The novel Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss chronicles six months in the life of Isabelle, a 12-year-old with lymphoma. When Isabelle went to the doctor because her swollen glands did not seem to be getting better, he immediately sent her to the hospital for tests. It turns out that she has cancer. Her treatment? Eight rounds of chemotherapy, the side effects of which are nausea, hair loss and several other unpleasant conditions.
A novel such as this can go one of two ways: it can be totally depressing or it can be extremely hopeful. Thankfully, Koss took the second approach. Side Effects explores how Izzy and her family and friends handle her illness. Izzy tries to be herself, joking and drawing, even when the nausea is too much or when her hair begins to fall out. Her best friend Kay stands beside her throughout the ordeal, showing her to be the very best of best friends.
Koss deals with the physical impact of chemo on Izzy and the emotional impact of the disease on her family and friends. You will like Izzy and Kay. You'll relate to her parents. You'll feel everyone's pain. Like Poison Ivy and The Girls, Side Effects handles a difficult topic in an extremely readable manner. It is a book you should read and it is a book you will want to read once you begin. You can count on Amy Goldman Koss for fine writing, great characters and a plot you can sink your teeth into.
Click here to read my full review.
Excellent review. Sounds like a very good, touching book. Added to my want list. I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeletesounds very interesting, im going to check it out.
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