The tale of the 15-year-old girl battling leukemia for years in this graphic novel narrates how cancer patients endure the treatment and how they live through their ordeal. Even though there are cases that some weren't able to survive, the teen in the story gives hope to readers, especially to those who are battling cancer, that there are people who will support them through their journey and that they can defeat that illness/disease in the end.

This book is suitable for readers of all ages; parents or teachers' presence is needed with young kids while reading this so that they explain to them the flow of the story. Meanwhile, middle-graders could be able to read and understand this on their own. Hopefully, hospitals will provide or have this reading material available in their cancer ward so that all cancer patients could get hope from reading this.

'A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending' by India Desjardins with illustrations by Marianne Ferrer and translation by Solange Ouellet is about that seeming rare event in a cancer diagnosis.

Starting with the bright, bland halls of a hospital, we meet our narrator, who was diagnosed with leukemia 5 years ago. She is back to find out what the doctors have to say about how she is doing. She reflects on the journey: the friends she has met and lost, how she hates being told to be strong, and Victor, the young man that means so much to her now.

The title is a bit of a spoiler, but it really doesn't ruin the beautiful story. The color palette is deliberate, and I didn't get why until the end. Then I went back through the book to see where it was used. I think this would be good book to give certain young cancer patients. I really liked this one.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

This book was such a beautifully written and illustrated book. It’s so nice to see a book about cancer that actually has a happy ending, but still makes you want to cry. I was a very short, sweet read that I couldn’t put down. I can’t imagine being part of this family or any dealing with this kind of life. I loved that there was a bit of romance thrown in and so much family love that my heart just swelled.

It was very easy to find yourself in the story, to feel as if you are almost a part of it. At times our main character was very forthcoming about what she and her family and loved ones were dealing with. My eyes swelled with tears so many times throughout this 50-ish page story.

Overall if you want a slight peek into this sorts of life this is a great one! It flows and the illustrations bring so much to the whole story.

A Story about Cancer was a beautiful book and is highly recommend, I loved the cover, lovely pictures.

I've just finished reading this book and I'm blown away by it. Not only is it beautiful, but it is also truthful. I can only imagine what it's like to go through this, as a teenager, as a parent or sibling but while it is under 50 pages I felt connected to each and every person mentioned in this story. The illustration is stunning, in a beautiful watercolour style and was able to show the contrast between feelings so well. This might be under 50 pages is it an incredible book, I think this should be shared far and wide. I gave this 5 stars with no hesitation. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4.5 Stars

This was utterly GORGEOUS.
I went into this book thinking it was a full-blown novel because Netgalley put it in the Teens and YA category. It wasn’t exaaaaactly YA, because it was basically a picture book. But for teens!
That made me wary in the beginning because what picture books exist for teens? I quickly realised that this was a good thing though, even if it has rarely been done before.
The story was BEAUTIFUL, the art, BEAUTIFUL and the colours, BEAUTIFUL. It was a whole lot of beauty packed into a small book.
This is the kind of book I’d want to keep on my shelf to say the least.
Would recommend over and over and over again.

A raw, honest, pure and innocent picture book narrated and illustrated by the author, "A Story About Cancer with a Happy Ending" is a feel-good book about the author's journey with cancer. She was 10 when diagnosed with leukemia, and the author has been in remission since she turned 15.

More than two decades later, the author lives a full, happy life with a successful career (not in the book but I goggled her.) While not every cancer patient has a happy ending, but this book gives hope to someone who is battling with the sickness. Her pure voice brings joy, compassion and hope to those who are affected by cancer. The illustrations are done superbly by conveying the worries, despair, frustration and later relief to the readers effectively. A warm fuzzy book with a happy ending, who possibly could resist a book with positive vibe? I highly recommend!

Calling this a story might be a bit of a stretch. I'd call it more of a reflection. It's considering the full affect cancer has on a life. A picture book but aimed more at teens.

Before I give it a go give with my mini-review for this illustrated children's book about cancer, I want to say thank you to NetGalley for approving my request to read this book via digital copy sent to my email.

This is an illustrated book that narrates the story of a cancer patient who, for fifteen years, have been battling the toughest battles anyone can ever imagine - a battle for life. The illustrations were astonishing and the story screams positivity and just like what the title implies, this one has a happy ending.

In the end, this book is strongly recommended for people who knows someone who also trudges the same way as the main character in the story did for this book sparks joy and positivity amid the reality of pain and pessimism.

A graphic 'novel' about cancer treatments for YA readers

Dark, subdued colors and distorted bodies reflect the trauma of a teen with cancer. The long 'snaky' arms freak me out a bit, as did the dots (hairiness - of some arms.)

Text was concise and Honest. Real fears and emotions are represented here. Waiting - and treatment rooms and waiting and more waiting - the shadowed family by the window screamed with a word.

I think teens, their friends and families facing cancer and the waiting game would relate to the book and possibly share some new feelings.

Okay, okay... I get it... This was probably not a book that would have got my attention, nor is it a book I probably should have picked up, but when I saw it on Netgalley, I just had to give it a chance.
You know when you see people talk about how the book represented them in a way they'd never seen before, this is essentially the same kind of thing for me. I'm not black, Asian, Lithuanian, Latino, etc... I'm not gay/bi/queer/transgender or any other thing you can think of, so even though I read books about those characters, I don't feel represented and I can't relate to them, because I haven't lived life through their eyes. But this, this gave me a taste of that.



