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Radiate: A YA Survival Story of a Cheerleader Fighting Cancer with Strength
Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard and pushes herself 110% all the time.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Hayley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Hayley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Hayley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Hayley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.
395 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2012
15 people are currently reading
1322 people want to read
About the author
Marley Gibson
39 books277 followersMarley Gibson is the author of the hit young adult paranormal fiction series, "Ghost Huntress," from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Graphia line, as well as "Radiate," which is a fictionalized version of the cancer she went through as a teenage cheerleader.
Gibson was featured on the premiere episode of The Biography Channel’s "My Ghost Story," as well as being interviewed by CNN.com for a Halloween feature on ghost hunting in 2008. She appeared on the Travel Channel's "Paranormal Challenge," as we as an episode of "Ghost Adventures."
Her publishing credits include "Ghost Huntress: The Awakening," "Ghost Huntress: The Guidance," and "Ghost Huntress: The Reason," "Ghost Huntress: The Counseling," "Ghost Huntress: The Journey," and soon to come, a Christmas novella, "Ghost Huntress: The Tidings."
She has also co-authored a teen ghost hunting how-to guide entitled “The Other Side: A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal" with her husband, Patrick Burns, from TruTV's "Haunting Evidence," and Travel Channel's "Paranormal Challenge," and "Ghost Adventures."
Gibson is also the co-author of the wildly successful "Christmas Miracles," and it's sequel, "The Spirit of Christmas," published by St. Martin’s Press and co-written with New York Times bestselling author, Cecil Murphey.
Gibson holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Advertising and a double minor in Political Science and Speech Communications from The University of Alabama. She has worked on several political campaigns, as a United States Congressional intern, and has been a marketing events manager in the medical, higher education, financial, and technology sectors, but is now happy being a full-time author, creating stories and characters for fans to love.
An avid SCUBA diver, closet gourmet chef, and electronic music lover, Marley and her husband, Patrick, live in the Florida Keys with their two rescue kitties, Madison and Boo, in an RV they lovely call, Midge.
She can be found online at www.marleygibson.com and www.radiatebook.com on Facebook at MarleyGibson Author and on Twitter @MarleyGison
Gibson was featured on the premiere episode of The Biography Channel’s "My Ghost Story," as well as being interviewed by CNN.com for a Halloween feature on ghost hunting in 2008. She appeared on the Travel Channel's "Paranormal Challenge," as we as an episode of "Ghost Adventures."
Her publishing credits include "Ghost Huntress: The Awakening," "Ghost Huntress: The Guidance," and "Ghost Huntress: The Reason," "Ghost Huntress: The Counseling," "Ghost Huntress: The Journey," and soon to come, a Christmas novella, "Ghost Huntress: The Tidings."
She has also co-authored a teen ghost hunting how-to guide entitled “The Other Side: A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal" with her husband, Patrick Burns, from TruTV's "Haunting Evidence," and Travel Channel's "Paranormal Challenge," and "Ghost Adventures."
Gibson is also the co-author of the wildly successful "Christmas Miracles," and it's sequel, "The Spirit of Christmas," published by St. Martin’s Press and co-written with New York Times bestselling author, Cecil Murphey.
Gibson holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Advertising and a double minor in Political Science and Speech Communications from The University of Alabama. She has worked on several political campaigns, as a United States Congressional intern, and has been a marketing events manager in the medical, higher education, financial, and technology sectors, but is now happy being a full-time author, creating stories and characters for fans to love.
An avid SCUBA diver, closet gourmet chef, and electronic music lover, Marley and her husband, Patrick, live in the Florida Keys with their two rescue kitties, Madison and Boo, in an RV they lovely call, Midge.
She can be found online at www.marleygibson.com and www.radiatebook.com on Facebook at MarleyGibson Author and on Twitter @MarleyGison
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April 26, 2012
"This is a story of how cheerleading saved my life"
Some may be thinking "Aww poor her she was a loser and being a popular cheerleader "saved her"". Nope: We're talking cancer. We're talking honest to goodness heartfelt emotions. Although this is not about the cancer itself more than it's about the power of positive attitude. After reading this, I truly believe that we have the power to make our own miracles. It's an inspiration to all who are going through a rough patch. Don't ever believe you can't come out of it!
If you're now thinking "Oh another of those mind over matter stories that I'll never believe really happen". Guess what, this is a based on a TRUE STORY. It's still a classed as a work of fiction, but at its core, this is the author's experience with cancer. I only found this out at the end, and it made me love the book even more. To know someone - even moreso: a teenager - was this strong, this inspiring, it's truly something to look up to.
In this book though, it's Hayley Matthews. Hayley has just gotten her dream of making the varsity cheerleading squad when she starts to get pains in her leg. For a book about cancer, it's surprising more enlivening than depressing. She never develops a desolate - the world is ending - attitude. She stays remarkably positive with a determined perseverance that makes it a really fantastic read. I would even say uplifting. She made me realize that we are stronger than we make ourselves out to be. She takes what's been given to her, and she gives it the finger - this is who Hayley is. I adored her. I loved that she doesn't succumb to the staring and whispering. She goes in front of a crowd to cheer because she loves it; with a limp, with a bald head, with scars, and with a smile. This, to me, is plain a simply admirable.
Besides the cancer, we've got family, friends, football, romance - all the things that make a good book even better. The family dynamics, especially, is great. We have siblings, parent, even friends' families that feel like her own. We also have a reappearing long lost childhood friends. But most of all, we have love. The love that Hayley shares for her friends and family is unequivocal. I wasn't only feeling for her, I was feeling for everyone around her. Full of shocks and secrets - the side stories give off as much heart as the central one. I really enjoyed how it was all interjected seamlessly into this already loaded story.
It's undeniably emotional, but also positively encouraging; I'm actually quite surprised that I haven't seen this book around more, so please, give it a chance because it will surprise you!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Some may be thinking "Aww poor her she was a loser and being a popular cheerleader "saved her"". Nope: We're talking cancer. We're talking honest to goodness heartfelt emotions. Although this is not about the cancer itself more than it's about the power of positive attitude. After reading this, I truly believe that we have the power to make our own miracles. It's an inspiration to all who are going through a rough patch. Don't ever believe you can't come out of it!
If you're now thinking "Oh another of those mind over matter stories that I'll never believe really happen". Guess what, this is a based on a TRUE STORY. It's still a classed as a work of fiction, but at its core, this is the author's experience with cancer. I only found this out at the end, and it made me love the book even more. To know someone - even moreso: a teenager - was this strong, this inspiring, it's truly something to look up to.
In this book though, it's Hayley Matthews. Hayley has just gotten her dream of making the varsity cheerleading squad when she starts to get pains in her leg. For a book about cancer, it's surprising more enlivening than depressing. She never develops a desolate - the world is ending - attitude. She stays remarkably positive with a determined perseverance that makes it a really fantastic read. I would even say uplifting. She made me realize that we are stronger than we make ourselves out to be. She takes what's been given to her, and she gives it the finger - this is who Hayley is. I adored her. I loved that she doesn't succumb to the staring and whispering. She goes in front of a crowd to cheer because she loves it; with a limp, with a bald head, with scars, and with a smile. This, to me, is plain a simply admirable.
Besides the cancer, we've got family, friends, football, romance - all the things that make a good book even better. The family dynamics, especially, is great. We have siblings, parent, even friends' families that feel like her own. We also have a reappearing long lost childhood friends. But most of all, we have love. The love that Hayley shares for her friends and family is unequivocal. I wasn't only feeling for her, I was feeling for everyone around her. Full of shocks and secrets - the side stories give off as much heart as the central one. I really enjoyed how it was all interjected seamlessly into this already loaded story.
It's undeniably emotional, but also positively encouraging; I'm actually quite surprised that I haven't seen this book around more, so please, give it a chance because it will surprise you!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
March 17, 2012
♥ Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah
- - -
Radiate is the story of Hayley Matthews. Hayley wants more out of her high school experience. Things aren't bad, but they could be more exciting. Going into her senior year, Hayley tries out for the cheerleading squad - and makes it. Cheerleading makes Hayley feel free and happy, not to mention making the squad has made her level of popularity shoot through the roof. Things couldn't be any better. Or could they? The hottest, most popular guy in school begins to show interest in Hayley.. then her old neighbor and friend randomly comes back to town and they grow closer than ever.
Just as life seems just about perfect, Hayley notices a painful lump forming on her leg. After ignoring it for weeks, she can't stand it anymore. A trip to the doctor is in order. After tests are run, Hayley learns some devastating news: she has cancer.
“I got a hell of a lot more than I ever bargained for -- something that stopped me in my tracks.
A diagnosis that would change my present and bring into question my future.
A challenge of epic proportions to overcome.
The need to find hope when everything seemed hopeless.
This is a story of how cheerleading saved my life.”
