A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending

A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending is a non-fiction (I believe), short illustrated book about a teenage girl who has leukemia. It is beautifully illustrated and very immersive - I felt all the emotions the narrator was going through. It was interesting to read from the perspective of someone who has cancer and thinks they are going to die. In this case, there's a happy ending (as you can tell from the title).

This book is short, sweet but also incredibly moving.
It is a reminder of all of the things that we take for granted, presented in a heart wrenching and emotional tale of a young girl with Cancer.
The illustrations are wonderful.
The content is intense yet so easy to read.

Fortunately the author lets you know from the cover that this is a story "with a happy ending." That makes it easier to read.

This book is told from the point of view of a fifteen year old girl who has been treated for cancer. She voices feelings that young cancer patients most likely experience but do not, perhaps, share with those around them. For example, the teen in this book does not want to be told that she is brave. She does not feel that she is and she feels pressure to have to be that way, fearing that she will disappoint others. This girl talks frankly about what it is like to be in the hospital, her sadness at the death of a friend and her teenage crush on a boy named Victor. Everything that is expressed feels very genuine. Reading this even though the reader knows the ending from the title, there is suspense. The reader will feel relief as they close the book.

I recommend this one for kids of the right age; it will help them to know that they are not alone with their feelings but that others have experienced them as well The book is also a valuable resource for parents and caretakers. It will help them to be more sensitive to the person that is going through the experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an important read.

This illustrated story is one of the most thoughtful that I have read in a long time, what it lacks in length it makes up for in content. Our main character is battling cancer. Don’t tell her how strong she is, that doesn’t make her feel better and she goes into detail about the guilt that entails. This is not a rosy picture of cancer, there is loss and pain and depressive thoughts. There is also love and friendship and acceptance of something that a fifteen year old shouldn’t have to deal with, but so many teenagers do. The artwork is extremely complimentary to the story and in fact gives the words more meaning by helping the reader see the unspoken thoughts of the character.

The ending is indeed happy, and that may be the only difficult part for someone reading this and dealing with cancer, but not everyone gets that happy ending in this book and I think that is reality. It is also made clear that surviving cancer is not a matter of strength or just wanting it bad enough, and that there is no obvious reason why some do and some don’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will admit, I'm very glad the ending was in the title. Even knowing that, I still felt my breath catching with concern at the end, as though I was afraid the author lied. The author did not lie, and I was relieved.
I'm giving this book 4 stars because it was good and beautiful and made me feel.
The artwork, simple in a way far different than simplicist, added so much to the words on each page. From the colors to the emotions, the soul of the story.
Despite having never gone though anything like that in my own life, I felt as though I could empathis, if not actually relate. As though I could have an idea of what it might be like.
I think this story is good for all ages, because it is honest without being cruel. From the curious adult, to the child trying to understand, I think everyone can learn from it.

This is a graphic novel about a teenage girl with cancer, she is waiting for the response from the doctor of what her faith will be. Meanwhile, we get a story of her life and her thoughts on growing up sick.

I thought this story was really cute and touching. It is quite short, and I read it really quickly. It still manages to bring a punch and get you in the feels. The illustrations are unique and really brings forward the emotions in the story.

The ending is told to us in the title, but that is okay. The story gives hope. And I think that was most point. That through all the suffering and hard life this girl has had, finally she can breathe and be free for a time. We don’t find out what happens to her after, so I’m hoping she is well.

All in all, a short, touching and cute story, with the illustrations that fits perfectly. And an hopeful ending. 3.75/5 stars!

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with this eArc.

A story about cancer with a happy ending is about a young girl who deals with the challenges of facing and dealing with cancer. Learning to go through life with sadness, life death and even learning to love when it seems there is no chance. A beautiful and compelling story that packs a lot of meaning and a lot of truth, with beautiful illustrations it definitely will give you a tear in your eyes and a hope in your heart.
I enjoyed this quick story, the illustrations where done very well it captured the moment that the author was projecting and thankfully it does have a happy ending...

A graphic novel that shares the experiences of a 15 year old girl who has been battling leukemia for years. She and her parents are at the hospital about to hear from the doctor her life expectancy after the latest treatments. She reflects on what it has been like to go through cancer treatments and everything she’ll miss if she is about to die, especially her family and boyfriend.

