am only a few chapters into this book, but I love the style in which it’s written. Each chapter is from a different character’s point of view. The book starts in the voice of Becca who is married to Nolan and has a daughter, Emma. Becca is a young adult cancer survivor (diagnosed in 9th grade) and her 25th-year cancerversary is approaching. When she was first said to be in remission, her friends, the “Cast”, made a sketchy comedy video for her called “Becca Night Live”. Her squad is a group that includes 4 other people – Jordana, Seth, Holly, and Lex. In the first chapter, Becca flashes back to that time when she’s in the hospital and her friends present her with this video. The second chapter is her husband Nolan’s point of view. He shares how they met in college and the beginning of their relationship.

A few things stuck out to me in the first few chapters.
– One of Becca’s biggest concerns in going through treatment was the loss of her hair. She explains how, as her hair had been rapidly thinning, one of her nurses kept encouraging her to shave her head. And that finally, the nurse came in and “held her ground” that the hair must be cut/shaved off, even though Becca protested. I did not lose all of my hair in my cancer treatment. But it fell out in clumps and thinned out considerably so I had to cut it into a short pixie cut for a while. I remember how difficult it was for me to cut off 12+ inches of hair. I couldn’t do it all at once. Every few weeks I had my hairdresser cut off a few inches so I could adjust to how short it was going to be. While reading through the chapter, my head kept going back to this section. I felt sad for Becca that cutting off her hair didn’t seem to be her idea or her choice. And the fact that she said she “dreaded hair loss more than death” had me hurting for her and that fact that it hadn’t been her own decision to shave off her head in treatment.
– Another thing that stuck out to me was how she talked about her friend Jordana. Jordana wasn’t just a friend and she was more than a sister. She said Jordana was like an extension of her and her family. I’m interested to see how Jordana’s character plays out in the story. Becca notices that something is ‘off’ with Jordana and also hints at Jordana being jealous or maybe even a slightly controlling person when it comes to Becca.
– And the final thing that stuck out to me was while Becca was in the hospital after watching Becca Night Live with her friends, she then watched it with her parents. A nurse walks in as they are watching it and she makes a comment about how Becca would probably be “friends for life”. As I thought about my own cancer journey and even my own life, looking back there were so many people I thought I’d be “friends for life” with..and yet we aren’t for various reasons. The book is based on a 25-year reunion celebration of Becca’s remission. I can’t wait to finish the book to see what happens with each character. The book says the 5 of them hadn’t been all together in one room for 13 years, when Becca and Nolan got married. I’m curious to see how the dynamics have changed with her friends.

By Sarah L:

Chapter 1

The first chapter is told from the point of view of Becca, a young woman who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in ninth grade. While she was in the hospital her school friends made her a Saturday Night Live-style video (“Becca Night Live”) to cheer her up. In this chapter, Becca is in her late 30s, with a husband (Nolan) and young daughter (Emma), and they are getting ready for a reunion weekend with the cast of the video. We quickly learn, however, that Becca has received some bad news (hinted, though not confirmed, to be related to her cancer), and this affects her feelings about the upcoming reunion.

This first chapter covers a number of experiences that I am sure are familiar to many of us dealing with cancer: losing your hair (that weird moment of often physical relief as hair is shaved off, coupled with all of the emotions of seeing yourself bald for the first time); the isolation of being in hospital; the difficulty of watching your family struggle; the challenge of becoming dependent on others; and the blurring of boundaries with parents that often results. The theme I related to most strongly, however, was the ways in which cancer changes friendships. The different ways in which people show up (or not). The discomfort of feeling at times like a charity case. Wondering if things will ever become normal again. Missing out on the little things in other people’s lives – like first dates – as people balance wanting to support you with not knowing how much to share. This all resonated really strongly with me, and I appreciated the way in which the author discussed it honestly, without drowning Becca in either sorrow or pity.

