No Time to Cry

Dawn Rochelle #4

by Lurlene McDaniel

Being sixteen means all kinds of freedom: driving on your own, going to the mall with friends, dating. But Dawn Rochelle can’t feel free because of the fear that her cancer will return.

Maybe her greatest freedom can only come when she has the courage to live—when she has no time to cry.

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Lurlene McDaniel (born c. 1948) is an author who has written over 50 young adult books. She is well known for writing about characters struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and organ failure.


Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc

Reviews

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Approaching her sixteenth birthday, Dawn Rochelle is starting high school. She hopes that at a new school with new students she can put the stigma of cancer behind her. Dawn desperately wants to keep her school life separate from her cancer life. Dawn soon realizes that her desires won't easily come to fruition. Jake Macka, the boy she's liked since 5th grade, moves back to Columbus and starts attending Hardy High. She has to turn down a date or two with Jake because of doctor's appointments and clinic visits. Then Jake, a weekend cemetery worker, sees her at a funeral. Jake tries to show concern, but Dawn rebuffs him. Later, Dawn wants to patch things up with Jake but doesn't know how. At the Christmas dance, Jake and Dawn share a dance where apologies are said and forgiveness given. Jake continues to show an interest in Dawn. He visits her during a bout with pneumonia that puts her back in the hospital. After awhile, Jake begins to understand what it must be like to see your friends die and know that someday you could die too. Dawn realizes that she can't treat him like an outsider any longer. Like it or not Dawn Rochelle and leukemia are inexorably tied together.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four in the series "Six Months to Live" was a great ending to the series. It fulfilled all the promises and hopes of the first three books and more. The author has a great understanding of living life when weighed down with a serious medical issue and she has the skills to convey that to the reader. But the read is much more. It helps us all understand how to take hold of life and live it to the full even when things get us down and we want to give up. To lose two of your greatest friends to death at an age most are just beginning to live is devastating and yet Dawn must face this and move forward; building on those friendships now lost to her by death. Dawn must face herself most of all and not lose faith in herself and believe in her heart that she is not "defective" and an outcast. She shows the hopes and fears of a 15 year old girl who has gone through more than most people will go through in a life time. She shows the struggles not only to over come but to be "normal" when life doesn't let you be normal. This last book of the series No Time to Cry is well named. And although she does cry it is a time to move on, not leaving the past but tucking it under one's arm and carrying it with us to build from it. There is so much depth in this book and the whole series one can read it over and over and not exhaust the gems in it and yet it is also a lite read which can easily be read in one sitting. I found I couldn't put it down and had to finish it. This is one of those special books (series) and also special authors.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I'm happy Dawn has started to find someone. With the struggles she has faced she makes it through all of it and always comes out on top.

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really good continuance to the story

[*Weebles* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lurlene McDaniel is just such a great writer!

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book four of the series 6 months to Live by Lurlene McDaniel and it had a great ending! The story is about Dawn, who is sixteen and she will start high school at Hardy High, go take driver’s education, hang out will her friends at the mall, all the things that normal teens would do with their freedom and have a fresh start. Dawn wants to keep her school life separate from her cancer life. She really wants to live a normal life even though she fears that her cancer will return. She also thinks of her two friends who had lost their battle to cancer and it makes her angry because it’s unfair that she is the only one that is alive. Jake Macka, the boy she had a crush since fifth grade, moves back to Columbus and starts attend attending Hardy High. Jake shows that he is interested in Dawn and asks her out on a date, but she had to turn down one or two because of her medical appointments. Eventually, Dawn will have to embrace those two worlds, blended them together as one, put the past to rest and move forward towards a future.

Lurlene McDaniel is very talented for she had written so many inspiring stories about kids who are touched by numerous illness such as cancer, organ failure, etc. I recently found out why because her son has diabetes. She does many researches, creates and writes these beautiful and powerful stories because she knows what it’s like when someone is touched by an illness and how it can affect family’s and friends and other people around you! No wonder when you read her stories, the characters are described as if they are real people too because you get to see them in there good moments and bad ones, their challenges and obstacles they face, the procedures they must endure, their battle, their grief. It feels very real!! All her stories are easy, quick to read and beautifully well written.

I really enjoyed the series so much! I’ve heard there is also a fifth book called To Live Again! I can’t wait to read it one day soon! Now, I’m inspired to reread one of the books I have of this talented author, Don’t Die, My Love.

[Kenzie Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as I do any by Lurlene McDaniel. It is truly inspiring how she can such pain as to lose a friend at a young and tender age. I always enjoy reading books from a series, and this was a series particulary close to my heart. The way McDaniel had described Dawn's pain and the surroundings made it feel to any reader that you were right there with her. I began reading the series in sixth grade and it took me over four years to finally finish, not because the books are bad, they are just hard to find. A moment from from the novel that stood out to me would be the last few pages, I won't go into detail for those who wish to red the book, however I will say I felt this was a perfect way to end the series. It was a very touching novel, describing the ever-lasting battle of Cancer.