As someone who has walked through cancer with an immediate family member, I can definitely say that even though this is fictional it comes across as very authentic and realistic. (In fact, I wondered if it was an autobiography reading it.) From the variety of physical feelings and emotions the girl shares she is going through, to what her family is going through, to the way strangers treat her, the author nails it. The color palette also does a lot to convey the tone of the story. It’s a very quick read, and the title gives away that it ends well, but it is still powerful and would be a great read especially for classmates of someone going through cancer or just for readers who like emotional, realistic stories.

Notes on content [Based on ARC]: No language issues. One partial butt depicted and a joke about the boyfriend first seeing his girlfriend’s butt thanks to a hospital gown. No sexual content. The death of another cancer patient is mentioned. Symptoms of the disease and side-effects of the treatments are mentioned, but nothing gross depicted.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Story About Cancer (With a Happy Ending) is exactly what the title suggests. Through simple but lovely illustrations, it tells the story of a teenager who was diagnosed with cancer. The graphic novel is short, less than 50 pages, but surprisingly, it still manages to tell a story and dive into the narrator's relationships with her family, friends, and boyfriend. I wish that it had been longer, but I think that the short length will help it appeal to adults, young adults, and children alike. It's told in a simplistic style with a relatively young voice, which I think makes it accessible for all.

The art is quite lovely. The colors (or lack of color) are quite simplistic, but also symbolic. The art style is hand drawn in what seems to be watercolor or ink. It's appealing to look at and compliments the writing quite well.

I'm rating this at a 3.5/5, which I'll round up to a 4/5 on review sites. While it effectively told a story through text and illustrations, I didn't connect with it completely. Emotional subjects like familial relationships were touched upon, but not elaborated on. I just wish that the story had been longer. I probably won't remember this graphic novel in a few months time, and I don't feel a need to own this book for myself when it comes out. Still, I really appreciated the happy ending, and the fact that I knew going into the story that their would be a happy ending. I've read way too many cancer stories that left me broken at the end, so this was a refreshing addition to the genre that anyone can enjoy.

This was a brief, beautiful look at a young girl's cancer journey--from discovery at age 10 to the "is it gone or not" moment at age 15 and everything in between. The illustrations are stark, simple, and powerful--sometimes realistic and sometimes bordering on surreal. Our narrator tells a heartbreaking story with frank honesty--how she hates people telling her she's strong and she'll beat this, how she sometimes wonders if it would be easier to just die.

I wish there had been more...it's almost too brief to form any connections. However, I did find myself invested and become more and more anxious as the story went on. I knew that even though it says "Happy Ending" in the title, that doesn't always mean the same thing for everyone--so I was nervous for our brave narrator and her family.

This is a thought provoking reflection on what it is like to be treated for cancer. The speaker is a teenager, who has been, as the title tells us, a happy ending, so I'm not giving anything away here.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-18-at-4.53.36-PM-1024x695.png" alt="A story about Cancer" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4916" />

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Screen-Shot-2019-01-16-at-11.13.57-PM-1024x705.png" alt="A story about Cancer" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4898" />

But it isn't so much that the ending is given away, since it is, but her reflections on what her life has been like while she's been treated. How her hospital companion died, no matter how hard she fought to live.

How telling someone to be strong is not the best thing to tell someone.

How cancer doesn't care if you are strong or not.

A lot is packed into this graphic novel like picture book.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I have yet to experience a graphic novel in this style and I absolutely adored the illustration and cute, upbeat story. This was a real winner.

A Story About Cancer (With A Happy Ending) is about a 15-year-old girl with leukaemia. It is a very short story, forming 49 pages in total. It is a beautifully illustrated book with a very symbolic colour scheme that related very much to how the girl was feeling.
It started off as her going into the hospital to find out if the treatments that she was talking were working; before diving into when she got it 5 years ago, and how she felt regarding how people treated her once they found out she had cancer, to other significant factors that have affected her over the past 5 years, including finding her first love. As the title suggests, this story ends with a happy ending which is a nice factor considering how emotional this book gets.
I highly enjoyed reading it with all the lovely illustrations it accompanied.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending is such an important book.

This story tells the tale of a 15 year old girl with cancer, waiting to find out the results from her treatments. Though this is a short story, it explores complex topics such as anxiety and how others' words can impact someone with an illness.

I think this is a very important read for younger readers, especially those who have experience with cancer to some capacity. The illustrations are unique and lovely, and truly capture the essence of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to experience this gorgeous book!

