Kids have so much going on in their lives today with school, grades, friends, and family, it’s hard to get through it all, especially for kids who keep their struggles to themselves. What I love about books is that they are friends, the kind who show kids they’re not alone. Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas, by Andrea Pyros, does that by tackling issues such as sibling disagreements, a less than attentive father, friends, crushes, and a devastating cancer diagnosis.
Twelve-year-old Josephine has a lot on her plate―best friend issues, first crush issues, divorced parent issues, twin brother issues . . . and then her mom hits her with news that shakes her to her core: a breast cancer diagnosis. Josephine doesn’t want anyone to know―not even her best friend. Sharing the news means it’s actually real, and that’s something she’s not ready to face. Plus it would mean dealing with the stares―and pity―of her classmates. She got enough of that when her parents split up. Unfortunately for Josephine, her twin brother, Chance, doesn’t feel the same way. And when Chance dyes his hair pink to support his mom, the cat is out of the bag. Suddenly Josephine has to rethink her priorities. Does getting an invite to the party of the year matter when your mom is sick? And what if it does matter? Does that make her a monster? (Amazon)
As adults, the great majority of us have dealt with friends and/or family with health issues, some of them quite serious. It’s difficult, heartbreaking, and confusing. I can’t imagine a child being in the middle of that. In Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas,Pyros shows us how two people, siblings, deal with their mother’s breast cancer diagnosis.
What I loved about this book was that Pyros showed us how people can have completely different thoughts, fears, and methods of coping with difficult situations. Every reaction is not only possible, but also appropriate, and no one should feel ashamed or embarrassed at how they choose to deal.
The author also did a great job keeping the twins’ lives moving. When a diagnosis such as cancer occurs in someone’s life, unfortunately, the world around the family keeps moving. School and work responsibilities are still there, school activities are still held, and friend’s lives move on.
Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas is Andrea Pyros second middle grade novel. The publication date is February 1, 2019, but you can preorder, of course, at Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon. You can find more information about the author here.
