 | Lady Sunflower : stories, songs, and poems from the desk of kill.gertrude Author: Shuck-Sparer, Sierra | |
| Price: $13.11 | ||
Summary:
At the age of fifteen, Sierra was thrust into her harrowing battle against Gertrude (the name she gave her cancer). She faced relentless treatments and surgeries all while trying to retain her identity as a teenager heading into her college years. Sierra chronicled her journey through diagnosis, relapses, and treatment stages using a remarkable blend of heart-rending poetry, introspective essays and songs, zines, and curated playlists.
| Illustrator: | Tyler, Chloe |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/01/24)
Booklist (03/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 03/01/2024 As a high-school sophomore, Shuck-Sparer began experiencing dizzy spells. The initial diagnosis was a concussion, but an MRI revealed she had medulloblastoma brain cancer, an aggressive disorder with a 30 percent long-term rate of survival. She immediately began a grueling rotation of operations, chemo, and radiation to combat her brain tumor, an entity she named Gertrude. In this engaging collection of poems, drawings, reworked song lyrics, humorous observations, and serious reflections, Shuck-Sparer documents her ongoing battles with Gertrude. Her tone fluctuates with her varying physical and emotional states; her determination, strength, and honesty are constant. Sometimes she comes across as a typical teen, mourning the loss of her eyelashes and creating playlists; other entries reflect harsher realities as she endures treatments and describes harrowing side effects. Some pieces, including the title piece, are breathtaking in their beauty and perception. Since Gertrude's arrival about five years ago, Shuck-Sparer, currently a college student, has gone through three months-long treatment cycles. She is determined to eradicate Gertrude and become an oncologist. She shares her story with wit as she gracefully embraces hope. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
