Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by Rob Harrell

Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by Rob Harrell 315 Pages Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn't want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid." But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table. Based on Rob Harrell's real life experience, and packed with comic panels and spot art, this incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life's weirdness.' What a great story! I was impressed by how Rob Harrell told his own story, yet made it appeal to the middle school age group. He even included comics that he drew, through out the book. I think some of the details of the cancer and radiation treatments may be too much for elementary students, I know middle school students would understand it. I also liked the way he tied in a freindship between a boy and girl that was totally platonic and how some of his friends couldn't "handle" his sickness and didn't know how to act. All very real synerios. He even learns a new skill while facing this life changing illness. A very well written realistic fiction book.