Hazel
was only 13 when diagnosed with Stage IV Thyroid Cancer, and now that she is 16
all she wants is to be a normal teenage with a normal life. But being a “kid
with cancer” there is no such thing as normal. She feels disconnected to her
pre-cancer friends and finds comfort in reading and being a hermit. Forced to
go to a Cancer Kid Support Group, she watches the revolving door as new faces
enter the group and others pass away. Then one day, her world is turned upside
down by the smile of the new boy in the group. Augustus Waters shows Hazel how
to live and open herself up to the love of others, despite of her
“cancertastic” life.
Green, John. The Fault in
Our Stars.
New York: Dutton Books, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0-525-47881-2. (hardback). Ages 14+
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E . Smith
Seventeen year-old Hadley Smith has been dreading
this day for months. She has no desire to go to London and not only watch her father
remarry, but participate in the ceremony by being a bridesmaid to a future
step-mother she has never even met. Mad
at her dad for breaking up their family and mad at her mom for making her go
see it, Hadley’s morning seems like a comedy of errors that makes her miss her
flight by four minutes. Then fate intervenes in the form of a young man named
Oliver. He is charming, sweet and on her new flight to London. In the following twenty-four hours Hadley
learns what it means to love, lose and accept that it is ok to move on. But
what about Oliver and was it really love at first sight?
Smith, Jennifer E . The
Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. New York: Hachette Book Group, 2012.
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-12238-2. (hardback). Ages 13+
** Spoiler Alert** If you want to be
surprised stop reading here!
** Spoiler Alert**
** Spoiler Alert**
What I loved about both of these stories
is that love can find you even when you are least expecting it. Hadley and
Hazel are two very different young women, both with their own battles and unique
life stories. Hazel’s life has been changed forever by her cancer; she has been
through more than most girls her age and even many who are older. She would be
perfectly content spending her time at home with her parents. But her mom makes
go to the support group. There is where she meets Augustus, but she doesn’t
expect to have a relationship. The last thing she probably expected was to fall
head over heels for him. But Augustus understands her, and the reality of being
a “cancer kid.” Hadley’s world has been turned upside down by her parent’s
divorce. She feels betrayed that her dad moved across the ocean and fell in
love with another woman. Then, when she least expects it, her mom suddenly
finds peace and begins to move on. Hadley has spent so much time and energy
hating her dad for breaking up their family and then at her mom by making her
go and participate in the wedding. Even though it means going to London for the
first time, she just can’t see any joy in the experience. Unlike most
bridesmaids, meeting a man is the last thing on her mind. So when she meets
Oliver, a young Brit, she even wonders if she should just blow him off. But
fate seems to have other ideas for her, not only is he sweet and on her flight,
but also on her row. After spending all night talking, they get separated as
they go through customs. It is only as Hadley is searching for him at the exit
that she realizes that she only knows a little bit about where he was going and
why. All they exchanged before parting was a kiss, not even a telephone number
or email address. As she races to the church for the wedding, and even after
during pictures she realizes that she can’t stop thinking about Oliver and
decides that she has to find him. It is only after she returns from her search,
hurting worse than before she left , that Hadley is able to open up to her dad
and begin the process of healing herself.
Both Hadley and Hazel have their lives
changed in a brief time by a boy, and are then separated from them in unexpected
ways. Hazel’s separation is all too permanent, but you are left to wonder what
will become of Hadley and Oliver and will they ever see each other again. I
have to believe that they do, even if they don’t end up living happily ever
after.
