Can you wink? What about with the other eye? Now with both?
Wink – the blurb
Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn’t want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don’t know what to say to the cancer kid. But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table.
Based on Rob Harrell’s real life experience, and packed with comic panels and spot art, this incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life’s weirdness.
Rock and Roll and Radiation
I raced through this book. It could have been a hard read given the subject matter but Harrell approached it with humour, compassion and friendship. Oh and a pig who fancied himself as batman. I thought it really well written with some fantastic characters. You experienced every emotion Ross went through, including the big am I going to die question, but it never went too far and was always age appropriate.
The comic strips were an excellent addition and the music must have left every kid reaching for their phone to google the Eagles. And who is now dreaming of becoming a guitar player after reading? You don’t need to be going through a similar situation to enjoy Wink. You don’t even need a friend who is. Just sit back and enjoy the read.
Book club questions
+++ These questions contain spoilers and should only be used if you have read the book already!+++
- What did you make of the comic strips in the book. Could you draw your own BatPig adventure?
- Did you know the story was based on author Rob’s real life experiences? Does it make the things Ross goes through seem more real?
- “I’m lying on a steel table, all too aware of the giant ray gun pointed in my direction” This is the opening line in the book. What did you think the book was about when you read this line? Did it make you want to read on?
- Have you ever had a go of a guitar before? Have you listened to any of the songs Ross refers to in the book? Try and have a listen to Take it Easy by the Eagles, could you imagine performing it on stage?
- Memes are used as a form of bullying in the book. Have you ever come across this before? Did the book make you stop and think how a meme can affect somebody?
If you would like to join in with our Children’s Book of the Month keep your eyes peeled when we announce May’s book in a few days time. Our review with book club questions is usually posted on the last Monday of the month and you can check out previous Book of the Months such as Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm by clicking on the Young Adult/Kids button at the top of our Home Page. In the meantime we would love to see what you have been reading.
