Tonight is the first event for the new book, and I've spent most of the afternoon at home with curlers in my hair and cucumber circles on the eyes...
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When you are a fifteen-year-old girl living a normal life, your greatest dilemmas should be what shirt to wear to the movies or whether or not your crush likes you back. In Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss, Izzy’s biggest concern is trying to survive cancer. Izzy tells about her struggle to keep life as normal as possible while dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. This story is a raw look into the hope and heartbreak of the life of a young cancer survivor. Izzy narrates with a very sarcastic view on her disease. Although there’s nothing funny about cancer, Izzy keeps a smart, witty sense of humor even at the hardest of times. After one round of chemo, while waiting for her results, Izzy is at the hospital cafeteria with her parents when a young couple sits down at the table next to them. When the woman starts crying Izzy says “I could see mom thinking ‘Who does that woman think she is trying to outcry me? Ha! You want tears? I’ll show you tears! Watch and Learn!’ And the pro let rip with an awesome display.” I thought this was a really great moment because it so refreshing to laugh while reading a book about such a depressing topic. Another quote that I found important in the story, was after going through her first round of chemo when Izzy says “Was it necessary that I have every possible side effect from chemotherapy? Couldn’t I just skip a few?” This stood out to me because the title is mentioned and it tells about how Izzy feels like a prisoner in her own body. These quotes also contribute to the theme of the story, which is “Optimism and a good sense of humor can help you through even the hardest of times. I would recommend this book to any girl who likes realistic fiction that is funny and relatable. I really enjoyed every aspect of this novel. For me, the book’s appeal was that it portrayed a devastating real-life situation through the eyes of a girl who anyone can relate to. I loved how the author created Izzy to be so real that reading her story is like hearing it from your best friend. I think every teenage girl should own a copy of this book. It I truly one of the most entertaining books you will ever read.
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Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss
a_c, April 24, 2007
When you are a fifteen-year-old girl living a normal life, your greatest dilemmas should be what shirt to wear to the movies or whether or not your crush likes you back. In Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss, Izzy’s biggest concern is trying to survive cancer. Izzy tells about her struggle to keep life as normal as possible while dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. This story is a raw look into the hope and heartbreak of the life of a young cancer survivor. Izzy narrates with a very sarcastic view on her disease. Although there’s nothing funny about cancer, Izzy keeps a smart, witty sense of humor even at the hardest of times. After one round of chemo, while waiting for her results, Izzy is at the hospital cafeteria with her parents when a young couple sits down at the table next to them. When the woman starts crying Izzy says “I could see mom thinking ‘Who does that woman think she is trying to outcry me? Ha! You want tears? I’ll show you tears! Watch and Learn!’ And the pro let rip with an awesome display.” I thought this was a really great moment because it so refreshing to laugh while reading a book about such a depressing topic. Another quote that I found important in the story, was after going through her first round of chemo when Izzy says “Was it necessary that I have every possible side effect from chemotherapy? Couldn’t I just skip a few?” This stood out to me because the title is mentioned and it tells about how Izzy feels like a prisoner in her own body. These quotes also contribute to the theme of the story, which is “Optimism and a good sense of humor can help you through even the hardest of times. I would recommend this book to any girl who likes realistic fiction that is funny and relatable. I really enjoyed every aspect of this novel. For me, the book’s appeal was that it portrayed a devastating real-life situation through the eyes of a girl who anyone can relate to. I loved how the author created Izzy to be so real that reading her story is like hearing it from your best friend. I think every teenage girl should own a copy of this book. It I truly one of the most entertaining books you will ever read.(65 of 72 readers found this comment helpful)