- - -
This book is very moving. I was doubtful that a story so infused with cheerleading (I'm one of those people who never really considered it a sport and sort of made fun of cheerleaders, lol) could make me feel so much, but I was definitely surprised. This book actually showed me that cheerleading isn't quite as silly as I thought. It is a sport, and it can mean a whole lot to someone. :) That being said, I do think that the cheerleading as a whole was maybe not so realistic. Or, at least, the girls themselves. There wasn't enough snark and bitchiness for it to be real. Let's face it: high school cheerleaders are most often catty as hell. There was one girl who was a little catty, but even she ended up being some sort of saint. I was also confused about how Hayley could be fifteen years old (as stated in the book) and in her senior year of high school. I don't think this book is meant to be an epic work of fiction, but small details do matter. Thus, the 4 stars instead of 5.
Hayley was a truly inspiring character. She stayed positive through 98% of her ordeal. She had her bad moments; moments where she questioned her faith and felt like things would never get better. Those moments were few and very far between. All through her battle with cancer she stayed positive and inspired those around her without even realizing it. She never thought “Oh my gosh, I hate my life.” or “I'm never going to cheer again.” or “I'm going to die.” - It was always, I can, I can, I can. I can beat this. I can overcome what has been thrown at me. I will cheer again. Even at the possibility of losing her leg she stayed positive. She fought through the pain, she refused to let cancer beat her.
There is a spiritual element in Radiate, but it isn't overpowering. Meaning, if you don't go for that sort of thing, this won't get you all riled up or anything. It's far from what I would call “preachy”. I don't usually read religious fiction, but this book sounded so inspiring, I just had to read it. I was pleasantly surprised that, even as someone who doesn't consider herself to be religious, I could enjoy this book. So, if you are like me, and shy away from anything with spiritual elements - don't.
This story not only takes us through Hayley's battle with cancer, but also through chemo and radiation, physical therapy and learning to bring your strength back up, aftereffects such as losing your hair, being sick all the time, etc. It's also a story of how you can learn who is truly your friend - and who isn't - in times of trial.
Radiate is a beautiful and moving story. Hayley is an inspiring and lovable character. This book will make you cry, make you laugh, and also teach you not to take things for granted. It's all about having faith in yourself, staying positive through hard times, and hope for the present and future. I would recommend this book to everyone. It really is an inspiration.
- - -
Book source: NetGalley
Publisher: Graphia/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
December 14, 2011
I went out on a limb and read something that is just "normal"! No vampires, zombies, were's, fae creatures, etc!!! And I really really enjoyed RADIATE.
As the mother of a Cheerleader, Radiate caught my attention as there aren't too many cheerleader based fiction books available in Australia. And if something is going to get my 14yo to read a book - it'll be something with Cheerleaders in it!!
Radiate brings us the story of Hayley Matthews - "band geek" and desperate to be a somebody.....what better way than to be a Cheerleader. Hayley tries out for the Cheer squad in her Senior year and after getting in, claiming instant notoriety.....this is set to be a Senior year she will never forget.
Gruelling cheer training and a cheer captain that could make them run rings around P90Xers (!) Hayley soon discovers she has a lump in her leg....and it's painful. When it won't go away Hayley is checked out at the doctors and yep....it's the big C - Cancer. But hey....she's a cheerleader and NOTHING will stop her from cheering out Senior Year.
She's one tough cookie and powers through with total determination that would have any athlete in awe and any parent proud.
Oh yeah.....being cheerleader also snags her the football star boyfriend that she's been crushing on for years. But will he stick around or is it just the "cheerleader" status that he's interested?
with many obstacles to overcome Hayley is an inspiration to many.....and at the end of the book (no spoilers here!) - Marley Gibson shares what her inspiration was for the story....making it all the more worthwhile for anyone to read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone! Out of this book I got not just entertainment....but inspiration and hope....and a few tears along the way!
ENJOY!
MARISSA
As the mother of a Cheerleader, Radiate caught my attention as there aren't too many cheerleader based fiction books available in Australia. And if something is going to get my 14yo to read a book - it'll be something with Cheerleaders in it!!
Radiate brings us the story of Hayley Matthews - "band geek" and desperate to be a somebody.....what better way than to be a Cheerleader. Hayley tries out for the Cheer squad in her Senior year and after getting in, claiming instant notoriety.....this is set to be a Senior year she will never forget.
Gruelling cheer training and a cheer captain that could make them run rings around P90Xers (!) Hayley soon discovers she has a lump in her leg....and it's painful. When it won't go away Hayley is checked out at the doctors and yep....it's the big C - Cancer. But hey....she's a cheerleader and NOTHING will stop her from cheering out Senior Year.
She's one tough cookie and powers through with total determination that would have any athlete in awe and any parent proud.
Oh yeah.....being cheerleader also snags her the football star boyfriend that she's been crushing on for years. But will he stick around or is it just the "cheerleader" status that he's interested?
with many obstacles to overcome Hayley is an inspiration to many.....and at the end of the book (no spoilers here!) - Marley Gibson shares what her inspiration was for the story....making it all the more worthwhile for anyone to read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone! Out of this book I got not just entertainment....but inspiration and hope....and a few tears along the way!
ENJOY!
MARISSA
March 29, 2012
I knew going into this book that I was going to cry. I mean how could I not with a synopsis like that one? I just knew it was going to be an emotional ride and I wasn't wrong, not at all.
This story is amazing. It is one of those stories that can make you a better person and want to live life to the fullest. To not take anything for granted and to just...love and live like we are meant to do. To be happy, with life and with ourselves.
I absolutely adored Hayley. So strong and brave and just good. One my goodness. She is everything any mother would want their daughter to be. She never gave up or felt sorry for herself. She was a fighter and she knew she was going to fight with all her might or die trying.
Gabriel was just amazing and truly someone I would want in my corner. I loved him.
Lora, Ross, her friends and all her family were just amazing people.
This is one of those books that will bring tears to your eyes. Ones of sorrow and ones of happiness too.
You have to read the Mother's Word at the end, I think I cried just as much through that and the Acknowledgments as I did through the story.
To know this is based on a true story...well that is just inspiring.
This was beautifully written. Raw, gritty and real. Just...yeah. Well done Ms. Gibson.
This story is amazing. It is one of those stories that can make you a better person and want to live life to the fullest. To not take anything for granted and to just...love and live like we are meant to do. To be happy, with life and with ourselves.
I absolutely adored Hayley. So strong and brave and just good. One my goodness. She is everything any mother would want their daughter to be. She never gave up or felt sorry for herself. She was a fighter and she knew she was going to fight with all her might or die trying.
Gabriel was just amazing and truly someone I would want in my corner. I loved him.
Lora, Ross, her friends and all her family were just amazing people.
This is one of those books that will bring tears to your eyes. Ones of sorrow and ones of happiness too.
You have to read the Mother's Word at the end, I think I cried just as much through that and the Acknowledgments as I did through the story.
To know this is based on a true story...well that is just inspiring.
This was beautifully written. Raw, gritty and real. Just...yeah. Well done Ms. Gibson.
March 28, 2012
I kept hearing about the book through Marley's Facebook and was going to get it when it came out. When I went to the event in Gettysburg and saw she had copies for sale, I didn't hesitate in getting my own copy - a little over a week early!
Little did I know that when I started to read it last night (March 26) that I'd finish it tonight (March 27). I could not put this book down at all. It dove into the story of Hayley Matthews that finds out she has cancer in her leg. It really goes through the triumph of this girl who doesn't let it get to her and she comes out fighting. How the book is written had me smiling, laughing and getting teary-eyed in places. It's truly an inspirational book that I recommend for EVERYONE. No matter what you're going through this book has a message for YOU. No matter what you're going through, you can fight it. You can and will get through it.
How Marley wrote this book made me feel like I knew these people, because she made it personal. Taking her own life story, with what she went through, and putting it onto paper makes her that much braver in my eyes. I recommend this book to everyone, it's a must read. And I hope everyone puts this on their "to read" this only to put it on "read" shortly after, like myself.
Amazing!!
Little did I know that when I started to read it last night (March 26) that I'd finish it tonight (March 27). I could not put this book down at all. It dove into the story of Hayley Matthews that finds out she has cancer in her leg. It really goes through the triumph of this girl who doesn't let it get to her and she comes out fighting. How the book is written had me smiling, laughing and getting teary-eyed in places. It's truly an inspirational book that I recommend for EVERYONE. No matter what you're going through this book has a message for YOU. No matter what you're going through, you can fight it. You can and will get through it.
How Marley wrote this book made me feel like I knew these people, because she made it personal. Taking her own life story, with what she went through, and putting it onto paper makes her that much braver in my eyes. I recommend this book to everyone, it's a must read. And I hope everyone puts this on their "to read" this only to put it on "read" shortly after, like myself.
Amazing!!
April 22, 2012
Caution: Some language in this book may not be suitable for all readers.
