A teen book...a girl with cancer?

[cjanelles]

I have been an avid reader FOREVER, so when I was in elementary and middle school, I always had my nose in a book. Thus, it doesn't surprise me that I've gotten some titles and stories confused.

I read a book about a teenaged girl who was diagnosed with and battling cancer. One of the "scenes" that stuck in my memory was one about the girl doing some art therapy, drawing a picture of an army battling her cancer cells and winning. This memory figures so prominently in my childhood that when my own DD1 (age 11) was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease two years ago, we started with the art therapy concept right away as a way for her to help feel a bit more in control and comfortable with her body.

Recently, we were talking about books, and I mentioned this one, thinking that the title of the book was "Izzy, Willy-Nilly," but after searching Amazon, I find that I'm very wrong. So, now I'm wondering if anyone else might remember reading this book...and what the title is? Of course, I'll search the other "book search" sites, but I wanted to check here, too.

Thanks!!

[LacieD]

I don't know that book in particular, but Lurlene McDaniel wrote a bunch of books about teenagers with various life-threatening diseases - could be one of hers.

[TEAK's Mom]

Oh, I might know that....

ETA: Six Months to Live is the book I was thinking of...

[Doodlebugsmom]

Yep. As a pp mentioned, I'm sure it's Lurlene McDaniel's book you're thinking about. I read those books as a child too. Six Months to Live and I Want to Live were the two of the series that I read. Here's a link to the set.

[Pinoikoi]

Oh, when I read teenager battling cancer I immediately thought of 1000 paper cranes or Death be not proud, but I think you ladies are right.

[cjanelles]

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies.

I've looked at the Lurlene McDaniels link that someone posted and honestly, the books don't look familiar. It may just be an issue of the cover artwork being different than what it was when I was 12, but I'm not sure.

I know I've not read "Death Be Not Proud," nor have I read "1000 Paper Cranes," but it's funny that you mention it because my (apathetic) 15-yr old son just mentioned it yesterday, saying he wants to read it.

[wombatclay]

Six Months To Live is the title I remembered too... the cover art on my copy was an illustration of a teen girl in a (pink?) robe sitting sideways on a hospital style bed. That would have been a paperback in the late 80s early 90s? I noticed the amazon link said these were published in 2000, so perhaps the cover art you remember is from the previous editions?

[Twocoolboys]

I read one when I was a teen called 13 is too Young to Die about a girl with lupus.

[Doodlebugsmom]

Originally Posted by cjanelles

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies.

I've looked at the Lurlene McDaniels link that someone posted and honestly, the books don't look familiar. It may just be an issue of the cover artwork being different than what it was when I was 12, but I'm not sure.

I know I've not read "Death Be Not Proud," nor have I read "1000 Paper Cranes," but it's funny that you mention it because my (apathetic) 15-yr old son just mentioned it yesterday, saying he wants to read it.

The covers on the ones I linked to are definitely different than the covers on the ones I read in the 80s. I do know that the main character, Dawn, did art therapy in Six Months to Live. She also went to a cancer survivor's summer camp, if that rings a bell.

[heatherweh]

One I read in middle school that changed me and still linger sin my consciousness was "A summer to Die", I think the author was Lois Lowry maybe? It was an awesome read, I cried buckets.

[maplesugar]

I thought "A summer to die" when I read the op.

Didn't that book also include a homebirth?

[cjanelles]

You guys were right about Lurlene McDaniels.

I did some further investigating and the "Dawn Rochelle" book is definitely it.

Sorry for doubting you!

Thanks so much!