Wink by Rob Harrell

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Juvenile Fiction Targeted Age Group: Ages 9-12 Summary: Ross just wants to blend in and be a normal seventh grader. But that all changes with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer as now Ross has to deal with hair loss, wearing a weird hat, treatments and disappearing friends who don't know what to say to the "cancer kid". Why I Chose the Book: I was first intrigued by this book because it was listed on the 2021 ALSC Notable Children's Book Lists. Then I also found it listed on the 2021 Lone Star Reading List. This book was one that I had also seen in passing while shelving in the library and caught my attention with its orange cover and drawing of a "winking" middle schooler on the cover. When I began to finally read that the story was about this seventh grader named Ross trying to navigate middle school while dealing with a diagnosis and treatment cancer, I knew this was something I had to read as it was out of the realm of my normal for reading these days. I had not read middle grade literature in a while and certainly not any that was dealing with the grappling nature of a cancer diagnosis. This lead me to say I need to give this book a chance. Review:

I don't know how Rob Harrell did it but he was able to add a humorous tone to what one would have thought to be a book filled with sadness due to the fact of Ross having to deal with his cancer diagnosis. The humor can be found in Ross's perspective as he deals with his cancer diagnosis and what it means for him, going through the treatments and losing the use of one of his eyes. This is scary stuff that it is made humorous through the comedic relief of his interactions with the supporting characters of Frank, his radiation technician and Jerry, a senior man (and fellow cancer diagnosed comrade) he meets at the office where he receives his treatments. Frank very much comes off as this adult who has yet to really adult. While he is a radiation technician by dad, he is a rocker by night. He has this jokey and light hearted nature to him that can be seen when he's asking about the music that Ross wants to listen to while enduring his treatments. Frank is immediately busting Ross's balls, so to speak, for the music that Ross has chosen, challenging him to come up with a better music selection for the next treatment. Then there is Jerry, who when we first meet him comes off as this grumpy old man. He actually reminds me of one of Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets. And his trade of barbs with Frank, the technician, adds some comedic relief to the story. There's also the way in which Ross and his best friend Abby speak of his treatments with Abby asking "Was it bad? Are you a radiated mutant like Godzilla now?" and Ross retorting "Not really but I can shoot laser beams out of my butt." Not the discussion amongst friends I would be exactly expecting when one of them is going through cancer treatments.

While this book had its humor, it was also filled with tension and conflict. Ross dealing with the losing one of his best friends (Isaac) after his cancer diagnosis. Having to deal with the new normal that comes with said diagnosis such as having to wear a wide brimmed hat to keep out UV rays, having one eye completely shut and dealing with hair loss which isn't great when you're a kid who doesn't want to stand out. There are the memes of him that are circulating around of him which are not funny in the slightest. These memes actually bring to the forefront thoughts that Ross does not want to think, one of them being death. Ross was feeling certain that he was going to beat his cancer diagnosis and here were these memes bring up doubt and having Ross contemplate and worry about a grim future. We also given conflict within Ross and Abby's relationship. They seem like the two best friends that anyone could have but this comes to a halt when Ross is discussing his bad day and Abby has met her threshold as she has been dealing with the fact that she will be moving in a few months and Ross does not seem to have taken notice to Abby and her feelings as he has been entirely consumed with his own. Abby has been his rock throughout his cancer ordeal and does not feel that the support has been reciprocated with the big news of Abby's move. It's hard to watch them have this fight but at the same time it's also part of the pain of growing up: experiencing conflict with those you hold close.

I would say this was a well-rounded piece. Harrell managed to tackle a serious topic in humorous way. The pacing of the book worked well. While it all seemed to take place over a short period of time I feel that aligns with how the novel takes place in middle school. One will feel that things that are happening in middle school will feel like they are forever when it has really only been several weeks or a few months. The characters worked well and had a great chemistry. Although I will say that the character Ross has crush on, Sarah, throws me for a loop there towards the end as she did something I would not have expected of her. The style of language fits the age of the characters. None of the kids are filled with wisdom and forethought because is one really when they are in middle school? The spot art and comic panels add to the story giving us perspective (with Ross's one good eye). It also gives you a glimpse of Ross working through what's going on in his life as the nemesis and evil doing that his comic character BatPig takes on carries some similarities to what is happening in the storyline i.e. Ross's life. Harrell, R. (2020). Wink. Dial Books for Young Readers.