Scan barcode
A review by ink__and__page
Brave Enough by Kati Gardner
5.0
Tackling topics of surviving childhood cancer, living with disabilities, finding a new way forward, leaning on those who understand what that cancer journey is like....there are so many important themes in this book. There is also a main character overcoming drug addiction. We get to see the impact these two main characters' pasts has on them as they try to continue their path forward, often stumbling and supporting each other at different points of their journey to recovery. Such a heart wrenching, heartfelt and beautiful story. While the topics can be heavy if in isolation, I didn't feel like this story was super depressing to read (which I sometimes feel when reading heavier topics in books). This felt like a fighting back, sometimes getting kicked down, but ultimately conquering the fears and doubts to find a new normal and accept the struggles along the way to find that new normal.
I love that this story was written by someone who wanted to see more people like her in books. In the Author's Note she writes, "When I was a teenager and reading every book I could get my hands on, I was desperate for a girl who looked like me. For a girl who had cancer and lived. And it was really hard to come by. So, I wrote one."
THIS is why it's important to tell our stories and diversify our reading and writing. Representation matters. Disabilities matter. Sharing stories about others who are different than us increases our empathy and understanding of others and reminds us that deep down, we're all more similar than we are different. Just human beings trying to get through the tumultuous ups and downs of life and find a place to belong. Loved this story!
I love that this story was written by someone who wanted to see more people like her in books. In the Author's Note she writes, "When I was a teenager and reading every book I could get my hands on, I was desperate for a girl who looked like me. For a girl who had cancer and lived. And it was really hard to come by. So, I wrote one."
THIS is why it's important to tell our stories and diversify our reading and writing. Representation matters. Disabilities matter. Sharing stories about others who are different than us increases our empathy and understanding of others and reminds us that deep down, we're all more similar than we are different. Just human beings trying to get through the tumultuous ups and downs of life and find a place to belong. Loved this story!