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?
Quick Stats
Publication Year: Aug 2018
Page Length: 280
Characters: Carson, Davis
Review
*I recieved an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Carson has big dreams of becoming a famous ballerina, her whole life is dance, but a secret injury turns out to be something much worse and shatters everything. Davis is a cancer survivor and a recovering addict who is battling to stay sober. The big question? Are Carson and Davis brave enough to overcome the tough battles they are facing…
I really enjoyed this story, it covers two emotive topics cancer and addiction. As a YA novel, I thought it was really well done. I particularly liked how even though Carson and Davis are linked, each of their stories is separate and what they have to overcome is different.
I liked how even though there is some attraction and a little romance between Carson and Davis, it’s written in a way that it doesn’t overshadow the main theme of the story, there’s no insta love falsity to it, it just flows nicely in the background. I have to say that given how heavy the subject of this book is I didn’t feel depressed or come away feeling sad whilst reading it, it’s hard to put it in words but I just felt so in awe of how brave these characters are.
I don’t normally mention author notes but I found the one at the end of this book incredibly touching and it made this book a bit more special:
“When I was a teenager and reading every book I could get my hands on, I was desperate for a girl that looked like me. For a girl who had cancer and lived. And it was really hard to come by. So, I wrote one.”
My Rating 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
About the Author
Kati is a recovering actor who has spent the last few years keeping tiny humans alive. In high school she was determined to play a doctor on General Hospital and possibly add in a love story with Jonathan Jackson. She would spend hours toiling away on FanFiction for my AOL community and dreaming of the day she would accept a Daytime Emmy Award. In college she majored in Theater arts and spent lots of time hanging out in the box office.
Before any of that happened though, Kati had cancer. She was eight. She responded to chemotherapy and had an amputation of her entire left leg. She still advocates for childhood cancer research and accessibility for all individual with disabilities.
Kati is married, has two great girls, and a posse of furry friends. She doesn’t watch General Hospital anymore, but still thinks that Lucky Spencer is one of the most dynamic characters ever written.
Books & Other Pursuits 