Journal Entry 1 by potok-fan from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I got this book from Bookcrosser giz-angel in a yankee swap on bookobsessed.com. It's a (perhaps unexpectedly) lovely book about an eleven-year-old English boy named Sam, who is dying of leukemia.

Listed in the back are other children's fiction books about death and dying; I just wish the author had annotated the list a little. Although this book is almost entirely written from Sam's point of view, there was one quote from Children and Death by Papadatou and Papadatos, "When someone dies it means their body no longer works. Their heart stops beating, they no longer need to eat or sleep, and they do not have any pain. They do not need their bodies any longer (which is good because their body doesn't work). Because dead people do not need their bodies we can no longer see them like we used to do before they died." I wanted to journal that because it was an interesting insight into trying to explain death honestly, sensitively, and understandably to children. But that is not the focus of this book!

This book is Sam's story - a fictional exploration into the last months of a young man dying of cancer, supported by his family, his tutor Mrs Willis, and his friend Felix. 

Journal Entry 2 by potok-fan at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I think I'm going to send this off as an RABCK to somebody who has it on her wishlist. 

Journal Entry 3 by Ri at Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Woo hoo! Thanks so much Potok! This is such a nice surprise! Many blessings to you! 

Journal Entry 4 by Ri at Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Monday, November 07, 2011

This is a beautiful story of a young boy's journal experience with life and cancer. It is compelling and full of heart. Though it is written for young people, I found the book to have quite a bit of depth, making it a great read for people of all ages.

I am adding this to the Medicine Chest Bookbox. 

Journal Entry 5 by JudySlump612 at Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Returned in the Medicine Chest Book Box 

Journal Entry 6 by JudySlump612 at Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Monday, April 30, 2012

At only 205 pages, not all of them full of text, this could be a very quick read - if you didn't have to keep putting it down to go find more tissues. I don't mean this is a weepy book. Sam is a normal, friendly, goofy, curious 11-year-old, but he just happens to have leukemia that's returned for the third time.

There are no dramatic, extraneous family issues, and he never dwells on suffering. He does and talks about normal kid things, and he talks about being sick and dying in the same natural manner. It's very believable. This would be a great book to share with anyone you know with a child in this situation, or to start a family discussion. And while you're thinking of it, why not go hug all the kids in your family, just because you can?

But that's just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?  

Journal Entry 7 by JudySlump612 at J&S Bean Factory - 1518 Randolph Ave in Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Monday, April 30, 2012

Released 4 wks ago (4/30/2012 UTC) at J&S Bean Factory - 1518 Randolph Ave in Saint Paul, Minnesota USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left on corner bookshelf