Chapter 2

The second chapter is told from Nolan’s point of view and covers the early days of his relationship with Becca. From the first time they meet (on stage during senior week at Columbia) to their first date, and eventually back to the present day. Again, big news related to Becca’s cancer is hinted at but not revealed, and as I read this I actually had to skip ahead a few chapters to confirm what the news was because I realized it was making me really anxious. Perhaps this is a testament to the author’s skill, but the hints without knowing brought up strong feelings of scanxiety, and flashbacks to my own experiences of being called to unexpected appointments, knowing the news was probably not good, but not yet knowing what it was. I don’t want to give away future chapters here, however, so instead, I’ll focus on another key theme in this chapter that I found really interesting – the question of disclosure. When Becca and Nolan first meet, she is several years post-treatment, and he is initially unaware that she has had cancer. As they grow closer, however, she has to decide when to tell him about her illness, and because we see this moment through Nolan’s eyes we also see how and why he reacts the way he does. I really liked the author’s decision to show this moment from Nolan’s point of view rather than Becca’s. It told us a lot about Nolan’s character, and also removed all of the emotional sides that likely dominated Becca’s experience of the same moment, allowing us to see their relationship as something that existed, from the beginning, in a world of cancer, but without making cancer the dominant factor in either Becca’s life or their relationship together.

Join in next Monday for the comments and discussion on chapters 3-4!

We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!

Next Round Of The Young Adult Cancer Book Club!

stacked books

It’s time for another round of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club!  This next book club pick is Amy Blumenfeld’s book, The Cast.  We’re really excited to read this book together!  Lacuna Loft is busy getting the books ready to ship and are now taking sign-ups!  Snag one of the 29 free books that we send out to young adult cancer patients and survivors in exchange for sharing your commentary on one of the book’s chapters.

If you’d like a free book in exchange for sharing some commentary, sign up below.  We’ll be sending the books out in just a couple of weeks. The reading assignments (for what chapter we’d love your commentary on) will go out then too, and in July we’ll start reading altogether and sharing your commentary weekly.

Once this round of book club officially starts, there are several ways for you to be involved in the book club:

  • Read the book along with us and check out the Young Adult Voices blog each Monday, starting in July for the next book chapter’s installment!
  • If you get behind, check out this page for all of the posts for Round 10 of the book club.
  • If you’d like to contribute your comments about a chapter, email info@lacunaloft.org at least a few days ahead of the Monday when that chapter will be discussed, with your comments and a short bio of yourself.

Learn more about the author and young adult cancer survivor, Amy Blumenfeld, and her book here!

A Gabfest? Join Us For A Gabfest!

confetti

Elephants and Tea and Lacuna Loft are partnering together on a week-long, online conference…

YA Cancer Gabfest: A Week of Interactive Survivorship Crash Courses for Facing Cancer.  Come spill tea with us no matter where you are!

Throughout the week of December 7th, we’ll offer opportunities to connect with other young adults facing cancer in webinars, hangouts, interactive sessions, chances for movement, and more. We are busy behind the scenes getting everything squared away but in the meantime, we want to hear from you!

Please fill out this quick survey and let us know what sorts of courses, discussions, topics, you name it, you want to have!

Make Suncatchers With Other Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Interested in getting creative while connecting with other young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers online?  Join Lacuna Loft for our next Creative Art Workshop making suncatchers and #LetsMakeStuff together!  Craft and meet others while coloring some meditative pages and transforming them into a beautiful suncatcher!  Do this while hanging out with other young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.  We’ll send you everything you need ahead of time in the mail.

Who: 17 young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

When: Thursday, April 23 @ 5:30- 7:30 pm PT / 7:30-9:30 pm CT / 8:30-10:30 pm ET via video chat.

How does it work? We’ll send you all of the materials you need to participate! Lacuna Loft will send you an email about a week before the workshop with information on how to join the video chat. **You’ll need the link that we’ll provide you, a headset with a microphone, and a webcam.**

 

Click here to sign up to be notified when this program is announced by choosing it under ‘Programs you’re interested in.’ (Feel free to choose to be notified when other programs are announced too!)

Book Club: Brave Enough, Online Discussion!

brave enough book cover

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading Brave Enough by Kati Gardner!   Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapters 2-5, Chapters 6-8, Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-15, Chapters 16-20, Chapters 21-26, Chapters 27-32, Chapters 33-38, Chapters 39-43, Chapters 44-49, and Chapters 50-55.

It’s time for our Young Adult Cancer Book Club Online Discussion!

After having read through the entire book together, it is time to schedule our book club’s online discussion!  Plus, this time around we are extremely lucky to have the author joining us!

Who: young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers along with the author, Kati Gardner!

When: Monday, March 30th @ 5-6 pm PT / 7-8 pm CT / 8-9 pm ET via video chat.

How does it work? RSVP by clicking the link below, and under “programs you’re interested in,” choose ‘book club’ to be notified with the link for the video chat. Lacuna Loft will send you an email a few days before the workshop with information on how to join the video chat. ***You’ll need the link that we’ll provide you, a headset with a microphone, and a webcam.***

Join in next Monday for the young adult cancer book club online discussion!