If I asked anyone if they could recommend me a book that involves cancer, most would point me in the direction of The Fault in Our Stars or My Sisters Keeper. And yes, I guess for those unaffected by it, it provides some form of insight into a horrible disease. But when I think of those books now, I don't see something that represents me. I'm not living a whirlwind romance that was brought about when I met a fellow cancer patient. My brother didn't have to sacrifice himself for me because I'd die without the help he'd provide. They just don't feel real anymore.

This book? It felt more real in it's 48 pages than anything else I've seen/read on the topic for a very long time.
We see things from the patients perspective, and experience the thoughts and feelings she does in such a little amount of words. And believe me, the thoughts are incredibly close to the ones you have in real life.
We see the story unravel in both words and pictures, and the illustrations are beautiful and captivating. The style may not be for everyone, but it added to the story in a unique way, and fit the theme extremely well.
I definitely enjoyed the 'plot', and I really liked that we knew the ending before heading into it otherwise I may never have picked it up. The only problem I had was that it was way too short for my liking. I understand why, and for a quick, meaningful read, this certainly suffices, but for such a 'taboo' subject I feel like we need to see more of this in YA and even Middle Grade literature.
If you want a story that ends well, is beautiful, and means something, I highly recommend this one. I just wish we had more.

As much as we have to face life and its ~real realities, I love that the title spoils readers about the story’s Happy Ending. With everything that’s going on in the world, we need all the happiness we can get, right?

But (by India Desjardins, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer and translated into English from French by Solange Ouellet; first published in 2012) isn’t a happy book for most part. It follows a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with cancer, and how it has affected her and everybody and everything else.

It’s heart-pinching—and a kind of scary read—because I don’t think anybody wants to live through (or relive) this kind of painful and emotionally charged situation, BUT the story actually nails it on reminding you to ponder on what it means to hold on in spite of.

My favorite part, of course, is the love that centers this story. Unconditional love from family, friendship and teen romance with Victooor 🎵

The ‘dreariness’ of the art is, in my opinion, also perfection. The colors capture the tone, and the minimalist take allows the text to shine.

A sweet, quick illustrated YA read, A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending by India Desjardins and illustrated by Marianne Ferrer is about enduring, hoping and accepting. Highly recommended!

*I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*


This beautifully illustrated and vividly colored book is about a teenage girl who is awaiting her prognosis after a long battle with cancer.

Here are the reasons I loved this book:
The girl remained nameless through the entire book, leaving the reader to place themselves in her shoes and her story, to feel her anxiety. I think this would be especially helpful for young girls/women going through their own cancer treatment.
The relationships the girl had with people both in the hospital and her personal life were very powerful and uplifting.
Ms. Desjardins did a phenomenal job of describing hospitals, its staff, and the people inside it in a positive, non-scary approach.

The only problem I had with this book is that it is categorized as both Children's Non-fiction and Teen/YA and there are several suggestive moments between the girl and her boyfriend Victor, which would not be appropriate for children.

For more information about A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending, click here.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of A Story About Cancer With a Happy Ending by India Desjardins. I've read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a story about cancer with a happy ending and it'll hit you in the guts. So real and moving. It really gives a painful but also beautiful insight to someone dealing with cancer. Stories like this are so very important. Just to give a thoughtful perspective and an understanding (especially to a younger audience) about having cancer and one's possible feelings and emotions concerning and dealing with this illness.

The artwork is beautifully done and compliments the story in a great way. This is a must read!

Adorable, enjoyable and beautifully illustrated.
I had a really good time reading this. It was quick to get through and was a good representation of this girls battle with cancer.

This was a wonderfully well-illustrated (by Ferrer) and written (by Desjardins) short story about a fifteen-year-old girl who is diagnosed with leukemia. I was unable to discover if this is a true story or not, but in a more meta sense, it must be, because there are remarkable recovery stories, and this was one of them.

The story begins with the girl heading into the hospital with her parents to learn the verdict on her latest round of tests, and she is preparing herself to be told when she will die. As she walks the uninviting hallways of the building, she recalls episodes from her life that have taken place since she was first diagnosed.

She remembers her best friend, and her boyfriend, and her parents behavior and reactions. And of course, there's a happy ending! I thought it was beautifully done and gorgeously illustrated, and I commend it as a great story (even if not strictly true). It's honest and positive, and perhaps would make a sweet gift to a young someone who is going through a similar experience.

This story was so cute and it really did end with a happy ending! I'm also pretty curious to see what happens with the main character and Victor after the end of the story. Even thought there isn't a whole lot to this story, the simplicity of it really makes you want to know more.
I also have to say, the illustrations are absolutely stunning!

Such a cute illustrated book! Despite the happy ending the story was heart aching. It's amazing how this book can make you feel even with just a few simple lines. Really happy that I got the chance to read it.

This is an amazing, beautifully written book. It is touching without being too depressing. There is a lot of wisdom and clear images of what someone experiences with cancer. This book is a perfect way to explain and share with a young person what someone with cancer might feel.

The illustrations are perfection. They are so expressive and the simple use of color truly captures the tone of the words on each page.

The only negative I found was that the ending is so quickly handled.

Because of the nature of the book, I'd highly recommend finishing it in one sitting. Especially when reading it with a young child.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the artwork. It was simple but there was more to it than just drawing what was there. I felt the art and the story flowed together really well. Even though the happy ending is in the title, the reader is still taken on the excruciating journey of experiencing chronic illness and mortality. It was genuine and I think that this book would be perfect to reassure young adults (or anyone) going through the same thing.