So I only have one word to describe this book. Awe! I am totally in awe of the strength and courage of Hayley! Radiate is the story of Hayley Matthews who in her senior year of high school wants to do something more with her life. She has been in the high school band and made it through most of her high school years unnoticed. But she is tired of blending in. She wants to finally stand out! To be noticed. To do something MORE! So she trades in her trumpet for a pair or pompoms. Despite the challenges of being a cheerleader, she pushes herself to excell in her sport. Little does she know that her body is fighting against her. After a few weeks of practice, she notices a pain in her leg, but thinks that it is from all the extra exercise from practice. So she ignores it as best she can and keeps pushing forward, until one day she notices a knot on her leg and finally tells her parents. After a couple doctors appointments, and harsh diagnoses, her mother calls in Hayley's uncle who is a doctor to get his opinion. He tells them that he believes that she has osteosarcoma. He helps them to understand some of the things that will be involved in fighting this disease and helps them find a doctor he feels will be the best match for them. Hayley says goodbye to her friends and heads to the UAB Hospital to begin her fight. Though she spends most of her summer there, she tries to stay optimistic. She doesn't allow herself to feel sorry for herself or wish her diagnosis on anyone else. She is going to fight this. She is going to win! Even after her surgery, she continues to prepare herself for the cheerleading season ahead. She will not let cancer stop her! She watches videos of her squad practicing their routines. She even goes to a practice with a local squad that came to visit her in the hospital. She is determined that she will be part of her squad and be the best cheerleader she can be. With all her focus on doing this, cancer never even has a chance to consume her mind. She never really lets it in. But there are so many obstacles that she is going to have to over come. Will she be able to find the Something More she was looking for? Will she continue to be able to be a part of her squad after she surgery? Well I guess you will just have to read and find out, cause that's all your getting out of me!!! I truly enjoyed every minute of this book. So much in fact that I read the whole thing in 2 days! Hayley's determination was so uplifting! It made me feel like no matter what struggles may come my way, it is possible to beat them. I hope that you will let this book bring you some hope for your future as well. Be uplifted! Be encouraged! Go out into the world and show it that you will not be overcome! Go out in the world and Radiate!
So I only have one word to describe this book. Awe! I am totally in awe of the strength and courage of Hayley! Radiate is the story of Hayley Matthews who in her senior year of high school wants to do something more with her life. She has been in the high school band and made it through most of her high school years unnoticed. But she is tired of blending in. She wants to finally stand out! To be noticed. To do something MORE! So she trades in her trumpet for a pair or pompoms. Despite the challenges of being a cheerleader, she pushes herself to excell in her sport. Little does she know that her body is fighting against her. After a few weeks of practice, she notices a pain in her leg, but thinks that it is from all the extra exercise from practice. So she ignores it as best she can and keeps pushing forward, until one day she notices a knot on her leg and finally tells her parents. After a couple doctors appointments, and harsh diagnoses, her mother calls in Hayley's uncle who is a doctor to get his opinion. He tells them that he believes that she has osteosarcoma. He helps them to understand some of the things that will be involved in fighting this disease and helps them find a doctor he feels will be the best match for them. Hayley says goodbye to her friends and heads to the UAB Hospital to begin her fight. Though she spends most of her summer there, she tries to stay optimistic. She doesn't allow herself to feel sorry for herself or wish her diagnosis on anyone else. She is going to fight this. She is going to win! Even after her surgery, she continues to prepare herself for the cheerleading season ahead. She will not let cancer stop her! She watches videos of her squad practicing their routines. She even goes to a practice with a local squad that came to visit her in the hospital. She is determined that she will be part of her squad and be the best cheerleader she can be. With all her focus on doing this, cancer never even has a chance to consume her mind. She never really lets it in. But there are so many obstacles that she is going to have to over come. Will she be able to find the Something More she was looking for? Will she continue to be able to be a part of her squad after she surgery? Well I guess you will just have to read and find out, cause that's all your getting out of me!!! I truly enjoyed every minute of this book. So much in fact that I read the whole thing in 2 days! Hayley's determination was so uplifting! It made me feel like no matter what struggles may come my way, it is possible to beat them. I hope that you will let this book bring you some hope for your future as well. Be uplifted! Be encouraged! Go out into the world and show it that you will not be overcome! Go out in the world and Radiate!
December 14, 2011
I went out on a limb and read something that is just "normal"! No vampires, zombies, were's, fae creatures, etc!!! And I really really enjoyed RADIATE.
As the mother of a Cheerleader, Radiate caught my attention as there aren't too many cheerleader based fiction books available in Australia. And if something is going to get my 14yo to read a book - it'll be something with Cheerleaders in it!!
Radiate brings us the story of Hayley Matthews - "band geek" and desperate to be a somebody.....what better way than to be a Cheerleader. Hayley tries out for the Cheer squad in her Senior year and after getting in, claiming instant notoriety.....this is set to be a Senior year she will never forget.
Gruelling cheer training and a cheer captain that could make them run rings around P90Xers (!) Hayley soon discovers she has a lump in her leg....and it's painful. When it won't go away Hayley is checked out at the doctors and yep....it's the big C - Cancer. But hey....she's a cheerleader and NOTHING will stop her from cheering out Senior Year.
She's one tough cookie and powers through with total determination that would have any athlete in awe and any parent proud.
Oh yeah.....being cheerleader also snags her the football star boyfriend that she's been crushing on for years. But will he stick around or is it just the "cheerleader" status that he's interested?
with many obstacles to overcome Hayley is an inspiration to many.....and at the end of the book (no spoilers here!) - Marley Gibson shares what her inspiration was for the story....making it all the more worthwhile for anyone to read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone! Out of this book I got not just entertainment....but inspiration and hope....and a few tears along the way!
ENJOY!
MARISSA
As the mother of a Cheerleader, Radiate caught my attention as there aren't too many cheerleader based fiction books available in Australia. And if something is going to get my 14yo to read a book - it'll be something with Cheerleaders in it!!
Radiate brings us the story of Hayley Matthews - "band geek" and desperate to be a somebody.....what better way than to be a Cheerleader. Hayley tries out for the Cheer squad in her Senior year and after getting in, claiming instant notoriety.....this is set to be a Senior year she will never forget.
Gruelling cheer training and a cheer captain that could make them run rings around P90Xers (!) Hayley soon discovers she has a lump in her leg....and it's painful. When it won't go away Hayley is checked out at the doctors and yep....it's the big C - Cancer. But hey....she's a cheerleader and NOTHING will stop her from cheering out Senior Year.
She's one tough cookie and powers through with total determination that would have any athlete in awe and any parent proud.
Oh yeah.....being cheerleader also snags her the football star boyfriend that she's been crushing on for years. But will he stick around or is it just the "cheerleader" status that he's interested?
with many obstacles to overcome Hayley is an inspiration to many.....and at the end of the book (no spoilers here!) - Marley Gibson shares what her inspiration was for the story....making it all the more worthwhile for anyone to read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone! Out of this book I got not just entertainment....but inspiration and hope....and a few tears along the way!
ENJOY!
MARISSA
March 21, 2012
I loved this book! A very relatable, real girl, who has always felt like a nobody decides to just go for it and tries out for cheerleader her Senior Year.
To her surprise she makes it and throws herself into the parties, cheering and social life expected. She is enjoying her new lifestyle until a pain in her leg at cheerleading practice brings her to the doctor and a scary diagnosis.
The story is not religious, although there are times she mentions praying and God. But there are also times when she curses and expresses herself with bad language in frustration and anger. I think including both elements made the character appear very real and true to life.
The book is both a tear jerker and an encourager,a combination that is often hard to find in YA Fiction. Recomended!
To her surprise she makes it and throws herself into the parties, cheering and social life expected. She is enjoying her new lifestyle until a pain in her leg at cheerleading practice brings her to the doctor and a scary diagnosis.
The story is not religious, although there are times she mentions praying and God. But there are also times when she curses and expresses herself with bad language in frustration and anger. I think including both elements made the character appear very real and true to life.
The book is both a tear jerker and an encourager,a combination that is often hard to find in YA Fiction. Recomended!
September 3, 2011
Going into her senior year, Hayley wanted popularity and something more. She joined the cheerleading squad, boosting her into popularity. A few weeks into training, she discovers a lump in her leg and it is diagnosed as cancer. This is the story of how she deals with the hand she's been given and how she influences others.
Really good read.
Really good read.
February 21, 2013
(Pre-review ramblings: I had a hard time rating this book. I kept going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. 4 stars for the fact that this is based on a true life girl. 3 stars for sketchy plot. 4 stars for Hayley. 3 stars for lack of romance. 4 stars for awesome characters. 3 stars for that weird thing with Gabriel. 4 stars for almost making me cry. 3 stars for being cheesy.)
Review
A knock on the driver's window scares hell and four dollars out of me.
Hayley is not your usual heroine. She thrives on adrenaline. Cheerleeding is her life. The strain, the stress, the glory, all of it. I liked that she takes Chloe's nastiness in her stride. In a way, she takes everything in her stride. She's very optimistic and looks on the bright side of everything. Mature but naïve too. She's probably the most happiest kid with cancer I've ever seen and remarkably resilient. The beauty about her though, is that she gets upset, has her wail, and then she gets up again. .
After her surgery, Hayley gets back to cheerleading – while on crutches. Yes, she is that crazy and that stubborn. She seriously pushes herself to the limit of her endurance. She doesn't have a victim mentality at all. She's got the kind of attitude that makes you want to shout, “You go, girl!”
Gabriel is a good hero. He loves Hayley right from the start but he can see she's happy with her boyfriend. Gabriel is seriously awesome.
Hayley - “Don't you have any happy stories?”
He smiles a toothy grin at me. “You're a happy story, Hayley.”