Click here to sign up to be notified with the info you need to join the book club discussion.  Go under ‘Programs you’re interested in. and choose ‘book club’’ (Feel free to choose to be notified when other programs are announced too!)


We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!

Book Club: Brave Enough, Chapters 50-55

dancing hands

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading Brave Enough by Kati Gardner!   Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapters 2-5, Chapters 6-8, Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-15, Chapters 16-20, Chapters 21-26, Chapters 27-32, Chapters 33-38, Chapters 39-43, and Chapters 44-49.

Week 12: Chapters 50-55

Commentary by Krista L.:

I thought these last chapters were a beautiful cap to a very honest and heartbreaking story. I liked Cason’s return to dancing, if in a different medium than she had before.

However, I think my favorite part of the entire book is in the Author’s Note, where she talks about her experiences with Ewing’s Sarcoma. To me, it made the story’s emotions, although fictional, more real.

Really loved this book!

Commentary by Heather M.:

Chapter 50 opens with the girls in camp preparing for the 90’s dance that night. Davis has left camp but returns just in time for the dance. Afterward, the girls are back in the cabins answering questions and MF brings up a time when the X-ray tech accidentally saw her topless and ran away.

This sticks with me so much because during chemo I constantly felt like anything that was once private really wasn’t anymore. Everyone was touching, prodding, examining and looking at my chest. I had to repeatedly answer invasive questions in front of my boyfriend that previously would have made my face burn. Eventually, it just becomes the norm.

The rest of the chapters focus on the growing relationship between Davis and Cason as well as Cason learning that dance is something that has changed but is still important to her. I loved that Cason eventually found a way to dance and share it with others. I felt like a lot of times, this book was a little young for me since I’m on the older end of ‘young adult’ 🙂 But the fact that she kept pushing for her goals and didn’t just focus on Davis was inspiring.

 

Join in next Monday for the young adult cancer book club online discussion!

Click here to sign up to be notified with the info you need to join the book club discussion.  Go under ‘Programs you’re interested in. and choose ‘book club’’ (Feel free to choose to be notified when other programs are announced too!)


We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!

Book Club: Brave Enough, Chapters 44-49

people around camp fire

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading Brave Enough by Kati Gardner!   Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapters 2-5, Chapters 6-8, Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-15, and Chapters 16-20, Chapters 21-26, Chapters 27-32, Chapters 33-38, and Chapters 39-43.

Week 11: Chapters 44-49

Commentary by Melissa K.:

Chapter 44 opens with the beginning of Camp Chemo. Davis has arrived and you can tell that there are weights lifted off of him… There is no talk about his feeling of needing to get high, no worrying about running into Ethan.

Every cancer patient needs an opportunity for an escape. After I had surgery to remove my brain tumor, I was able to go on vacation with my family before I started radiation. While the stress of the situation never quite leaves you, especially if you are newly diagnosed/still in treatment like Cason, you are able to be something more than a cancer patient.

Cason is back in cancer patient mode after she slips on the pool deck. After reassuring everyone that she feels ok, even Dr. H rushes over to check if she is ok. Despite being “away from it all,” it all is still there.

Chapter 49 ends with Davis finally getting some closure with his assault case. His parents sign him out of Camp so that he can identify Ethan. The police officers reassure him that Ethan will now be going to jail. The chapter ends there, but I am sure Davis will be able to go back to camp and focus on other things, like Cason!

 

Join in next Monday for the comments and discussion on chapters 50-55!

We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!

Book Club: Brave Enough, Chapters 39-43

tree on a hill

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading Brave Enough by Kati Gardner!   Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapters 2-5, Chapters 6-8, Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-15, and Chapters 16-20, Chapters 21-26, Chapters 27-32, and Chapters 33-38.

Week 10: Chapters 39-43

Commentary by Cassandra P.:

Chapter 39: I strongly dislike Ethan! His timing is the worst; always at Davis’ low points. By the end of Chapter 39 I was left unsure if Davis would use the pills Ethan gave him. I almost believe he will as his mind has told him many many times “just one hit” and I’m afraid he will do it just to try and ‘get rid of the thoughts.’ Please let me be wrong!

Chapter 40: Hallelujah for Margaret!! This is an amazing reminder that your actions do not go unnoticed and timing is everything. I loved how Margaret called Davis a fighter – such a positively loaded compliment.

