Wink by Rob Harrell
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Realistic fiction
Suggested Age: 11+
What is This Book About?: Ross Maloy has cancer – a rare eye cancer – and he is in 7th grade. This is his story of the semester when he is undergoing radiation therapy and still trying to fit in during that awkward adolescent time of middle school. Seventh grade is complicated enough without eye goop, hair loss, and the cowboy hat that he is required to wear to “shield” his face and eye from direct light. To further complicate Ross’s life, his best friend from “forever,” Abby, is moving to Minneapolis at the end of the semester. During this time, Ross learns to play the guitar from his radiology tech, overcomes harassment via memes from a classmate, and emerges with new found friends and confidence.
My Review: I loved this book. Harrell, who himself experienced this same cancer as an adult, writes beautifully and authentically of the emotions, frustrations and fears experienced by cancer patients and adolescents. This authenticity makes Ross Maloy come to life as a 7th grade kid, not just as a kid with cancer. Harrell realistically describes the awkwardness of adolescence and the difficulties that occur to all kids at this age, but Ross is not all kids and has experiences that we can only hope and pray our children will never experience. Never melodramatic, Harrell portrays Ross as a true “overcomer” – a survivor and yet, nothing is sugar-coated in this story. The reader feels for Ross when his hair falls out onto the “popular girl’s” pizza and triumphs with him as he learns the hard chords on his guitar. Harrell has done an amazing job of telling Ross’s story! And did I mention, Harrell has added illustrations throughout the book since he is also a graphic novelist and long-time cartoonist? You and your kids will love this book!!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Realistic, Authentic, Fun
Give This a Try if You Like: Wonder by Palacio, books by John Green or any other books by Rob Harrell
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