He takes her cancer in his stride, and he treats her completely normally. I loved his loyalty towards her. Every time Hayley fondly remembered him killing earwigs for her as a child, it made me laugh.
Side note: There aren't a lot of stereotypes in it.
Exhibit A: the queen of the school has black hair not blonde.
Exhibit B: the popular boyfriend is not an all-out douchebag
Exhibit C: Hayley is a sweet but foul-mouthed Christian
Exhibit D: The characters are really nice but they ALL have major backbones
Review
A knock on the driver's window scares hell and four dollars out of me.
Hayley is not your usual heroine. She thrives on adrenaline. Cheerleeding is her life. The strain, the stress, the glory, all of it. I liked that she takes Chloe's nastiness in her stride. In a way, she takes everything in her stride. She's very optimistic and looks on the bright side of everything. Mature but naïve too. She's probably the most happiest kid with cancer I've ever seen and remarkably resilient. The beauty about her though, is that she gets upset, has her wail, and then she gets up again. .
After her surgery, Hayley gets back to cheerleading – while on crutches. Yes, she is that crazy and that stubborn. She seriously pushes herself to the limit of her endurance. She doesn't have a victim mentality at all. She's got the kind of attitude that makes you want to shout, “You go, girl!”
Gabriel is a good hero. He loves Hayley right from the start but he can see she's happy with her boyfriend. Gabriel is seriously awesome.
Hayley - “Don't you have any happy stories?”
He smiles a toothy grin at me. “You're a happy story, Hayley.”
He takes her cancer in his stride, and he treats her completely normally. I loved his loyalty towards her. Every time Hayley fondly remembered him killing earwigs for her as a child, it made me laugh.
Side note: There aren't a lot of stereotypes in it.
Exhibit A: the queen of the school has black hair not blonde.
Exhibit B: the popular boyfriend is not an all-out douchebag
Exhibit C: Hayley is a sweet but foul-mouthed Christian
Exhibit D: The characters are really nice but they ALL have major backbones
May 18, 2012
This is the story of Hayley Matthews, a high school senior who has just made the varsity cheerleading squad at her school when she is diagnosed with cancer. The first half of the book is dedicated to the cancer discovery and treatment. Most of it is set in the hospital where she stays for a lengthy period of time because of the various surgeries she has to undergo, chemo and radiation. The author goes into great detail about all three, which is great, but it was also a little confusing at times because there was just too much to remember.
The second half is about her transition back to school and her new life as a cheerleader. She seems to be ready to put the cancer behind her and move on, but unfortunately there are still some side effects she has to deal with along the way. There is a really great positive message about never giving up and always pushing through no matter what life throws at you which was definitely the best part of this book.
Haley is a really inspiring protagonist. She handles everything that is thrown at her head-on and with an attitude that most teenagers would not possess if faced with the same challenges. My only issue with her was that she seemed to be obsessed with getting to cheer camp (and just cheerleading in general) even though there was clearly a much more important issue at hand.
The cover is perfect for this book. It is a cheerleader surrounded by bright, happy colors which is exactly who Hayley is.
More reviews can be found @ best-of-ya.blogspot.com
The second half is about her transition back to school and her new life as a cheerleader. She seems to be ready to put the cancer behind her and move on, but unfortunately there are still some side effects she has to deal with along the way. There is a really great positive message about never giving up and always pushing through no matter what life throws at you which was definitely the best part of this book.
Haley is a really inspiring protagonist. She handles everything that is thrown at her head-on and with an attitude that most teenagers would not possess if faced with the same challenges. My only issue with her was that she seemed to be obsessed with getting to cheer camp (and just cheerleading in general) even though there was clearly a much more important issue at hand.
The cover is perfect for this book. It is a cheerleader surrounded by bright, happy colors which is exactly who Hayley is.
More reviews can be found @ best-of-ya.blogspot.com
April 5, 2012
I've been hearing about this book for months and have been dying to read it. I was able to get my hands on a couple early from Marley at an event. Once I started reading I just couldn't put it down.
A fictional story based on the real events that happened in Marley's life, the reader connects with the characters. I've always loved Marley's characters because you can connect with them, and understand them.
I've already recommended the books to friends. This is an amazing and inspiring story of how not to give up with faced with adversity and to keep going even when faced with something that is bigger than you.
A truely uplifting story that should be read by cancer fighters and cancer survivors.
A fictional story based on the real events that happened in Marley's life, the reader connects with the characters. I've always loved Marley's characters because you can connect with them, and understand them.
I've already recommended the books to friends. This is an amazing and inspiring story of how not to give up with faced with adversity and to keep going even when faced with something that is bigger than you.
A truely uplifting story that should be read by cancer fighters and cancer survivors.
April 2, 2012
Imagine taking cancer and turning it into a pancake and then piling candy, syrup, whipped cream, ice cream, and a couple of hostess cupcakes on top...that is this book.
It is so sugary sweet it made me crazy. Never once does Hayley think she might die because she has cancer, she is just upset that she won't make it to cheer camp. I could not like this girl, she may have inspired her town but she just annoyed me.
It felt like the author was writing dialouge like how she thinks teenagers talk, but some of the phrases were really off. Plus it was sometimes religious but then there would be a random swear word all of the sudden. Plus overall, it is mostly boring.
I got this book from Netgalley, and it is the only reason that I pushed to finish it.
It is so sugary sweet it made me crazy. Never once does Hayley think she might die because she has cancer, she is just upset that she won't make it to cheer camp. I could not like this girl, she may have inspired her town but she just annoyed me.
It felt like the author was writing dialouge like how she thinks teenagers talk, but some of the phrases were really off. Plus it was sometimes religious but then there would be a random swear word all of the sudden. Plus overall, it is mostly boring.
I got this book from Netgalley, and it is the only reason that I pushed to finish it.
Read
January 4, 2016I was asked to do an official blurb for this book so here it is.
RADIATE is a word that aptly describes this new novel by Marley Gibson. Hayley’s startling journey as a teen fighting cancer is intense and astonishing and I found myself caught in the tight grip of hope and determination. A story as extraordinary and as powerful as this one will affect the reader long after the book is finished, especially after knowing the source of the author’s inspiration.
RADIATE is a word that aptly describes this new novel by Marley Gibson. Hayley’s startling journey as a teen fighting cancer is intense and astonishing and I found myself caught in the tight grip of hope and determination. A story as extraordinary and as powerful as this one will affect the reader long after the book is finished, especially after knowing the source of the author’s inspiration.
April 4, 2012
pretty southern girl meets cancer, and faces the challenge head-on. awesome story, even with the over-the-top secondary cancer story in it, and the all-too-perfect ending. i would like to be as strong as this girl.
September 1, 2016
Being a man in his 40's, I'm not EXACTLY the core demographic this book is after. But this is an amazing story, and the fact its based on a true story makes it all the more amazing. Make sure you have a box of tissues near by!
August 7, 2016
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog -
Debra's Book Cafe
Thank you
Debs
April 13, 2012
What an uplifting book this was! This is a great read, one that will stick with you. 5 stars!
April 4, 2012
An incredible story of overcoming. If this book does not move you to tears, you have no soul!
September 28, 2018
A sensational story about a girl who almost long her leg to cancer. This young cheerleader, Haley Matthews is a role model for everyone because of her persistence fighting against her painful and cancerous tumor in her leg. Author Marley Gibson really shows how important and powerful a positive mindset is when dealing with difficult situations throughout the novel Radiate. It is truly an amazing story that has a great impact on the reader. Haley is such a strong person and works hard at everything she puts her mind to throughout the toughest year of her life and I have no doubt that she will continue this in the many more years to come. This is her story of how cheerleading saved her life.
Q: Why did you try out for cheerleading in the first place?
A: Well to start off, I was tired of being a nobody in the school marching band. I just didn’t feel like I was a big part of anything. I wanted more for myself and I wanted to be apart of something that mattered. I knew that there were more friends, more experiences and more everything out there in the world for me and I needed to hop right on them. I felt like there was something else I should be doing, and so I tried out for the varsity cheer squad and to my surprise I made it!
Q: How did you manage to stay positive even though you were going through something completely unimaginable for most teenagers?
A: When I was in the hospital all I could think about was when am I going to be able to cheer again. Every time I got an update about my condition, I would ask the doctors about when I could leave and start cheer practice. I didn’t focus on if I was going to be able to walk again or lose my leg which would be worse. I focused on my goal of getting out of the hospital and on the football field as fast as possible. The day when the cheerleaders came from a school close to the hospital I was staying at to cheer me on, was an amazing day. They reminded me of what I wanted to accomplish and why I wanted it so bad. I love cheering so much it is the only thing that kept me going. If I had not made the cheer squad, I don’t think I would have stayed hopeful during my time in the hospital.
Q: What were somethings you were scared about during your entire experience?
