Brave Enough by Kati Gardner is a completely different kind of book than the above ones - but I read all genres just about! I have complicated feelings about this one since it's ownvoices from a cancer survivor about cancer and I'm a cancer survivor. I did really love the variety of different representation of disabilities the book had - that was truly lovely to see! There was a lot of talk about a camp for them to go to but then they only spend a tiny, tiny time there, which was kind of odd to me. There is also an overcoming addiction storyline with the hero of the book - so I felt like there was a lot to pack into this but not a lot of background actually given. 3 Stars.

I loved this book! I would definitely recommend this to all my bookstagram friends! Thank you for the opportunity to review this!

This is such a beautiful book about friendship, with the storyline about cancer and addiction woven throughout. The characters were wonderful and I loved them together so much! The ending felt a little rushed and I just wish there had been a little bit more to it. Overall, really enjoyed.

Brave enough hooked me right from the start. I remember being barely 10% in, and I KNEW I was going to end up loving this book. Past me was right, and here is why.

This story is so real and heartbreaking! Cason's cancer isn't terminal, but it might terminate her ability to participate in the thing she loves the most, ballet. And her mother isn't making things easier. She is always treating Cason cancer as a minor thing that her daughter must overlook in order to continue pursuing their dream. Failing to find comfort and cohesive advice from her mom, she finds them elsewhere; aka, Davis.

Davis survived cancer and is a recovering drug addict who volunteers at the hospital. Love is written in the stars, but most importantly, the friendship built on caring and supporting each is truly priceless.

Kati Garden is brave enough to write this important and hard to find own voices representation for cancer. In doing so, she created a raw, honest, heartbreaking, and beautiful story that has probably never been told before.

I am really excited to see that there is a sequel in the works, and I can't wait to read it.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

You expect some things from YA title, the moment you start reading it. There should be some teen problem, an unexpected love story, some bad and some good friendships, problems concerning parents and adults... and Brave Enough have it all. This is a story about a dream that disappeared overnight and the new dreams that will come out of that catastrophe. This is a story about friendships you never expected to make and some lifechanging events. The story certainly had some disadvantages, but it was still better than I expected it to be. A strong four from me! :)

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have been reading over the past couple of months, because my personal life got in the way. But it really was a great book. This book shows the struggle of having to deal with chemo therapy and just changing your life in general because of cancer. And it also shows how a struggle it is to stay clean after being addicted to drugs.
I really enjoyed the main characters you follow in this books. They are both very realistic and have their flaws. You see them struggling with themselves, their situation and their future. My personal favorite was Cason.
At first I didn’t like Cason’s mother at all. But she grew on me and the book progresses. In the end I really admired how she was handling the situation and how she had grown as a character and as a mother. She went from a stern teacher to a loving mother with Cason and I loved watching the transition.
It was only after I had finished reading the book that I read the Author’s Note where the author talks about how Cason is created from her own experience. The author was eight years old when this happened to her but she was not a ballerina. She did went to camp as Cason did and overall I loved the story more after reading where her inspiration came from.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a contemporary about a ballerina getting cancer and dealing with it. It has light moments and it has heavy moments, but overall it was a wonderful story to read.

Brave Enough is the tale of two teenagers from totally different worlds, connected through one major disease: cancer. Cason Martin has grown up in the world of ballet. Her mother has pushed her from day one to be the best and has been more like a coach than a mother. Until one day, Cason collapses during an important audition and her perfect dance world comes crashing down around her.

Davis Channing is a survivor. He made it through his lymphoma only to try and destroy everything the doctors and nurses worked to save with drugs. Davis battles with his addiction throughout this novel while finding himself falling in love with Cason. But in the end will their love survive all the obstacles?

Brave Enough follows your typical formula for any other teenage drama. And while this book seemed bland to begin with, I found myself getting invested in the characters. I even may have shed a tear or two. Both inspirational and simple, it’s a nice easy read for anyone looking for a bit of drama in their life. Kati Gardner touches on a ton of different social issues throughout the entire book while managing not to delve too deeply into most of them. I appreciate Gardner’s attempt to look at the many dimensions of teenage life but I felt she tried to pack too much into one book. That being said, it was a stellar read and worth picking up!

**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.**

Unfortunately, just could not get into this book. The writing was not engaging at all and the characters did not seem believable. The book is filled with tropes.

This book was absolutely beautiful and unique. I've never read anything ballerina related so this was a first. The author is absolutely wonderful.