This book truly hit home for me. My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer when I was in 7th grade. If you know any immediate family, close friends, or if you have even experienced cancer, this book will become very important. I was crying at the end.

This book is perfect for all ages because of the happy ending. While adults may take more from it than children, it is still something to be taught to younger generations. I will be passing along this book to my mother and possibly buying her a copy of the physical version. I will never forget reading this book and how thought provoking it is. Bravo, truly.

I'm not sure whether this is my mistaken preconceived notions regarding how the story would go, but <i>A Story About Cancer (with a Happy Ending)</i> by India Desjardins and illustrated by Marianne Ferrer was a <i>lot</i> darker than I thought it would be. I guess the inclusion of a happy ending didn't mean that the story would follow a less dejecting tale in the beginning. And yet, I still can't help feeling as though I expected quite a bit more optimism, hope, and happiness peppered throughout the book. That is not to say, of course, that this isn't a good story. It is. The book follows the tale of a young girl, diagnosed and receiving treatment as she navigates the world of living as a cancer patient with the potential of an early death looming over her.

I'll be honest, some parts of the story were difficult to read through, leaving me feeling rather upset for a while afterward. It really does, at times, break your heart. And I think that's to be expected from a story like this. The account of the girl's experiences, the near entirety of her life, is one you follow through with her. You empathize and can almost feel a lot of the pain yourself.

And, of course, you expect a happy ending. This isn't a book where you get blindsided by a lack of happy ending, which is incredibly nice. Any reader can figure out how it will end, of course. I do feel that the ending came a bit too quickly and went by faster than I'd have liked, especially after the grey feeling you get from the majority of the book.

While I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork, it definitely added to the story in a unique way. I can be pretty picky when it comes to illustrations of people and it can tend to take away from the story for me. But all in all, <i>A Story About Cancer (with a Happy Ending)</i> is definitely a book worth reading, especially if a person feels it would help them navigate their own story.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

I was a bit dubious about reading this so soon as I lost my Nan to cancer in September. However, this was so beautiful! I haven't read, in fact I don't think I've ever seen a book quite like this. It's definitely something that should be talked about more. It created a lot of emotions while reading it as it brought back a lot of memories, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it! And reading the last page... wow. Goosebumps all over and a big smile on my face! It's a feelgood story (although, of course, along the way, there is a great deal of sadness to be felt). The author provided a true and honest story of how someone going through this would feel (I imagine). The artwork was absolutely stunning!

Review to be posted at all sources mentioned on my profile on 29th of January.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Wow, I am so happy I have a chance to read this book. I just had to read this book, for personal reasons. I was steeling myself for the inevitable tears that would be falling from my eyes, whether it gets a happy ending or a sad ending both will make me cry. One because they survived, the other because they didn't. A life lost due to cancer. :(

I agree fully with her on hospitals and their colour schemes. Indeed, they are done to make people calm, but if I am sick at a hospital I would rather see happy colours. Colours that warm me. Colours that make me smile and maybe forget being sick for just a tiny bit of time.

We see how our MC was diagnosed for leukemia after being very tired and having headaches. We see her stuck to machines as she is being tested.

We read about how she felt throughout treatment, how people looked at her with sad eyes, how they tried to encourage her and tell her happy words, while all she wanted was to be treated normally. Yes, she is sick but she is still herself. It was quite nice how they illustrated this scene. You saw dark text bubbles coming out of people, and scribblies land on our MC's body. I do wonder why she thought that people would be disappointed in her if she didn't get better. Why do you think that? That is not how that works. Sorry. At least not for me, so I was kind of shocked that she thought that. :(

We read about the parents, how her mom tried to make her room so much more homely, how her dad tried to ward away the sadness by bad humour (and loved how she eventually understood her dad's bad humour was just a way to protect himself).

Wow, she didn't even recognise that she was in love with Victor, instead thinking she was just getting new symptoms. Oh my goodness. Well, that is a nice surprise for her. No you are not getting new symptoms, congrats this is your first love (at least I am guessing it is as otherwise she would have recognised the symptoms). I loved reading on how Victor and see got closer and closer, and then had a laugh that when he visited her in the hospital he saw her bum through the nightgown and is now bragging about it. :P

I did think the story was a bit all over the place. I am sure people will be angry I said this, but we jump so much around. Like how we went from hey meet Maxine to Maxine is dead to Maxine is still alive to oh now we are burying her and back to finding out what is going on with our MC (will she get better or not). Same goes for Victor, he was suddenly introduced and then we head over to other things and then back to Victor. At times it really threw me out of the story, and that is a shame.