A: I was scared of multiple things throughout my entire experience. To start off, when the doctors were explaining my condition to me, I was scared to death that I was not going to be able to walk again let alone cheer again. I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to go to camp with the team and I was also scared about letting them down. I knew that it was very important for me to be at camp with the rest of the girls so that I could experience it with them and not fall behind. After my experience in the hospital, I was very nervous about the chemotherapy as well. I didn’t know much about it and I was definitely a little nervous about the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but I tried no to focus on the negatives too much.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: My role model is hands down Ross who was my friend Lora’s uncle. He was an amazing man and an inspiration for me and hopefully for many other people. A couple years ago he was hospitalized. When he was let out of the hospital he realized that life was short and he started doing things and taking risks he wouldn’t have taken otherwise. Ross started climbing up mountains and he helped so many people. Other than the fact that he did things for himself, he also donated new sneakers to the entire Patriots cheer team. He taught me to stay positive and that eventually everything would work itself out. He helped me regain my confidence in fighting cancer. Ross was such a great man and a great friend and I wish that I could’ve helped him more with his challenges before he lost him life to Lukemia.
Q: Describe the pain the tumor in your leg put you through.
A: Oh my god! Where do I start? Well, um, let’s see. When I walked or took a step there was pain. If I did a cartwheel or something like a backflip there was pain. When I was holding Lora up in the air there was pain all along my left leg. All in all, my leg would hurt all day. I don’t know why but I tried to dismiss the pain and convince myself it would go away but it didn’t. It only got worse to the point where it hurt too much to walk. So thank god all of that is over and I finally told my parents that I needed to go see a doctor because there was no way I could forget about the pain I felt in my leg for another day.
Q: Why did you decline getting a wig to hide your hairloss from the radiation and chemotherapy?
A: When my mom took me to the wig shop I was so heartbroken about my hairloss. I looked around the store and started trying on the wigs that I liked. However, when I saw them on me, they didn’t look like my old hair. This only made the fact that I didn’t have any hair more apparent to me and I decided that I didn’t want this fake hair on my head. I am truly glad that my mom took me to the wig shop because it made me realize that I don’t need my hair to feel pretty or good about myself. I shouldn’t care about if people think I’m weird because I’m bald. I decided that if people truly cared about me, they wouldn’t care if I had the prettiest hair or if I was bald. I wanted to just be myself and I didn’t feel the need to cover up my baldness.
Q: How did your view on Chloe Bradenton change overtime and throughout this experience?
A: When I first met Chole I was very intimidated by her for obvious reasons, she was the cheer captain. I admired her but at the same time I was a bit scared of her. Each day at practice I was scared of what she would think if I told her about the pain I was feeling from my leg. As you can see I was nervous around her. My feelings about her became even more negative while I was in the hospital and continued when I left. During my time in the hospital, I would tell her that I was making progress and getting better but she wasn’t convinced. She tried to kick me off the team because she thought it would be best. When I heard about this I was pissed. I had such strong feelings of hatred for her but eventually those feelings died down. They came back when I was out of the hospital because she kept bringing up the fact that I was different and couldn’t do things with the rest of the group. After I showed her that I was capable she gained confidence in me and I regained my respect for her. Over time I realized that she was just looking out for the team and not herself so I genuinely admire her for that. I am glad that we finally understand each other because now there are no hard feelings or negative vibes between us.
Q: Who were the people who helped you get through this hard time the most?
A: There were so many people who helped me get through this experience but the most important people for me would be Lora Russell, Ross, and Gaberiel Tremblay. Lora was the person who helped me through my emotional problems. I could talk to her about anything that was happening with Daniel who was my boyfriend at the time, or any drama going on with Chole. Ross was the guy who reminded me never to give up hope and to keep fighting through all of the pain emotional and physical. And finally Gabe. I can’t explain enough about how he has helped me. He was there every step of the way. While I was in the hospital he would talk to me making sure I was okay. He came to visit me and reminded me everything was going to be fine. After I got out of the hospital, he helped me each day to regain my strength in my leg. Part of the reason I am able to do flips and everything today is because Gabe rehabilitated me. Not only this, but he was there supporting me emotionally as well. He is an amazing friend because I was able to talk to him about all the drama going on, and he was a great listener. I truly can’t thank him enough for all that he has done for me and I wouldn’t ask for anyone else by my side.
Q: You broke up with Daniel on the football field. What was that all about?
A: Oh don’t even get me started. Daniel Delafield was a real jerk of a boyfriend. He was sweet at first supporting me and everything but it's when things got tough that he chickened out. I started losing my hair and he didn’t look at me the same as before. He didn’t really know how to act around me. He wouldn’t touch my head anymore, and if he did it was very awkward. It was almost like he was cringing at the fact that his girlfriend had no hair. The day I broke up with him there was a football game going on. I couldn’t do all of the flips and stunts that all the other girls were doing. I looked over at Daniel on the sideline with the rest of his football teammates and he was laughing at me with his friends. I decided I wasn’t going to take this so I attempted a cartwheel but it was kinda wobbly. When I turned, I saw Daniel laughing at me again. When the football game was over, I went up to him to congratulate him and then we got into a fight about how he couldn’t handle being with me because I was “too much for him to handle.” It was right then and there that I started going off on him and yelling that if he couldn’t accept me for the way I am, then I didn’t need him. I walked away and that was that.
Q: What advice would you give to any girl/boy who is going through a similar experience as you did?
A: Advice I would give to someone else going through a hardship like this is just to stay positive and never give up. Don’t worry about the what ifs and focus on the good that is happening. Never give up hope that you will get through a rough patch. Everyone has a hard time at one point in their life, but that doesn’t mean that you should just give up. Focus on what you want to accomplish and anything is possible. Also, don’t give a shit about what other people think because if they truly love you they will stick around for anything. As long as you focus on what’s good in your life and never say never, YOU TOO CAN RADIATE!!!
Q: Why did you try out for cheerleading in the first place?
A: Well to start off, I was tired of being a nobody in the school marching band. I just didn’t feel like I was a big part of anything. I wanted more for myself and I wanted to be apart of something that mattered. I knew that there were more friends, more experiences and more everything out there in the world for me and I needed to hop right on them. I felt like there was something else I should be doing, and so I tried out for the varsity cheer squad and to my surprise I made it!
Q: How did you manage to stay positive even though you were going through something completely unimaginable for most teenagers?
A: When I was in the hospital all I could think about was when am I going to be able to cheer again. Every time I got an update about my condition, I would ask the doctors about when I could leave and start cheer practice. I didn’t focus on if I was going to be able to walk again or lose my leg which would be worse. I focused on my goal of getting out of the hospital and on the football field as fast as possible. The day when the cheerleaders came from a school close to the hospital I was staying at to cheer me on, was an amazing day. They reminded me of what I wanted to accomplish and why I wanted it so bad. I love cheering so much it is the only thing that kept me going. If I had not made the cheer squad, I don’t think I would have stayed hopeful during my time in the hospital.
Q: What were somethings you were scared about during your entire experience?
A: I was scared of multiple things throughout my entire experience. To start off, when the doctors were explaining my condition to me, I was scared to death that I was not going to be able to walk again let alone cheer again. I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to go to camp with the team and I was also scared about letting them down. I knew that it was very important for me to be at camp with the rest of the girls so that I could experience it with them and not fall behind. After my experience in the hospital, I was very nervous about the chemotherapy as well. I didn’t know much about it and I was definitely a little nervous about the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but I tried no to focus on the negatives too much.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: My role model is hands down Ross who was my friend Lora’s uncle. He was an amazing man and an inspiration for me and hopefully for many other people. A couple years ago he was hospitalized. When he was let out of the hospital he realized that life was short and he started doing things and taking risks he wouldn’t have taken otherwise. Ross started climbing up mountains and he helped so many people. Other than the fact that he did things for himself, he also donated new sneakers to the entire Patriots cheer team. He taught me to stay positive and that eventually everything would work itself out. He helped me regain my confidence in fighting cancer. Ross was such a great man and a great friend and I wish that I could’ve helped him more with his challenges before he lost him life to Lukemia.
Q: Describe the pain the tumor in your leg put you through.
A: Oh my god! Where do I start? Well, um, let’s see. When I walked or took a step there was pain. If I did a cartwheel or something like a backflip there was pain. When I was holding Lora up in the air there was pain all along my left leg. All in all, my leg would hurt all day. I don’t know why but I tried to dismiss the pain and convince myself it would go away but it didn’t. It only got worse to the point where it hurt too much to walk. So thank god all of that is over and I finally told my parents that I needed to go see a doctor because there was no way I could forget about the pain I felt in my leg for another day.
Q: Why did you decline getting a wig to hide your hairloss from the radiation and chemotherapy?
A: When my mom took me to the wig shop I was so heartbroken about my hairloss. I looked around the store and started trying on the wigs that I liked. However, when I saw them on me, they didn’t look like my old hair. This only made the fact that I didn’t have any hair more apparent to me and I decided that I didn’t want this fake hair on my head. I am truly glad that my mom took me to the wig shop because it made me realize that I don’t need my hair to feel pretty or good about myself. I shouldn’t care about if people think I’m weird because I’m bald. I decided that if people truly cared about me, they wouldn’t care if I had the prettiest hair or if I was bald. I wanted to just be myself and I didn’t feel the need to cover up my baldness.
Q: How did your view on Chloe Bradenton change overtime and throughout this experience?
