Sugar Isn't Everything

by Willo Davis Roberts

Sugar Isn't Everything is Wilo Davis Roberts' much-needed resource guide for young diabetics.

A detailed description of juvenile-onset diabetes (Type I) using a fictional form in which eleven-year-old Amy discovers that she has the disease, learns to treat it and to deal with her anger, and finally accepts that she CAN live with it.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1987

About the author

Willo Davis Roberts was an American writer chiefly known for her mystery novels for children and young adults. She won Edgar Allan Poe awards in 1989, 1995, and 1997 for best juvenile and best young adult mysteries. Her books included The View from the Cherry Tree, Twisted Summer, Don't Hurt Laurie, Megan's Island, Baby-sitting is a Dangerous Job, Hostage, The Girl with Silver Eyes, The One Left Behind and Scared Stiff.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom bought this for me at my school book fair when I was a newly diagnosed diabetic. I was very angry at her for this. I had to think about my disease all the time without a book to remind me. I eventually read the book, because I felt guilty about not reading it. Then I read it again, and then again... it was probably one of the first books I read repeatedly.

I just reread it again, many years later. I can see how I connected with it so well. Amy is older than I was when I was diagnosed, but the confusion, anger, and despair is still there. It never really goes away, either. I definitely noticed the "support" part more this time. It's basically a how-to for learning diabetes management (such as it was with the state of treatment in the 80s) and learning how to cope with your feelings. The instructional material is well integrated into the story. Some characters are not as fleshed out as I would like, but this did not matter to me when I was 7.

This is still an excellent book for newly-diagnosed young diabetics and their families, too--especially siblings.

[m. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book caused my mother no end of misery, as it convinced me that, if I did not already have diabetes, I would get it if I didn't ask her to check my breath for a fruity smell every day. She put up with a lot, I now realize.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In elementary school, I read it because the librarian recommended it to someone in my class who'd recently been diagnosed with diabetes, but I never knew it was designed as a how-to "support guide in novel form"! It does an awesome job of discreetly tucking the information into what is really a very good little story. I may even have read it more than once. The scenes and descriptions are so vivid - years later, I remember the scene where she goes to the store and buys a ton of juice to quench her insatiable thirst, along with my embarrassment when the cashier comments that she "must be having a party." I wish there was an updated version, just for the treatments, because the beauty of it is that it's otherwise almost timeless.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and had no idea that it was intended as a "support book" for kids with diabetes. I must have checked it out of the library because I'd read and enjoyed other books by Willo Davis Roberts--and apparently I paid no attention to the subtitle or all the resources for diabetes education it includes! I remembered several scenes vividly and when the book came to mind today, I poked around online, found it on Internet Archive and re-read it. And it holds up. I enjoyed it as a kid for the story alone, and I enjoyed it today. The diabetes education message is woven into the plot without it feeling preachy or contrived. Amy's emotions are relatable, as she worries about what's wrong with her, and as she processes her diagnosis. The characters are well-drawn and the interactions between Amy and her friends and family are realistic and moving. There's a reason I loved Willo Davis Roberts' books as a kid!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over and over again when I was in the 4th and 5th grades, though I'm not diabetic and never realized that it was a novel directed at children with diabetes. I had this habit of reading aloud to myself around this age, and I remember reading this book aloud in the car on a vacation and hearing my parents laugh. "What is this book? How do you know the word 'hypoglycemic'?" my mom asked. But I loved it! So reading it again in my twenties was a trip down memory lane. I particularly remembered the part about sticking the needle in an orange, and the scene where she had an episode at a roller rink. What a great little book!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first books dealing with life I remember reading. Most of the books you read a kid are fantastical, even if they are 'realistic fiction'. Nothing overly bad happens, at least not to the main characters. Sometimes their beloved pet dies, or a family member dies, but I wasn't reading much about dealth or suffering/pain of the physical or mental variety at this age. Most of what I read at that age was happier. Reading this book opened up a whole new world of possibilities to me. I began to understand more of what life is, and that it really IS possible for something bad to happen to me, or someone else that I know. It broadened my reading horizens, and made me open my mind. I want to revisit this story, see what messages I take away from it today.