The waiting, oh boy, I was almost chewing my nails, would she get good news or not? And then they are called and my nerves intensified. And yes, I cried at the moment she walked to the door with her parents, her family, Victor, Maxine behind her. How she said she would miss all those things and ended on Victor. :( Oh, man I was for sure she was sick due to how everything was said, but then that ending came, and yes, I was fully crying. OMG, congrats! That is fantastic news.

The art was really pretty, and I love the style, it captures everything, the emotions, perfectly.

All in all, even with the story kind of jumbled, I still loved reading it, and as I predicted, it made me cry. I would recommend this one.

Although this is incredibly short, it packs a punch. Got a lot of feelings right now and I’m gonna try my best to make sense of them.

Synopsis: A teenage girl who was diagnosed with cancer is about to find out if she has been cured. Along the way, we find out how it is to live with cancer and how it is to love with cancer.

I’m gonna start off by saying that the art style is absolutely incredible. It’s immersive and beautiful in a way that words can’t even begin to [Mild spoiler alert] The end where she sheds off her gray clothes? Iconic.

This is a very short book. This is important because it makes you have a certain kind of expectation. Go into it like that. It makes it so much better. I thought this was gonna be a cute lil’ love story with a guaranteed happy end. It was so much more than that. For one, even though the happy end is literally in the title, I found myself doubting, found myself hoping and wishing for a happy end.

And as for the cute lil’ love story aspect? That’s definitely there but it’s not really the focus. So don’t worry, you can still enjoy this book if you don’t care about love stories.

A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending is so much darker than I’d expected. That isn’t to say it’s not a hopeful book, if anything even more so. I don’t have cancer. But I could still relate to the emotions the main character was feeling. And for me, that’s what really makes a great book. The ability to make a situation interesting and relatable by focusing on the aspect of human emotion.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, no matter your usual preferred genre. And even if you only do it for the art, do yourself a favor and read this book.

This was a beautiful story about someone going through cancer.
The feelings they have during treatments, and how people react when they see someone has cancer.
I thought the illustrations fit perfectly with the story.
I loved the tones from the colours as they go from dark to light.
All in all it was a good read

I received from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review

When I request it I have not idea that this was such a short book, in this digital edition it has no more than 50 pages, but despite of this, in each of them the autor presents us a moving story that isn't only touching, almost a pleasure to read.

In this short story, we go to the hand of a 15-year-old girl, diagnosed with leukemia, while she and her parents go to an important consultation: it will be the day they say if she will live or their hopes are over. The thing with this is than even if it does not go deep, the words are the indicated to show a bit of the reality that so many people live in the world, suffering from this type of diseases, and everything that is on the way, especially from the perspective of someone young.

The illustrations are the highlights in the book, they are delicate and truly taken care of in the details, I am really delighted with the work of Marianne Ferrer, especially when I found out with greater enthusiasm that the illustrator is a Venezuelan than has grown up in Canada, I can assure you that the pride did not wait. I love who the colors of the images change as the story is going to the end and the pallete of this ones just start to be more bright, I'm completly delighted with the watercolor effect, please all the drawing in this book, deserves all.

I highly recommend it, it has really left me pleased, and in love with the "happy ending".

Such a cute illustrated book! Despite the happy ending the story was heart aching. It's amazing how this book can make you feel even with just a few simple lines. Really happy that I got the chance to read it.

This is an amazing, beautifully written book. It is touching without being too depressing. There is a lot of wisdom and clear images of what someone experiences with cancer. This book is a perfect way to explain and share with a young person what someone with cancer might feel.

The illustrations are perfection. They are so expressive and the simple use of color truly captures the tone of the words on each page.

The only negative I found was that the ending is so quickly handled.

Because of the nature of the book, I'd highly recommend finishing it in one sitting. Especially when reading it with a young child.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the artwork. It was simple but there was more to it than just drawing what was there. I felt the art and the story flowed together really well. Even though the happy ending is in the title, the reader is still taken on the excruciating journey of experiencing chronic illness and mortality. It was genuine and I think that this book would be perfect to reassure young adults (or anyone) going through the same thing.