Chapter 41: The growth and change in Natalie has been so nice to see. It happened quickly but that’s what follows a cancer diagnosis; everything happens quickly. My favourite part was when Natalie explained to Carson that she’s her job now and that maybe she can help other moms like her.

Chapter 42: I enjoy Kelsey’s strong character and creativity in her career. Even though it’s so obvious that Carson dislikes her she still pushes on and tries to open Carson’s mind about dancing in her future.

Chapter 43: Having a physical reminder (like the NA chip) is so important so you have something to remember how and why you came as far as you have. I also wish that Detective Avery would move a little faster in putting Ethan behind bars – like I said, what a pest!

 

Join in next Monday for the comments and discussion on chapters 44-49!

We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!

Book Club: Brave Enough, Chapters 33-38

man on bench

Welcome to the comments and discussion of the Young Adult Cancer Book Club! We are reading Brave Enough by Kati Gardner!   Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapters 2-5, Chapters 6-8, Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-15, and Chapters 16-20, Chapters 21-26, and Chapters 27-32.

Week 9: Chapters 33-38

Commentary by Xenia R.:

Chapter 33

The chapter begins with Cason learning that she is being discharged and the foundation of her and Davis’ friendship is being laid out.  He learns that her mom is attending the support group and is more open to Cason having cancer friends and attending camp.  The chapter ended with some of the friends from camp entering her room.

Chapter 34

Cason meets Noah, who also is an amputee but she couldn’t figure which leg.  I found this chapter and the ensuing conversation to be very authentic – while they were playing cards different topics were discussed, friendly rivalries were made aware to the reader, and they talked about different doctors.  Noah did share about his leg and why he chose to have a prosthetic while Mari did not. It was a conversation that to an outsider would seem so “brave” for YA’s having these conversations is the most normal part of this journey. The only way we know what to expect from our cancer journey is by talking to others.

Chapter 35

Everyone left when Cason needed to get more antibiotics.  Davis is still struggling with addictive thoughts and trying to find a way to deal with them, when the group decides to move the party to a coffee shop.

The parking spot scene and the group being called out for not being handicapped was so on point.  Just because a person or people don’t look sick/act sick or are behaving in the manner that you feel there diagnosis tells you they should does not mean they are fakers.  I would not have handled it as well as Jase did.

There was a line that struck me in this chapter – Jase spoke it – “Easy would be nice sometimes.  Ever feel like our lives are never easy?  Like somehow having cancer has put a black mark over us and we never get to have easy?” When I read that I was blown away because I have felt that many times and when I have shared that feeling with “non cancer” people their response was “But your alive,” to which I curse them off in my head. It was really reassuring to read my sentiment written down.

Chapter 36

Cason is being prepped for her prosthetic.  In the room are her mom and Mari, who decides to share how many different prosthetics she tried before finally deciding not to have one.  Bless Mari’s heart she knew she had upset Cason’s mom so she added that Cason had a residual limb and would have an easier time.

While the plaster was being applied to her leg, she again had the realization of all the dreams and everything that she had worked hard for would not come to fruition.

The chapter ends with Cason’s PT, Kelsey, thinking about a different way for her to build back her abdominal muscles.  Her thought process was triggered by looking at the different ways Cason was hoisted in the air, but she did share with Cason and her mom that she might be able to dance again.

Chapter 37

Davis was at the coffee shop when the detective in charge of his case called and shared that Ethan was arrested but also released on bail. The conversation ended right before Alexis Foster’s parents entered.

The conversation that followed was one of Davis asking forgiveness and sharing that he was struggling but also stating that he can’t live his life for Alexis but only for himself. This sentiment and commitment is an important one and a mature distinction for a teenager to make. We cannot live for other people we can only live for ourselves.

Chapter 38

Cason began her first session at the aerial studio. Through this modality Cason would be able to build her core strength while recreating the sensation of dancing.

While reading this I had a visual of this experience in my mind. How suddenly Cason was filled with hope and felt that she regaining some sense or pieces of her old self but in a different form.

 

Join in next Monday for the comments and discussion on chapters 39-43!

We will talk about a few chapters each Monday until the book is done. If Monday happens to be a holiday, then the post will publish on Tuesday. Once we finish the book, we’ll use one more Monday to talk about general feelings from the book and anything else you’d like to discuss. We’ll also have a video chat book club discussion at the end! Join in, in the comments every week! Also, there will probably be spoilers so read along with us!  Excited about the young adult cancer book club?  Have any suggestions for future reads?  Let us know!