A: When I first met Chole I was very intimidated by her for obvious reasons, she was the cheer captain. I admired her but at the same time I was a bit scared of her. Each day at practice I was scared of what she would think if I told her about the pain I was feeling from my leg. As you can see I was nervous around her. My feelings about her became even more negative while I was in the hospital and continued when I left. During my time in the hospital, I would tell her that I was making progress and getting better but she wasn’t convinced. She tried to kick me off the team because she thought it would be best. When I heard about this I was pissed. I had such strong feelings of hatred for her but eventually those feelings died down. They came back when I was out of the hospital because she kept bringing up the fact that I was different and couldn’t do things with the rest of the group. After I showed her that I was capable she gained confidence in me and I regained my respect for her. Over time I realized that she was just looking out for the team and not herself so I genuinely admire her for that. I am glad that we finally understand each other because now there are no hard feelings or negative vibes between us.
Q: Who were the people who helped you get through this hard time the most?
A: There were so many people who helped me get through this experience but the most important people for me would be Lora Russell, Ross, and Gaberiel Tremblay. Lora was the person who helped me through my emotional problems. I could talk to her about anything that was happening with Daniel who was my boyfriend at the time, or any drama going on with Chole. Ross was the guy who reminded me never to give up hope and to keep fighting through all of the pain emotional and physical. And finally Gabe. I can’t explain enough about how he has helped me. He was there every step of the way. While I was in the hospital he would talk to me making sure I was okay. He came to visit me and reminded me everything was going to be fine. After I got out of the hospital, he helped me each day to regain my strength in my leg. Part of the reason I am able to do flips and everything today is because Gabe rehabilitated me. Not only this, but he was there supporting me emotionally as well. He is an amazing friend because I was able to talk to him about all the drama going on, and he was a great listener. I truly can’t thank him enough for all that he has done for me and I wouldn’t ask for anyone else by my side.
Q: You broke up with Daniel on the football field. What was that all about?
A: Oh don’t even get me started. Daniel Delafield was a real jerk of a boyfriend. He was sweet at first supporting me and everything but it's when things got tough that he chickened out. I started losing my hair and he didn’t look at me the same as before. He didn’t really know how to act around me. He wouldn’t touch my head anymore, and if he did it was very awkward. It was almost like he was cringing at the fact that his girlfriend had no hair. The day I broke up with him there was a football game going on. I couldn’t do all of the flips and stunts that all the other girls were doing. I looked over at Daniel on the sideline with the rest of his football teammates and he was laughing at me with his friends. I decided I wasn’t going to take this so I attempted a cartwheel but it was kinda wobbly. When I turned, I saw Daniel laughing at me again. When the football game was over, I went up to him to congratulate him and then we got into a fight about how he couldn’t handle being with me because I was “too much for him to handle.” It was right then and there that I started going off on him and yelling that if he couldn’t accept me for the way I am, then I didn’t need him. I walked away and that was that.
Q: What advice would you give to any girl/boy who is going through a similar experience as you did?
A: Advice I would give to someone else going through a hardship like this is just to stay positive and never give up. Don’t worry about the what ifs and focus on the good that is happening. Never give up hope that you will get through a rough patch. Everyone has a hard time at one point in their life, but that doesn’t mean that you should just give up. Focus on what you want to accomplish and anything is possible. Also, don’t give a shit about what other people think because if they truly love you they will stick around for anything. As long as you focus on what’s good in your life and never say never, YOU TOO CAN RADIATE!!!
May 19, 2012
On the front cover of this novel there is a quote by author Simone Elkles
“Radiate shows readers the power of positive thinking can change lives.”
This is without a doubt the most accurate statement I’ve ever seen splayed across the front of a book before. Normally they are just puff to entice the reader.
“Engrossing…thrilling ride!” “Utterly amaaaazing!” “Give me more…rah rah rah!”
What exactly are we supposed to take away from those? That the author had this book shoved down their throat by the publisher in an effort to show solidarity to their fellow authors? That they were forced to be enthusiastic at the expense of their pride? Phooey!
Call me Negative Nancy. Call me a party pooper. Hell…tell me I have a T-Rex sized light poll shoved up my @$$, I don’t care. I only ask for one think when it comes to people pushing books and that is honesty.
So, what exactly does this little tirade have to do with Radiate?
I had to see if Simone was blowing smoke. (I’m masochistic that way.)
“Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard and pushes herself 110% all the time.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.”
At first glance Radiate is NOT a book I would pick up for myself. (Duh.) I was not a cheerleader in high-school, therefore my interest in the whole “this is a cheerocrocy” mantra isn’t really my thing. BUT after only a few chapters I realized that this book was less about cheering (though the jumping, yelping and altogether giddiness that surrounds the peppy pom pom holders was prominent) but about keeping an upbeat frame of mind during troubling and challenging times.
Hayley the lead character in Radiate just wants to stand out. That is her entire goal for her senior year of HS and she plans on accomplishing this by joining the cheerleading squad. After months of intense training she accomplishes this goal. Unfortunately, a few weeks into her summer workouts she gets some horrifying news. She has the big C. Cancer. But…instead of letting this drag her down (which it would have every right to do) she uses her new “cheerleader” attitude (go fight win) to focus on the things she CAN control. For example: walking without a limp and being ok with her now bald head. An attitude we could all benefit from. (Especially the hair loss.)
As for the basics:
The characters were well written; even the supporting cast. The appropriate people were inappropriate at the exact moment they should have been. The best friend was honest and felt shockingly real. (Aka she had emotional breakdowns when most normal people would,) and the boys were…well…boys (indecisive, secretive and blind!)
The plot held just enough intrigue (relationships & coping with the windfall) to keep the story flowing in a forward direction and even more interesting…you find out after the fact (from a note at the end of the book) that this story was actually based on true events. Which makes the message that more meaningful AND powerful. (Which I guess makes Ms. Elkles right. Kudos to her!)
This is not going to be a book for everyone, the sis boom bahs may get a little overwhelming for older audiences (or the non-cheery types like me) but it definitely has it’s place.
Overall: Interesting book. Great message. One I would highly recommend for younger impressionable audiences.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Save the cheerleader…save the world!
“Radiate shows readers the power of positive thinking can change lives.”
This is without a doubt the most accurate statement I’ve ever seen splayed across the front of a book before. Normally they are just puff to entice the reader.
“Engrossing…thrilling ride!” “Utterly amaaaazing!” “Give me more…rah rah rah!”
What exactly are we supposed to take away from those? That the author had this book shoved down their throat by the publisher in an effort to show solidarity to their fellow authors? That they were forced to be enthusiastic at the expense of their pride? Phooey!
Call me Negative Nancy. Call me a party pooper. Hell…tell me I have a T-Rex sized light poll shoved up my @$$, I don’t care. I only ask for one think when it comes to people pushing books and that is honesty.
So, what exactly does this little tirade have to do with Radiate?
I had to see if Simone was blowing smoke. (I’m masochistic that way.)
“Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard and pushes herself 110% all the time.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.”
At first glance Radiate is NOT a book I would pick up for myself. (Duh.) I was not a cheerleader in high-school, therefore my interest in the whole “this is a cheerocrocy” mantra isn’t really my thing. BUT after only a few chapters I realized that this book was less about cheering (though the jumping, yelping and altogether giddiness that surrounds the peppy pom pom holders was prominent) but about keeping an upbeat frame of mind during troubling and challenging times.
Hayley the lead character in Radiate just wants to stand out. That is her entire goal for her senior year of HS and she plans on accomplishing this by joining the cheerleading squad. After months of intense training she accomplishes this goal. Unfortunately, a few weeks into her summer workouts she gets some horrifying news. She has the big C. Cancer. But…instead of letting this drag her down (which it would have every right to do) she uses her new “cheerleader” attitude (go fight win) to focus on the things she CAN control. For example: walking without a limp and being ok with her now bald head. An attitude we could all benefit from. (Especially the hair loss.)
As for the basics:
The characters were well written; even the supporting cast. The appropriate people were inappropriate at the exact moment they should have been. The best friend was honest and felt shockingly real. (Aka she had emotional breakdowns when most normal people would,) and the boys were…well…boys (indecisive, secretive and blind!)
The plot held just enough intrigue (relationships & coping with the windfall) to keep the story flowing in a forward direction and even more interesting…you find out after the fact (from a note at the end of the book) that this story was actually based on true events. Which makes the message that more meaningful AND powerful. (Which I guess makes Ms. Elkles right. Kudos to her!)
This is not going to be a book for everyone, the sis boom bahs may get a little overwhelming for older audiences (or the non-cheery types like me) but it definitely has it’s place.
Overall: Interesting book. Great message. One I would highly recommend for younger impressionable audiences.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Save the cheerleader…save the world!
April 4, 2012
Really deserves 3.5 stars
See Full Review Here: http://yalbookbriefs.blogspot.com/201...
Note, I received a free copy via Net Galley. This did not affect my review or feelings of the book.
I liked a lot of things about this book. I thought it had a great message. Having a positive attitude is probably the best and in some cases the only way to fight cancer (besides having a kick ass oncologist) and Haley definitely has it. Occasionally though Hayley come off a bit Pollyanna-ish and makes the reader want her to just let it all out. Even with the most positive of attitudes there are days you're just going to feel like shit with cancer and just need to have a pity party. Also I thought the subplots, particularly with Hayley's friend's uncle and her family's finances and sister stuck out like a sore thumb. Often plot points would be dropped for fifty or so pages before being picked up again.