Adorable, enjoyable and beautifully illustrated.
I had a really good time reading this. It was quick to get through and was a good representation of this girls battle with cancer.

This was a wonderfully well-illustrated (by Ferrer) and written (by Desjardins) short story about a fifteen-year-old girl who is diagnosed with leukemia. I was unable to discover if this is a true story or not, but in a more meta sense, it must be, because there are remarkable recovery stories, and this was one of them.

The story begins with the girl heading into the hospital with her parents to learn the verdict on her latest round of tests, and she is preparing herself to be told when she will die. As she walks the uninviting hallways of the building, she recalls episodes from her life that have taken place since she was first diagnosed.

She remembers her best friend, and her boyfriend, and her parents behavior and reactions. And of course, there's a happy ending! I thought it was beautifully done and gorgeously illustrated, and I commend it as a great story (even if not strictly true). It's honest and positive, and perhaps would make a sweet gift to a young someone who is going through a similar experience.

This story was so cute and it really did end with a happy ending! I'm also pretty curious to see what happens with the main character and Victor after the end of the story. Even thought there isn't a whole lot to this story, the simplicity of it really makes you want to know more.
I also have to say, the illustrations are absolutely stunning!

As much as we have to face life and its ~real realities, I love that the title spoils readers about the story’s Happy Ending. With everything that’s going on in the world, we need all the happiness we can get, right?

But (by India Desjardins, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer and translated into English from French by Solange Ouellet; first published in 2012) isn’t a happy book for most part. It follows a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with cancer, and how it has affected her and everybody and everything else.

It’s heart-pinching—and a kind of scary read—because I don’t think anybody wants to live through (or relive) this kind of painful and emotionally charged situation, BUT the story actually nails it on reminding you to ponder on what it means to hold on in spite of.

My favorite part, of course, is the love that centers this story. Unconditional love from family, friendship and teen romance with Victooor 🎵

The ‘dreariness’ of the art is, in my opinion, also perfection. The colors capture the tone, and the minimalist take allows the text to shine.

A sweet, quick illustrated YA read, A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending by India Desjardins and illustrated by Marianne Ferrer is about enduring, hoping and accepting. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending by India Desjardins. I've read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a story about cancer with a happy ending and it'll hit you in the guts. So real and moving. It really gives a painful but also beautiful insight to someone dealing with cancer. Stories like this are so very important. Just to give a thoughtful perspective and an understanding (especially to a younger audience) about having cancer and one's possible feelings and emotions concerning and dealing with this illness.

The artwork is beautifully done and compliments the story in a great way. This is a must read!

A raw, honest, pure and innocent picture book narrated and illustrated by the author, "A Story About Cancer with a Happy Ending" is a feel-good book about the author's journey with cancer. She was 10 when diagnosed with leukemia, and the author has been in remission since she turned 15.

More than two decades later, the author lives a full, happy life with a successful career (not in the book but I goggled her.) While not every cancer patient has a happy ending, but this book gives hope to someone who is battling with the sickness. Her pure voice brings joy, compassion and hope to those who are affected by cancer. The illustrations are done superbly by conveying the worries, despair, frustration and later relief to the readers effectively. A warm fuzzy book with a happy ending, who possibly could resist a book with positive vibe? I highly recommend!

Before I give it a go give with my mini-review for this illustrated children's book about cancer, I want to say thank you to NetGalley for approving my request to read this book via digital copy sent to my email.

This is an illustrated book that narrates the story of a cancer patient who, for fifteen years, have been battling the toughest battles anyone can ever imagine - a battle for life. The illustrations were astonishing and the story screams positivity and just like what the title implies, this one has a happy ending.

In the end, this book is strongly recommended for people who knows someone who also trudges the same way as the main character in the story did for this book sparks joy and positivity amid the reality of pain and pessimism.

'A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending' by India Desjardins with illustrations by Marianne Ferrer and translation by Solange Ouellet is about that seeming rare event in a cancer diagnosis.

Starting with the bright, bland halls of a hospital, we meet our narrator, who was diagnosed with leukemia 5 years ago. She is back to find out what the doctors have to say about how she is doing. She reflects on the journey: the friends she has met and lost, how she hates being told to be strong, and Victor, the young man that means so much to her now.

