Side Effects

As the parent of a young teen living through a leukemia diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment, I feel fortunate to have come across Amy Goldman Koss' "Side Effects" in our clinic's library. My son and I both enjoyed the realistic descriptions of dealing with cancer, from diagnosis to chemo effects to hospital stays to family and friend reactions to school and social adjustments. The protagonist is very funny, frank and engaging, with a clear and honest voice. We REALLY appreciated that this is a book with a kid who gets cancer and LIVES, and that Goldman Koss makes a point of emphasizing the fact that, more often than not, a cancer diagnosis is not a death knoll but rather a big, thudding life change. Death from cancer has become a tired trope in books and movies, and it's really refreshing to see acknowledgement that most people do get through treatment alive (though very much changed!). I highly recommend this book, particularly for tweens/teens going through a cancer diagnosis and for the people who know them. It will help with understanding and getting a handle on what's going on.

This book should have the subtitle "Sarcastic Teenager Fights Cancer with witty barbs and the help of doctors" This book was the best book that I read to pass the time in the chemotherapy chair while getting treatment for ovarian cancer. The hellacious torment and roller coaster symptoms that the author describes in the book made my symptoms seem quite trivial in comparison. I only had chemo fatigue which made me want to take five hour naps but I did not have the months of continuous nausea and throwing up several times a day that the author had.Even though she spends lots of time in the hospital, she still tries to be a normal teen who is concerned about keeping her boyfriend and who is dating who and who is arguing with who.I loved this book and enjoyed it completely.

Got this for friend while she was at st judes with her son. She loves it

This is a truely amazing book that I read once, then started to read again (until it was due at the library). the book is about a girl, Izzy who is battling Lymphoma. I like it because it is from the fifteen year old's point of view. She has very dry humor, which the book is filled with. Again the book was really inspiring and amazing. I'm twelve, I didn't cry, but I'm sure if my mom read it, she'd be sobbing because she'd be thinking of what the mom had to go through. May I add that the mom is over protective.

Teaches readers about cancer and what comes along with it in an interesting way. The main character's sense of humor makes the story easier to enjoy and the more difficult parts of the story easier to read. Descriptive about what it is like to go through cancer treatments but not in a way that should gross you out- I think the author was just trying to make it so that the readers would really understand what the character was going through.

This is about a teenager who goes through cancer and all the side effects that go along with it and her friends in school feelings about it.

Definitely a YA novel. Seemingly well written even if a bit wordy at times. Overall a good read.

I love this book! Great characters, amazing plot, and great drawing ideas. This is definitely a favorite book of mine.