Best Feature: Cancer awareness. I love the fact that the book brings up the topic of cancer awareness. It doesn't try to sugar coat how much cancer sucks either. It gets into the nitty gritty of what sort of shit someone has to experience when fighting this awful disease. And I commend Marley for that. Anyone who has had or has had a love one or friend that has suffered through this disease knows it's not like it is on television. It's like running one awful never ending marathon through hell. And I think Marley did an excellent job showing Hayley's struggle with her disease and her recovery.
Worse Feature: Fake: Sometimes the writing just came off fake. I hate to say this. I know this book was based on a true story, but parts of the book sound force. Take Hayley for instance. I loved her for the most part. But she should've been allowed to mope a little more than she did. A positive attitude is great, but she had cancer. She should be expected to yell a little bit without her mom instantly reprimanding her. If I was Haley's mom I would've bought her a giant tub of Snickers Ice Cream or whatever she could stuff down without getting sick and let her cry it out for as long as she wanted. Besides not allowing Hayley some much needed wallowing time, often the dialogue seemed like it was trying to hard to sound teen like which is a shame because there were parts of the book where the voice was so authentic. I just wanted that voice all the time.
Appropriateness: This book is very tame. I actually would recommend teens to read it because of the issues it talks about. There are a few party scenes and some kissing, but that's about it.
See Full Review Here: http://yalbookbriefs.blogspot.com/201...
Note, I received a free copy via Net Galley. This did not affect my review or feelings of the book.
I liked a lot of things about this book. I thought it had a great message. Having a positive attitude is probably the best and in some cases the only way to fight cancer (besides having a kick ass oncologist) and Haley definitely has it. Occasionally though Hayley come off a bit Pollyanna-ish and makes the reader want her to just let it all out. Even with the most positive of attitudes there are days you're just going to feel like shit with cancer and just need to have a pity party. Also I thought the subplots, particularly with Hayley's friend's uncle and her family's finances and sister stuck out like a sore thumb. Often plot points would be dropped for fifty or so pages before being picked up again.
Best Feature: Cancer awareness. I love the fact that the book brings up the topic of cancer awareness. It doesn't try to sugar coat how much cancer sucks either. It gets into the nitty gritty of what sort of shit someone has to experience when fighting this awful disease. And I commend Marley for that. Anyone who has had or has had a love one or friend that has suffered through this disease knows it's not like it is on television. It's like running one awful never ending marathon through hell. And I think Marley did an excellent job showing Hayley's struggle with her disease and her recovery.
Worse Feature: Fake: Sometimes the writing just came off fake. I hate to say this. I know this book was based on a true story, but parts of the book sound force. Take Hayley for instance. I loved her for the most part. But she should've been allowed to mope a little more than she did. A positive attitude is great, but she had cancer. She should be expected to yell a little bit without her mom instantly reprimanding her. If I was Haley's mom I would've bought her a giant tub of Snickers Ice Cream or whatever she could stuff down without getting sick and let her cry it out for as long as she wanted. Besides not allowing Hayley some much needed wallowing time, often the dialogue seemed like it was trying to hard to sound teen like which is a shame because there were parts of the book where the voice was so authentic. I just wanted that voice all the time.
Appropriateness: This book is very tame. I actually would recommend teens to read it because of the issues it talks about. There are a few party scenes and some kissing, but that's about it.
April 23, 2012
Hayley is such an inspiring character. She's so positive and I'd hope that if I ever got cancer, I could keep that kind of attitude. This is more than a book about cancer though, it is a book about survival, the bonds of family, and about living to fight another day so that you can do what you love. Hayley was so strong, and it kinda inspired me to be a better person. She went through so much more than I have and I've been much more down than her, but I love that she still made time for others, and didn't get so focused on herself.
I related to this book because even though there is nothing wrong with being a "band geek" or a "jrotc nerd" which was exactly what I was, and mostly happy about it, I wondered occasionally how the popular side lived. It was neat to read about someone crossing that divide, being able to fit in and loving what she does.
Not only is Hayley a great main character, I also enjoyed Lora and Gabriel. They rang true to me, and I would love to have friends like them.
This book is very emotional at times, I was tearing up at a few parts, and I think that Ms. Gibson did a good job being descriptive, moving the plot along, and making me connect with the characters.
It made it even more awesome that Ms. Gibson wrote from experience and her personal life, and the foundation that she started.
For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog:
http://blkosiner.blogspot.com
I related to this book because even though there is nothing wrong with being a "band geek" or a "jrotc nerd" which was exactly what I was, and mostly happy about it, I wondered occasionally how the popular side lived. It was neat to read about someone crossing that divide, being able to fit in and loving what she does.
Not only is Hayley a great main character, I also enjoyed Lora and Gabriel. They rang true to me, and I would love to have friends like them.
This book is very emotional at times, I was tearing up at a few parts, and I think that Ms. Gibson did a good job being descriptive, moving the plot along, and making me connect with the characters.
It made it even more awesome that Ms. Gibson wrote from experience and her personal life, and the foundation that she started.
For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog:
http://blkosiner.blogspot.com
April 24, 2012
First off, the fact that this is a true story makes it about 5,000 times better. It came from the heart of the author, ( Marley Gibson ), and was based on her experience. A few people have said, oh well, it was boring. Weelllll it definately was NOT. This book was AWESOME. Hayley Mathews wants to be something more, she wants to be seen, heard, not that random face in the crowd. Soo she decides to try out for Polk High's cheer team. She made it to! Hayley puts everything into cheerleading. But then she's diagnosed with cancer. She doesn't give up though. She knows that some day she will be back on the field cheering for her team. She believes in herself. I don't want to spoil the end though! I think that Marley made an awesome book, and would recommend it to anyone. This book was really touching, and gives you a message. The message is to believe in yourself. I think that everyone should read this, it is definately a pick-me-up. I love Marley's writing and have read her GHOST HUNTRESS series like 10 times now, but RADIATE was truly the best. I have made a few reviews for this book, and some of them are youtube videos, this is a link to the best one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVApR7...
Ps,
Marley and Patrick...you rock!!! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVApR7...
Ps,
Marley and Patrick...you rock!!! :)
February 29, 2012
This book brought tears and a missed subway stop. My son is an osteosarcoma survivor. He did 8 months of chemo and two operations. His thigh bone was replaced with an allograph (a cadaver bone). He's still on crutches but his attitude was exactly that of your character. He's amazing and I'm blessed to have him. 9 Months cancer free and looking forward to forever. Thanks for sharing.
Kat
Kat
July 30, 2012
This is very inspirational! Learning to deal with sickness and death...while staying positive. If only we could all deal as well as the main character here does!
May 31, 2024
really sweet book made me cry 😢
July 28, 2015
I really hate to say this about a book that has such a great message behind it but.. Radiate just really fell flat for me.
The book is about Hayley Matthews, a former band geek who has finally decided to break out of her comfort zone in senior year to join the cheerleading squad. To her delight, she makes the squad and has a perfect summer lying in wait for her. She'll get to hang out with the most popular girls in school and catches the attention of the hottest boy on campus. Though the cheerleading practice sessions are gruelling, she's enjoying the intensity. But then Hayley's leg starts to ache. What starts off as a throbbing pain becomes worse and eventually, a lump is formed on her leg.
The doctor diagnoses that she has cancer. The treatment that she has to undergo to fight the cancer will be aggressive and she would have to forgo her cheerleading sessions in the meantime. The cute boy starts to drift away from her, becoming distant. At first Hayley goes into denial. Teenagers shouldn't have cancer, particularly not teenagers like her who has always been the quintessential good girl and who has worked so hard to get onto the cheerleading squad. But then she becomes frightened of how much she stands to lose from cancer. She could lose her leg. She could even lose her life.
And after Hayley undergoes surgery, she's weaker than she used to be. She can hardly go through the same intense workouts that she used to be able to withstand. People at school treat her differently after hearing what she has gone through, teachers treat her like a fragile bird and her friends are uncertain about what to make of her. Hayley just wants things to go back to behind the same, to being the girl who was happy about earning her place on the squad.
Radiate really does have a great message behind it, about being optimistic and fighting for what you want out of life. That even though things get tough and the odds may seem to be against you, you can rise above all of that and achieve your goals anyway. And yes, I do think that Hayley is a great role model. HOWEVER, it feels like the message is a little heavy-handed and readers are constantly hit over the head with it.
Furthermore, I found that Hayley was a bit of a flat character. Even after she finds out that she has cancer, it seems like her whole world continues to revolve around her cheerleading and her cute boyfriend. Her naivete about her boyfriend was especially hard to stomach, given that her whole world is crumbling around her and her boyfriend is pretty much acting like a selfish jerk who can't be bothered to turn up to visit her. And it never seems like Hayley really grappled with the issue of how much she stands to lose, which I would've appreciated. Instead she jumps from denial to anger to putting up a brave face to go back to cheerleading. It just seemed a little bit like the book was one of those Cancer Books, where the main character is unflinchingly brave and has a great attitude about it. I was hoping for a little more nuance.