The title is a bit of a spoiler, but it really doesn't ruin the beautiful story. The color palette is deliberate, and I didn't get why until the end. Then I went back through the book to see where it was used. I think this would be good book to give certain young cancer patients. I really liked this one.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

This book was such a beautifully written and illustrated book. It’s so nice to see a book about cancer that actually has a happy ending, but still makes you want to cry. I was a very short, sweet read that I couldn’t put down. I can’t imagine being part of this family or any dealing with this kind of life. I loved that there was a bit of romance thrown in and so much family love that my heart just swelled.

It was very easy to find yourself in the story, to feel as if you are almost a part of it. At times our main character was very forthcoming about what she and her family and loved ones were dealing with. My eyes swelled with tears so many times throughout this 50-ish page story.

Overall if you want a slight peek into this sorts of life this is a great one! It flows and the illustrations bring so much to the whole story.

A Story about Cancer was a beautiful book and is highly recommend, I loved the cover, lovely pictures.

4.5 Stars

This was utterly GORGEOUS.
I went into this book thinking it was a full-blown novel because Netgalley put it in the Teens and YA category. It wasn’t exaaaaactly YA, because it was basically a picture book. But for teens!
That made me wary in the beginning because what picture books exist for teens? I quickly realised that this was a good thing though, even if it has rarely been done before.
The story was BEAUTIFUL, the art, BEAUTIFUL and the colours, BEAUTIFUL. It was a whole lot of beauty packed into a small book.
This is the kind of book I’d want to keep on my shelf to say the least.
Would recommend over and over and over again.

Throughout my life I have watched a lot of my family and friends go through cancer, with a variety of outcomes. While I have read adult books that deal with the subject well I have never read a picture book for kids and teens (as well as their parents).

I felt like this book dealt with the subject well and felt very realistic especially for a teenager and the many feelings that they are going through with cancer but also with their regular teenage life which is going on outside of the hospital.

The illustrations were beautiful and haunting and I found myself getting lost in them.

Overall this is a really interesting story and a good insight into a young person dealing with cancer.

I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review. This graphic novel is told by a young girl and her diagnosis of cancer at the age of 15. It’s touching, raw, emotional and open. Truly beautiful.

I loved this book. It was so good. Don't have anything to describe. But everything felt real. Could get in easily. The writing was good of course.

It took me a while to figure out how to actually read this, because I wasn't used to the format - but I'm really glad that I did, because it was definitely worth it.

Even though you're told from the beginning that this book has a happy ending, that doesn't stop it from dealing with anything real, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.

Also, 10/10 for illustrations!! They were just done so well!

Netgalley, and the publishers have kindly sent me this arc when I requested one. Here is my honest review. This story was just incredible. It gave this insight into what happens after the treatment. I am in love, and my heart hurts at the same time. All involved just invoked so much emotion throughout it all. This is definitely won't be something I can read all the time. Just maybe sentimentally. This is about a young girl who has cancer, is treated, and then, replays it all while she is in the doctor's office awaiting the news if the treatment worked.  If you have ever had loved ones who have had cancer, or you yourself have, this is just unbelievably relatable.

As a cancer patient, I was definitely interested in this book and just what the supposed happy ending would be. I will say, I was skeptical at first because it's hard to imagine a happy ending when it comes to cancer. But I was pleasantly surprised and the ending made me super emotional! Hearing the big R word is a huge deal when you're going through something like this and I was so happy to see that this was the happy ending. It reminded me of when I got the call and was told I was in remission and it just brought back so many feelings and emotions that I had when I found out. I loved the artwork and the story was easy to follow and, of course, had a wonderful happy ending that made the story so much better! This was a great story that I would highly recommend to anyone, whether they're a cancer patient, know someone going through cancer, or just want to read a quick story that gives a bit of insight into the life of a cancer patient.

This comic was a refreshing and hopeful book about a 15 year old girl who suffers from Leukaemia.

There isn't much that happens in the story, but it was a sweet read all the same. I didn't much enjoy the artwork, but some of the drawings were pretty enough.

I finished the book in 20 minutes tops, and it was an easy, fun read.

In this book, we meet a fifteen year old teen girl who has been fighting leukaemia since she was just ten years old. She lost her friend to leukaemia and we see how she feels about feeling a burden on her family and feels they'd be better off without her.



The images are full of mixed emotions with dark sad images for her hopelessness she feels and warmth with colourful happy memories about her life.



