Review: Touching Story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 10, 2013
* I received this book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review*Ok, I took a few days to think about what I read, and decide what I wanted to say.This is the story of 3 teens, who have all ended up on the same unit of the hospital, all under very different circumstances.Jason is the cocky football star who has to re-evaluate his whole existence after one big mistake.Bobby is the kid who everyone tiptoes around, just because he happens to be dying.Nikki is...well, Nikki. No one is quite sure how to describe Nikki, including Nikki.Jason's leg is crushed in a drunk driving accident, effectively ending his football career. He struggles to come to terms with it, until his roomie, Bobby, speaks up and says with a wink and a grin, "You think that's bad? I'm DYING". He begins a tenuous friendship with Bobby, and is subsequently introduced to Nikki, the patient across the hall. Nikki has a different worldview, and her attitude is kind of infectious. She helps Jason get a better understanding of his situation, and treats Bobby like a normal kid, all without revealing anything about herself.Bobby is the kind of kid you see in schools all across America. He's quiet and keeps to himself. He wants to be a normal teen with normal friends, if only people would quit acting like he was already dead! He has been fighting cancer for years, and it's only getting worse. Can he have his one last wish before it's too late?Nikki is different. Just how different, she won't tell. Her only goal is to have people see her for who she is. As Jason learns more about her, and the "Rules", he will have to decide just how important friendship and love are to him.As Jason, Bobby, and Nikki become closer, Jason learns that to have good friends, you have to be a good friend. He learns to love, grieve, and accept people for who they are, not what they look like.I really liked this story. The author presents a difficult story in a sensitive and poignant way. Anyone looking for a great, touching story should read this book. The story will help you understand LGBT themes in a positive way. I look forward to reading more from this author.Thanks, Rachel, for letting me read your book!