[Rebecca Rogers · Rating 1 out of 5]

God dawn is annoying! All she does is cry about her life. I found her spoiled, annoying and very self centered. And the college kid calling his dad daddy????? Every single time I got mad. I would have given the book half a star. I very much disliked this book and found the characters completely unbelievable. I hate even writing this about a Lurlene McDaniel book because I generally love her books. Not this one. Sharon was a bitch for no reason. I don't believe anyone would actually say that to a person with cancer about their hair. Even her friends called her out on it and she continued to be a bitch. It felt so forced and fake.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying, you’re crying! Dawn has received a bone marrow transplant from her brother, Rob. She has to figure out how to navigate 10th grade in a new school with her friend Rhonda while trying to keep her life with cancer in check. And someone from her past shows up—Jake! Can she be a normal girl? She has to choose between Jake and Brent and deal with the possibility of a transplant rejection. But the thing that got me was her speech at the hospital. Tear jerker!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by this author. She has easily become one of my favorites. The end with all the memories had me sheding some tears. I wanted her to be with Brent but we will have to see where her and Jake go.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hahaha another series down in 2021 😝

I enjoyed it because it was the last one but I just felt like it wasn’t needed other than figuring out which of the four guys she met that she ended up with. But whatever it was still good! Just not my favorite!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Lurlene McDaniel’s stories. Most of them I cry over, they are heart felt stories about kids. This one was about children but it talked about the ones who had died and how Dawn just wanted to be a normal teenager who had to worry about her cancer returning.

[Jenna Gragnani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better ones. It was a very quick read. The Author changes some minor details between the books and that was a little annoying but it was still a good read.

[Cara Foster]

90s

[Emily]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...#

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I had read Six Months To Live in the 1980’s as a tween I had to read the books in the series as an adult to find out how the story ended. I’m certain my young self would have enjoyed this book and the series. It was sad, happy, and at times fun to remember what life was like for young kids. The only thing I didn’t like was the author writing about “getting over the death of a child or a good friend.” I think I understand what the author was trying to convey however that’s not something you get over and wish it would have been stated differently. All in all it’s a good series and I would recommend it to tweens or young teens.

[Kelly Swaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series!!!

[carlareadssometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread for the nostalgia.

[Brylie Bernhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I re-read this series because I loved them in middle
/ high school. They weren't good, but SO nostalgic and I loved that.

[Teaha · Rating 5 out of 5]

well rochelle is starting highschool as a sophmore and just trys to get through and hope that she will make it through high school!!! when jake, rochelle's crush from 5th grade comes back and hangs around her she is worried he thinks of her different since she has cancer and all, but later on when she discovers a rash on her body that can be a sign of a bone marrow rejection of her brothers she is scared that it is a rejection, but yet is there a possibility that its just the flu and that she might be over the cancer after all and can start planning her future in medicine so she can find a cure for cancer and learn to let go of the past and hold to the future? you need to read this book and see if she will concider that possibility or not?

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn Rochelle is starting high school and ready to put cancer behind her, but she can't shake the feeling of being a part of two worlds. One where she is a normal teenager, and one where she is sick.

I thought this was a good exploration of the feelings a person experiences while trying to get back to normal after a serious illness. As mentioned before, these books date themselves a great deal with references to things like cassette tapes, but that can be forgotten. The overall feelings of being a teen and facing illness haven't changed.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guess who's back? Dawn's old crush, Jake! And Dawn's a busy girl. She's got school, friends, her brother, and things for the hospital! Of course she can fit Jake in, but does Dawn have enough "me" time?

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave the rest of this series books all four stars. This one I didn't like as much. It seemed kind of pointless and Dawn really annoyied me in this one. I'm happy Jake came back and towards the end I liked it better but in the middle in was kind of okay lets get on with this.

[Addy.smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is pretty good so far, it's about a girl with cancer, and how she is struggling to get "normal" life after all that she has been through. She finds it even harder now since she is starting to go back to high school.

[Abby O · Rating 5 out of 5]

i gave this book a five star because i thought that it shows how good friends become more then just friends that is why i gave this book a five star.I also gave this book a five star because i liked it also

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was glad that Dawn Rochelle was finally able to come to terms with being in "two worlds", blend them together, put the past to rest and start moving forward with a happy future! It was also cute that she got to tell Jake she has had feelings for him for a long time and that he felt the same way.

[Traceylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why

I like all this author books. I just completely finished this series and they were great about a young girls journey with cancer and her ability to help other patients and families of cancer at camp.

[Kianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched me the most because i felt like Dawn and I had alot in common. Once i would start rading i couldnt stop!

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books in the Dawn Rochelle series. Definetly one to read. I LOVE BRENT!!! I HATE JAKE!!!(sorry Jake fans!)