Victor is her other friend, nothing to do with cancer but her school, she falls in love with him and we see how they grow together despite the cancer between them that could be a ticking time bomb.



It was sweet and moving with little words, the story comes across well in pictures and is sure to tug on your emotions as we can imagine being the main character as she faces her future and appreciates her past.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

A Story About Cancer (With a Happy Ending) is a short YA story by India Desjardians, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer, and translated from the original French by Solange Duellet. The 96-page book follows an unnamed 15-year-old as she makes her way through the hospital on the way to find out how much time she has left to live. As she walks, she reminisces about the previous five years since her leukemia diagnosis.

The girl thinks about her treatment, the way others treat her because of it, and the guilt she feels toward her sister for taking up so much of their parents’ time. But the things that really resonated with me, were the mundane things, how she’ll never know how a TV show ends and how she’ll miss the taste of cookies and her grandpa’s lasagne. These are the things that made the book feel tragically real and emotionally raw. I read the whole book in one sitting but had to take far longer to decompress afterward than it took to read.

What makes A Story About Cancer (With a Happy Ending) particularly remarkable is how immediately you connect to the main character and the small cast of supporting figures. There’s Annie, the nurse who tries to provide happiness and a kindly ear, Maxine – the best friend of our protagonist who has also been struggling with leukemia treatments of her own, Victor the boyfriend, and the protagonist’s family, mum, dad, and sister. Even though they are only ever on the periphery of the story and are given almost no background at all, they feel intensely present.

While this story is told in the first person from the perspective of the teenage girl at its heart, we catch glimpses into how the diagnosis and treatment have affected everyone else’s lives too. I was particularly affected by a scene between the protagonist and her mother when the mother finally came to understand why her daughter didn’t like being told how strong she was. Another moment that touched me showed the girl coming to understand why her father insisted on cracking jokes all the time. It took me a long time to turn the pages after reading these pages.

I’ll admit that the artwork in this book wasn’t really my style, however, I felt it worked well for the story and there were moments where it really spoke to me. As the girl and her parents wait to hear her prognosis on a sterile, plastic, hospital bench, they seem to shrink away into their own personal darkness on the page in front of you. It is profound, and moving, and all too familiar for anyone who has waited on similar phone calls.

Despite its happy ending, A Story About Cancer (With a Happy Ending) is not the easiest book to read yet I believe it will bring hope to some people going through similar events, and understanding to those who, fortunately for them, have never had these experiences. For those reasons, I would recommend A Story About Cancer (With a Happy Ending) to anyone who knows someone dealing with a life-threatening diagnosis.

GeekMom received this item for review purposes.

Wow. It is amazing how much can be effectively communicated through a limited number of perfectly concise words paired with poignant illustrations. Cancer is such a heavy topic and the author handles it in such a captivating and honest way. And the illustrations are just phenomenal.

The young girl (we’re never given a name) has been battling leukemia for 5 years and is about to find out if she’s going to live or die. Either way, the battle is over, only the outcome remains to be known. The book opens with her and her parents entering the hospital, and her thinking over the years she’s spent there. How the hospital smells, how the color schemes are always bleh, and how her best friend and long-time hospital roommate Maxine lost her battle the previous year. She talks about how it has affected her family, her childhood, the things that people say to her that drive her crazy, and how they look at her like she’s dying. It’s all very realistic and genuine without being particularly emotive.

The illustrations…I just can’t say enough about how suited they are to the subject matter, how the images were so in sync with the words they were connected to, and in fact, sometimes communicated even more effectively than what was written. At the very end, when she reveals the outcome to her boyfriend Victor, is an illustration that took my breath away. It really said everything that needed to be said in that moment.

Long story short: Not a fun read to be sure (though I’d expect the word “cancer” being in the title hinted at that), but definitely an exceptional one.

This was a touching picture book, depicting a young person's fight, and triumph, against cancer. Told from the point of view of a young cancer patient, you are taken inside the mind of the sufferer and hear the thoughts she goes through. She reflects on the things she will miss if she loses the battle, and the people she doesn't want to burden with her illness. She also tells of how she understands that people need to say or do something, but their actions and words are not always the most helpful.

The colours used in the simple illustrations reflect the emotions of the narrator as she tells of her journey with few words.

Many thanks to the publishers from whom I received an eARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read. I think this would be well suited to young cancer patients to give them some hope that they to can have a happy ending.