[Jilena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story of a young girl and how she learns she has diabetes. It really oes to the heart of how children with illness really have to grow up rather fast but though it isn't fair, fun and is definitely frustrating a person can learn to overcome it by learning to live with the challenge. This book is for anyone who has ever had something that is more than they think they can deal with. It shows how you can, with time, learn a new way of thinking about your problems.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was utterly fascinated by this book as a child... so much so that one of the characters in the novel I started when I was 10 had Type I diabetes. I definitely didn't realize at the time that it was intended to be read by children struggling with diabetes, to help them cope. I thought it was just a story, and a fascinating one, at that! I suppose that's the power of literature.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this out from one of my many trips to the library as a child. Not knowing what it was I went into it with no expectations. It was an okay story but I learned a lot! I think it's the reason why I am now baffled that most people don't know the difference between type I and type II diabetes.

[Allison Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 11 times between the third grade and the 7th grade. I was diagnosed with diabetes in the third grade. I was the only one in my school and I needed something to relate to. This book helped me a lot! Thank you Willow Davis Roberts for writing it!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book over and over again in 5th grade.

[SC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at juvenile diabetes....from a juvenile. (The protagonist, not the author, obviously.)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about ten-year-old Amy and the discovery of her Type I Diabtetes manages to capture the effects of the disease on Amy's life without seeming preaching or like an after-school special.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one about a young girl with Diabetes

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it really tought me about how it sucks to be diabetic.

[Allyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about an 11 year old girl who has to learn to live with diabetes.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all time favorite. A must read for any newly diagnosex type one diabetic or relative of type one diabetic.

[Millie Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this book for a 9th grade English report. We had to give an oral book report (whee) and I had chosen this one. At the time, I remember loving this book. I was 14 and I could understand Amy's frustrations and how unfair things seemed for her. I didn't have diabetes, but I thought it was a good read and very informational.

Fast forward 25 years (gads) and I'm now a mom with a 13 year old (Amy is 11 in the book) and myself a diabetic. While I still think it's a good read and informational, the information is dated (it was written in 1987, I think) and Amy seems like such a brat to me! I mean, I can still relate to her - she's scared and frustrated because at first she doesn't know what's wrong with her and when she does find out, she realizes that she won't be able to just eat whatever she wants anymore. Who wouldn't be upset? Still, the mom in me (even before the diabetes diagnosis at the beginning of the book) wanted to yell at her. "Drink some water if you're thirsty! Grape juice and milk won't help!" I think that was my biggest issue with her. Yeah, she's a kid and I can understand it - you're hungry and thirsty, you go for what you like. You won't necessarily go for the logical adult choice. Hell, I know some adults who would do the same thing!

Anyway! Though the material is dated (back then diabetes wasn't as normal as it is today) the characters are overall interesting and not really annoying. I liked how Amy learned to accept the diabetes and made an effort to learn what she could about it instead of just being all whiny and refusing to take care of herself. It's a decent read if you want to learn the basics about diabetes.

[Hjwoodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this book five stars because I think this author really gets what it is like to be eleven. This particular protagonist has diabetes, but I think it becomes clear during the book that no matter what you are facing, everyone has a hard time, everyone has their own challenges and the thing is to try and cope with the anger and the sadness that such challenges bring. A good read and one I would like my grandchildren and greatnieces and nephews to read. It was written in 1987 but I feel the emotions are still relevant today.

[Chivon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good re read especially for Diabetes Awareness month . I was diagnosed as a type one diabetic 25 years ago and I remember reading this book when I was 11 years old and it really helped me kind of grasp the knowledge of having diabetes and working through it and understanding my feelings and the disease and how to navigate the world as a type one diabetic.

[Sandi Mascio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intermediate grades/middle school book about diabetes. However, not sure medical information is up-to-date.