FROM THE PUBLISHER
Johnny Gunther was only seventeen years old when he died of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone near him was unforgettably impressed by his level-headed courage, his wit and quiet friendliness, and, above all, his unfaltering patience through times of despair. This deeply moving book is a father's memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy.

A classic. Trade paperback.

Offered on bookrelay. Accepted by labmomnm.

Mailed today to labmomnm in New Mexico.

Received in yesterday's mail - thanks! I've heard about this book since high school, but never read it. Now I'll finally get around to it, then include it as one of my submissions to PokPok's upcoming non-fiction virtual bookbox.

Later.....Well, this may have been one of those books that I'd heard so much about for so long that my expectations were wayyyyy too high. It was interesting and touching to read, but I was kind of disappointed in it; I'm not quite sure why or what I was expecting. Will have to think about that one for a while.

7 May '05 - mailed to Secretariat.

I believe I may have read this book when I was a teenager. If so, it certainly won't hurt to read it again. In any event, it promises to be an excellent book.

The last book I read in 2008. It was a re-read for me, but one I hadn't read in 40 years, so time for a re-read. labmomnm had sent me a wonderful photograph of a bronze dove from a park in Santa Fe (and having just visited there last Summer I loved the reminder of my trip), which I used as a book mark while reading.

I was amazed that brain surgery was as advanced in 1946 as it was. There have clearly been great strides in treating cancers since then, but the type which Johnny Gunther had is still fatal in a very short period.

I thought Johnny was very brave in the face of the procedures they put him through, incredibly intelligent, and his death was a true loss of talent. However, I think the parents, in not telling him the truth about his illness, would probably have made very different choices today. I felt a great deal of sympathy for Frances and John Gunther in the tragic early loss of their son to such a devastating illness.

Thank you to everyone for passing this along. I'll do the same.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Picked from PokPok's bookbox. On its way.

Chosen from PokPok's Nonfiction VBB.

This book has been on my "to-read" list for a long time. Thanks, Secretariat, for sending it to me!

This was a touching book. I found it interesting to read a first-hand account of how cancer was treated in the 1940s and how families coped with it. I've read elsewhere that patients (adult as well as children) often weren't told the seriousness of their disease.

The afterword by Frances was especially touching.

I've placed this book in debbie4osu's nonfiction VBB, but if it hasn't been chosen yet, so I will likely take it out and send it to someone who has it on their wishlist.

Sent as a wishlist RABCK to Buffheart.

This book just landed back in my mailbox, marked "unknown recipient." I am contacting Buffheart again for another try.

Sent again today by surface mail. Better luck this time, book! :)

This book was sent to me in the mail as a RABCK. Thank you so much, not only for sending it, but for also resending it!

I released this book several days ago in the hallway of the C-building at the Bear River storage facility. Enjoy!