This could be a key book for many to read, but it very much is something you read as and when it's prescribed to you, rather than as a personal choice for pleasure. It features Han, who is annoyed by getting leukaemia. Not so much the illness, and the therapy concerned – but because time off school has meant he hears nothing from his friends. Slowly he can absorb the fact this is not because he has changed, or that they have, but because this is their first experience of such a thing and just didn't know he would gain from contact and inclusion. Their thinking was that hearing about the school basketball successes and the classroom jokes would make him feel too isolated, when it was the other way round. What could they even have said to him?

This is fine, then – looking at a key part of the cancer patient, and how they may have to adjust to how people have adjusted to them. It's finely done for a middle school audience, and for people in the hi/lo readership of a slightly older age. What I didn't like was that it was generally in Han's own voice and from his own viewpoint – except for a clunky chapter that was going on behind his back, as his school staff prepared the way for him to come back to class. His remission bed gave him no way of knowing who asked what, and the way this was included in the middle of his narrative was off. But, this is still a key purchase for some counsellors, and Han can show us that (a) remission is definitely a likely result of cancer, and (b) that cancer doesn't ruin a friendship, unless you really, really are bad at it.

This was such a beautiful story! I think it’s great age to talk to the children about leukemia. You really don’t have many stories about leukemia and I think it’s great to show how others can be different and how great it is to have friends around you who have empathy for you. Parents being supportive is huge as well. We need teachers who care to teach about empathy & differences. Educating each other on what we say & ask may affect about how others feel. I love in the ending Han, wants to show up for his friends and be there for them because he understands what a scary time feels like.

We gotta remember to just show up for each other.

Thank you NetGalley & Jennifer Licate for the chance to read this story.

Han is a regular kid, staying up late playing videogames and eating pizza with his friends, until he starts to experience some unusual symptoms such as nosebleeds and fatigue. After a diagnosis of Leukemia, he starts treatments and begins feeling left out from his friends who slowly dropped off, kind of moved on with their lives while he was away from school. Once he is in remission he is worried about returning to school. Mom asks the school counsellor to explain to the class what he went through to help make the transition back to class better. The author then gives readers the perspective of the class when they are told what he is going through and there is some good discussion about how to make him feel welcome when he returns to school. The book ends with Han returning to school and being welcomed into his group of friends as well as his thoughts and reflections on going through such a difficult situation.

The book is made up of 6 chapters with about 5 pages each. There are half and full page illustrations in each chapter. The font size is good, not intimidating for young readers, though there is some random larger capitalized fonts randomly throughout, like a sentence here and there. I wasn’t really sure of the purpose of that, but otherwise the book is quite accessible for younger readers.

I think this book would be great for a teacher to read to a class when a student is returning after a long illness. It would also be great for kids who are going through major illnesses, perhaps kids in the children’s hospital or receiving outpatient treatment, to read and see that they are not the only ones missing their friends and worrying about both facing illness and returning to routines after healing. This book is part of a series of books with activity guides that can help children and adolescents who are going through changing friendships, I will have to check those out too. It is definitely a book I would recommend. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

I’m Sick, But That’s Not What Hurts is a touching chapter book that explores the emotional journey of a young boy named Han as he faces the challenges of returning to school after a serious illness. Through Han’s eyes, readers witness the complexities of friendships, the fear of being forgotten, and the longing for normalcy. The story delicately addresses themes of empathy, isolation, and resilience, making it a valuable read for children and adults alike. With its honest portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of recovery, this book offers comfort and understanding to those navigating similar experiences.

As someone who works with quite unwell children in a hospital, this book was lovely to read. If every child (and even some adults) read this book it would go a long way in understanding how to treat someone who is dealing with a scary diagnosis. Very easy and engaging to read.

An extremely well done story. Very touching. I liked the illustrations. Would highly recommend to teachers and parents for their kids. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.

I am not going to deny that this one hit home for me, After losing a young girl I knew to cancer, I so wish she had this book when she was going through the hardest moments mentally. This book is such a needed one in our world - not just for cancer fighters but also for their friends and caregivers. A must for anyone going through a tough time with cancer.

A really poignant resource for young readers dealing with sickness in their lives--whether they're ill themselves or have a friend who is struggling. This gives an honest look at the flawed but well-intentioned responses folks can have to illness, especially when they're younger.

The narration is expansive; it maybe could even be trimmed a bit. Still, I would easily recommend this.

3.75✨

Han is diagnosed with Leukemia, and that is a scary concept. He has to be taken out of school for treatment,and starts to lose touch with everyone, and everything that is going on.
I'm Sick, But That's Not What Hurts is an incredible middle grade story of empathy, compassion, and understanding. I really enjoyed some of the conversations that happened between Han and his Mother, and also between the Teacher and the classmates when he was finally able to go back to school. Those discussions were really important to have, and teaches about having empathy, but also reactivity and how that can affect some people.
The one thing that I didn't like was the age of Han vs the age of the writing. The illustrations make Han look like he is nearly a teenager. His age isn't specifically mentioned in the book, but I feel like the writing was quite young compared to how he looked. i would class this as a middle grade/ older children's book because of how confident and independent Han and his friends seemed to be.
Overall, this is a great book to teach kids empathy and compassion for others.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boy Town Press for the ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is poignant, evocative, and honest in many ways. It reflects on topics such as chronic illness and how people around us react to it. That’s exactly what Han experienced when his friend at school learned about his leukemia diagnosis. They didn’t know how to respond to such unprecedented and unfortunate news, and Han felt they were treating him differently. In reality, they were just concerned about saying the wrong thing or asking uncomfortable questions.
I loved Mrs. Torres’ character — a supportive and compassionate teacher who welcomed Han back to class when he was in remission and addressed his classmates’ questions sensitively and thoughtfully.
Han’s mom was his greatest supporter. She recognized that her son was less concerned about his illness and more about how his classmates would treat him after learning about it. Her pep talk encouraged him and helped him focus on living a normal life.
The book also introduces educational terms such as leukemia, remission, and more.
A lovely, educational read with thought-provoking insights.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boys Town Press for this ARC!