Cover:
Can I just say that this cover is BEAU-TI-FUL ;-; <3

Synopsis
Teenager Cason Martin is the youngest ballerina in the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory. She never really had a choice of whether she learned to dance or not. Her mother, the conservatory's artistic director, has made all the decisions in Cason's life. But that's about to change. Cason has been hiding an injury, and it's much worse than anyone imagines.
Davis Channing understands all too well what it's like to give up control of your life. He's survived cancer, but his drug addiction nearly killed him. Now he's been sober for seven months and enjoying his community service at the hospital. But just when he thinks he's got it together, Davis's ex-girlfriend, who is still battling her addiction, barrels back into his life.
Cason and Davis are not friends. But, as their worlds collide, they will start to depend on one another. Can they both be brave enough to beat the odds?"

Writing style/plot
The writing style in this book is on point. It is written so beautifully that whilst reading the book you think you are in it yourself.
The story it tells has a realistic feeling, which makes it so much more powerful.

Characters:
I really liked the characters. They've been through so much shit and they are so strong.
We follow Carson, a ballerina in the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory. Her life has turned upside down when she gets diagnosed with bone cancer.
We also get to know a lot about Davis. Davis has survived cancer, but he almost died because of his drug addiction. We follow Davis when he's sentenced to do community service on the cancer ward where he was treated and where Carson is also being treated. Their lives collide.

Overall:
This was such a deep and beautiful story about cancer, drug addiction and love.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation is important. We live in a time when that is a hot topic, particularly in visual entertainment, but it's equally important in literature. And it isn't something that's as talked about, which is a shame.

This isn't the happiest of stories. Children have cancer, teenagers are battling their addictions, dreams are irrevocably altered. But it is a heartwarming story all the same. We get to see Davis fight his addiction on a daily basis. We get to see Cason through her whole cancer journey and all the ups and downs that come with that. We get to see the friendships that are forged in the fire of shared experience. We get to see Mari in all her loud, vibrant glory!

I didn't get as emotionally pulled into the story as much as I have others but I was cheering them on all the same. And I applaud Kati for filling that void she found. It makes me sad that she had to do that but it's a huge step towards greater representation.

I would absolutely recommend this book!

Out of all the books I've requested on this site, this one is the only one I've seen make it to an Australian bookstore. And it definitely deserves it too! Good book. Prepare tissues.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
This book had me hooked in from the beginning. Reading through Cason's diagnosis and treatment was at times difficult, and especially interactions with her mother, but they really resounded with me as a reader and I felt a lot of empathy for what she was going through. Davis was doing well, until his past started showing up again and jeopardizing everything he worked for, which can help us as readers see a little more into the world of addiction, and maybe find a little more understanding. The writing was brilliant, especially looking at Cason's mother's character development from prima ballerina manager to a caring mother.
I chose this book originally because of the cover, I thought the design was beautiful!

The boom of YA novels about cancer may have ended, but that doesn't mean this book is any less important, timely, or compelling. Written by a survivor whose ordeal was very similar to the protagonist's, this is an unflinching but ultimately hopeful book. Fans of the many other, similar titles that came out this decade will definitely appreciate the added realism that comes from this book's #ownvoices background.

I loved Cason and I really like the message that passes from the pages of this book: courage and hope. Two feelings, emotions, feelings that we have to carry with us every day.
The only flaw is that the love story is too fast, almost liquidated, explained in short ... but this is not the most important issue of history, I do not feel like giving it a lower mark.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another teenagers with cancer falling in love. But I actually really liked it! There were some extra twists-a dance career lost! drug addiction! summer camp!

Plus, the author is also a cancer survivor so there was definitely an authenticity to it that rings through.

Overall I recommend.

What makes Brave Enough stand out above the rest, is the fact that Kati Gardner is writing from personal experience. The novel deals with two young teens dealing with cancer. Gardner is a cancer survivor herself and knows the harsh reality first hand. This is a must read for all - teens and adults alike.

All Cason wanted was to be a ballerina ,but her dreams come crashing done when she is diagnosed with bone cancer. Davis , a cancer survivor now a recovering addict helps out at the oncology hospital as part of Community service. Can Cason and Davis save themselves ?
It was a sweet book, it did remind me a bit of The Fault in the Stars . It was sad at times, they were too broken at times. I'm proud that they were Brave enough

Kati Gardner's book was one of my favorite reads of 2018. Cason and Davis were such imperfect characters, which I actually enjoy in a young adult story. I find that a lot of YA books lack grit and a dose of reality, which I'm happy to say that this novel contained both. I think readers would be enthralled with this story as soon as they dive in.