Side effects

Koss, A.G. (2006). Side effects. New Milford, CT: Roaring Brook Press.
Interest level: Grades 5-8
Reading level: 4+

Fourteen and a half year old Izzy Miller is a fairly typical teenager. She argues with her mom, swears, would rather be anywhere but school, and has a crush on a certain someone. When she notices that he neck glands are swollen she figures a visit to her pediatrician (really Mom? I’m not a baby anymore!) will be nothing more than a way to miss school. Then they receive the phone call. The one saying that her X-ray results came back and that she needed to go to Children’s Hospital. Immediately. The one that says that Izzy has lymphoma. In that moment her entire world changes. Now Izzy’s days are filled with blood tests, IVs, chemo and puking, but the one thing that doesn’t change is Izzy’s outlook on life. She continues to draw everything around her, she’s still sarcastic and her morbid spin on everything that’s happening really bothers her mom. But she’s a fighter and there’s no way she’s going to let this cancer thing beat her.

Side effects offers a glimpse into the life of a teen with cancer and rather than focus solely on the disease it focuses on the people. This is a difficult book to read because it’s so raw. There is no whitewashing or candy-coating the realities of cancer, but that is exactly what makes this such a powerful book. Izzy deals with her illness through drawing, the support of her best friend Kay, and by refusing to join in anyone’s pity party. This book clearly shows what it is to be a survivor. Readers who can handle the bluntness regarding the medical side effects associated with cancer will be glad that they stuck it through to the end and will likely hand it right over to a friend.