If you're looking for a book with similar themes but with a more realistic protagonist struggling with her battle against cancer, I would highly recommend Send Me a Sign instead.
The book is about Hayley Matthews, a former band geek who has finally decided to break out of her comfort zone in senior year to join the cheerleading squad. To her delight, she makes the squad and has a perfect summer lying in wait for her. She'll get to hang out with the most popular girls in school and catches the attention of the hottest boy on campus. Though the cheerleading practice sessions are gruelling, she's enjoying the intensity. But then Hayley's leg starts to ache. What starts off as a throbbing pain becomes worse and eventually, a lump is formed on her leg.
The doctor diagnoses that she has cancer. The treatment that she has to undergo to fight the cancer will be aggressive and she would have to forgo her cheerleading sessions in the meantime. The cute boy starts to drift away from her, becoming distant. At first Hayley goes into denial. Teenagers shouldn't have cancer, particularly not teenagers like her who has always been the quintessential good girl and who has worked so hard to get onto the cheerleading squad. But then she becomes frightened of how much she stands to lose from cancer. She could lose her leg. She could even lose her life.
And after Hayley undergoes surgery, she's weaker than she used to be. She can hardly go through the same intense workouts that she used to be able to withstand. People at school treat her differently after hearing what she has gone through, teachers treat her like a fragile bird and her friends are uncertain about what to make of her. Hayley just wants things to go back to behind the same, to being the girl who was happy about earning her place on the squad.
Radiate really does have a great message behind it, about being optimistic and fighting for what you want out of life. That even though things get tough and the odds may seem to be against you, you can rise above all of that and achieve your goals anyway. And yes, I do think that Hayley is a great role model. HOWEVER, it feels like the message is a little heavy-handed and readers are constantly hit over the head with it.
Furthermore, I found that Hayley was a bit of a flat character. Even after she finds out that she has cancer, it seems like her whole world continues to revolve around her cheerleading and her cute boyfriend. Her naivete about her boyfriend was especially hard to stomach, given that her whole world is crumbling around her and her boyfriend is pretty much acting like a selfish jerk who can't be bothered to turn up to visit her. And it never seems like Hayley really grappled with the issue of how much she stands to lose, which I would've appreciated. Instead she jumps from denial to anger to putting up a brave face to go back to cheerleading. It just seemed a little bit like the book was one of those Cancer Books, where the main character is unflinchingly brave and has a great attitude about it. I was hoping for a little more nuance.
If you're looking for a book with similar themes but with a more realistic protagonist struggling with her battle against cancer, I would highly recommend Send Me a Sign instead.
April 20, 2012
Title: Radiate
Author: Marley Gibson
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Age Group: 12- 18 years
Paperback: 416 pages
Source: *2 copies* Publisher and Author
Book Synopsis: Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard and pushes herself 110% all the time. Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life. At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.
Author Info: MARLEY GIBSON is the author of all of the Ghost Huntress books, and co-wrote The Other Side with Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader. She lives in Boston, MA, and can be found online at www.marleygibson.com or at her blog, www.booksboys buzz.com.
My First Thoughts...: When this book came in, I read the synopsis and was like, "Oh no, I am going to cry during this book." I thought it was a very good idea and was looking foward to Hayley's struggle to overcome cancer. I was also anxious to see if she was going to die, because I read THE FAULT IN OUR STARS around the same time.
Story Line: Hayley Mathews is not so happy with her life. She wants more friends and more things to say that she did when she gets older. So, to make this all possible, she tries out for the cheerleading squad. When she actually makes the team, she can barely believe how much her life has changed. She has everything she has ever wanted! She has more in her life! Until one day, Hayley makes a devastating discovery. She finds a lump on her leg and it is so painful that she soon can barely walk. As much as Hayley says that she is alright, her mom ignores her and takes her to the doctors. After many carefully examined tests, Hayley is diagnosed with cancer.
Right now, the doctors have no idea how bad it is or how bad it might get. She could loose her leg because of this! That would also mean no more cheerleading and no one would ever look at her the same with only one leg. As the struggle for survival becomes more challenging, Hayley is not going to give up. She is going to show everyone just how strong she is. When her life changes in an instant, she is ready to take on whatever to get through it alive.
Overall Thoughts: It started of slow, but built up over time! What an emotional book! Oh my, this was filled with so much emotion, I couldn't really see through it into the main concept of this book, which was survival and thinking positive. A roller coaster ride that you will need a strong heart to take this story on!
Author: Marley Gibson
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Age Group: 12- 18 years
Paperback: 416 pages
Source: *2 copies* Publisher and Author
Book Synopsis: Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard and pushes herself 110% all the time. Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life. At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it take her life or her dreams.
Author Info: MARLEY GIBSON is the author of all of the Ghost Huntress books, and co-wrote The Other Side with Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader. She lives in Boston, MA, and can be found online at www.marleygibson.com or at her blog, www.booksboys buzz.com.
My First Thoughts...: When this book came in, I read the synopsis and was like, "Oh no, I am going to cry during this book." I thought it was a very good idea and was looking foward to Hayley's struggle to overcome cancer. I was also anxious to see if she was going to die, because I read THE FAULT IN OUR STARS around the same time.
Story Line: Hayley Mathews is not so happy with her life. She wants more friends and more things to say that she did when she gets older. So, to make this all possible, she tries out for the cheerleading squad. When she actually makes the team, she can barely believe how much her life has changed. She has everything she has ever wanted! She has more in her life! Until one day, Hayley makes a devastating discovery. She finds a lump on her leg and it is so painful that she soon can barely walk. As much as Hayley says that she is alright, her mom ignores her and takes her to the doctors. After many carefully examined tests, Hayley is diagnosed with cancer.
Right now, the doctors have no idea how bad it is or how bad it might get. She could loose her leg because of this! That would also mean no more cheerleading and no one would ever look at her the same with only one leg. As the struggle for survival becomes more challenging, Hayley is not going to give up. She is going to show everyone just how strong she is. When her life changes in an instant, she is ready to take on whatever to get through it alive.
Overall Thoughts: It started of slow, but built up over time! What an emotional book! Oh my, this was filled with so much emotion, I couldn't really see through it into the main concept of this book, which was survival and thinking positive. A roller coaster ride that you will need a strong heart to take this story on!
February 13, 2016
Not a long review (still sick), but I want to tell everyone what I thought of it.
Hayley is our main girl, a strong, happy girl. She gets a place in the Cheerleading Team and looks forward to training a lot and cheering. But quite soon she notices she has pain in her leg, she thinks it is just from cheerleading, but soon finds a bump in her leg.
That is where it goes down soon, doctor appointments and they find out she has cancer. Hayley's world shatters, luckily she has a lot of support, her friends, her cheerleading team, her boyfriend (though ok, he was quite worthless) and more people.
She is soon admitted in a hospital, and the treatments starts.
I loved Hayley, I really did. Atleast... the first part. She is so strong, so hopeful, and she keeps fighting. Ofcourse she has her breakdowns, she gets angry and cries. But she never loses her goal, never forgets to fight. She is really inspirational.
The second part focuses on her getting out of the hospital and on the road of recovery and treatment. And that is where it goes down. I don't mind a few curses here and there, but I felt like the curse meter went up 100% in that part. Words like shit flew around. :\
It was a shame. :\
I really disliked Hayley's boyfriend, he never visited once, never got her a present, and when she loses her hair, he acts strange and in the end they . Thank god, she noticed how he was.
I loved Gabriel, he was cute and I was really rooting for him. During the whole time Hayley was in the hospital, he visited once and also gave her presents.
One thing I liked, finally for once, a non-bitching/mean cheerleading team. Only one girl is a real bitch, and is really insensitive throughout the sickness and healing part.
Overall, this book was absolutely beautiful and sweet. Recommended to everyone. <3
Hayley is our main girl, a strong, happy girl. She gets a place in the Cheerleading Team and looks forward to training a lot and cheering. But quite soon she notices she has pain in her leg, she thinks it is just from cheerleading, but soon finds a bump in her leg.
That is where it goes down soon, doctor appointments and they find out she has cancer. Hayley's world shatters, luckily she has a lot of support, her friends, her cheerleading team, her boyfriend (though ok, he was quite worthless) and more people.
She is soon admitted in a hospital, and the treatments starts.
I loved Hayley, I really did. Atleast... the first part. She is so strong, so hopeful, and she keeps fighting. Ofcourse she has her breakdowns, she gets angry and cries. But she never loses her goal, never forgets to fight. She is really inspirational.
The second part focuses on her getting out of the hospital and on the road of recovery and treatment. And that is where it goes down. I don't mind a few curses here and there, but I felt like the curse meter went up 100% in that part. Words like shit flew around. :\
It was a shame. :\
I really disliked Hayley's boyfriend, he never visited once, never got her a present, and when she loses her hair, he acts strange and in the end they . Thank god, she noticed how he was.
I loved Gabriel, he was cute and I was really rooting for him. During the whole time Hayley was in the hospital, he visited once and also gave her presents.
One thing I liked, finally for once, a non-bitching/mean cheerleading team. Only one girl is a real bitch, and is really insensitive throughout the sickness and healing part.
Overall, this book was absolutely beautiful and sweet. Recommended to everyone. <3
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