Thoughts before reading:
I've never read this before, or even heard about there being a childhood cancer storyline. Sounds like this is going to be a rough read, even toned down for kids. I wasn't expecting the BSC to go this dark or heavy; I've only heard about #117 in that regard. (That's the infamous child abuse book.) Let's just hope it's well done, and not dramatic sick kid lit like Lurlene McDaniel fare.
It sounds like this book was dedicated to a real little girl named Danielle who had cancer. My heart is already breaking...
The basics:
Jessi's little sister Becca has joined a club at SES called Kids Can Do Anything, that comes up with projects to help others. She comes home from a meeting upset one day because she's heard that a nine year old girl named Danielle, who used to be in the club, has leukemia. The club also might be disbanded because one of the supervising teachers has to drop out indefinitely. Jessi feels bad for her sister, and all of this gets her thinking.
At the next BSC meeting, Jessi brings the Kids Club up to everyone, as well as her idea to stand in for the teacher who's leaving. She also thinks the whole club should take some time off from sitting for the next month or so, and instead do volunteer work. To her surprise, everyone loves the idea and immediately starts planning projects. It's decided that the BSC will still run the same way, except club meetings will be optional during the volunteer projects, and Logan and Shannon will help out much more.
Jessi immediately loves working with the Kids Club, and finds the kids inspirational. She also enjoys seeing her sister in her element. On her third club meeting, Danielle shows up. She tells the other kids about her cancer, mostly to put them at ease around her. The club then works on writing pen pal letters to other kids who are in the hospital. Jessi decides to take that time to talk with Danielle, who tells her about how she makes wishes on the North Star. Her wishes are to go to Disney World and graduate from 5th grade. Jessi's really touched by her bravery, and makes her own wish for Danielle to get well. She shares Danielle's story with the BSC, and puts Danielle's family in touch with Your Wish Is My Command (the BSC-verse version of Make A Wish).
Danielle's wish to visit Disney World is granted by the foundation, who gives her family a three day trip there. She has an amazing time, and tells Jessi she will never forget what she did for her. Unfortunately, shortly after returning home, Danielle ends up back in the hospital. It isn't made clear what's wrong, but Danielle writes Jessi to tell her she still feels hopeful.
Timeline:
Spans the pretty typical month that most books do, and is obviously during the school year.
My thoughts:
This was a sweet, well done story. It wasn't dramatic or overdone sick kid lit, like I had worried it might be. Instead it was definitely set up in a way to educate kids about cancer, but without scaring them. It provides a nice lesson about those who are different, and an even better, inspirational message about giving to others. The way this book was set up, using the Kids Club to introduce Danielle, her story, and projects for giving to others, was perfect for teaching young readers about empathy, giving, generosity, gratitude, and volunteer work. I really wish I had read this as a child. I definitely think it would have impacted me, and possibly even kept me away from those Lurlene McDaniel books when I got older. There's really nothing bad you can say about this book, and it definitely carries on in the same vein as Jessi's Secret Language.
I wasn't expecting Danielle to end up back in the hospital at the end though. Even though we aren't really told why, this is a darker ending than expected from a BSC book. Especially one centered around wishes and hope.
Misc:
*This book opens right into backstory, which was brutal.
*For those interested, and those like me who enjoy lists, here's everyone's volunteer projects:
*Kristy- working at a daycare center, with the babies
*Jessi- trial run with the Kids Club
*Dawn- helping at a program for kids who are physically disabled
*Stacey- mentoring kids at a diabetes clinic, who are younger and newly diagnosed
*Claudia- teaching art to children at the community center
*Mary Anne- working with a little boy who has brain damage
*Mallory- helping out with a rec program at the park
*Jessi collects ceramic horses and still has her stuffed animals
*Instead of babysitting chapters, this book has chapters about everyone's volunteer work, which I enjoyed much more.
Books mentioned:
*Brighty of the Grand Canyon, by Marguerite Henry
*The Green Knowe books, by L. M. Boston
*Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce
*Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien
*Ask Mr. Bear, by Marjorie Flack
*Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
My rating:
4 stars, very sweet, touching, and well handled.
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