To Live Again

Dawn Rochelle #5

by Lurlene McDaniel

Dawn Rochelle looks like any other seventeen-year-old girt, but looks can be deceiving. At the age of thirteen, Dawn was diagnosed with leukemia. Now almost three years into remission, Dawn is a senior in high school and looking forward to college. But her plans are disrupted when she suffers another medical crisis that causes partial paralysis. The doctors are optimistic about her recovery, but Dawn finds herself giving in to despair. At least during remission she could try to forget about her cancer and pretend she was a normal girl. But the effects of the paralysis are impossible to hide. Dawn thought her bad times were over. Will she be able to find the strength and courage to live again?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Teen

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

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

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star/5 stars

I have to go with Grace's split rating system here, because let's be honest: objectively, this is a TERRIBLE book. But goddamn if it didn't hit the emotionally manipulative notes that speak to my childhood. I approve.

[Genesis Luevanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about a girl named Dawn and she has cancer. At the age of 13, she was diagnosed with leukemia. As a senior in high school, she suffers another medical crisis. And the medical crisis leads to partial paralysis. During remission, she tied to forget all about her cancer and she would act like she was like the other kids normal. This author has many other books but she has 5 books about the girl in this book, Dawn Rochelle. Such as Six months to live, I want to live, So much to live for, No time to cry, and this book To live again. I recommend this book because it is very well written. I really like the way it was written because it goes from the past then a little while later it goes to the most recent details about what is happing to this character. I gave this a 5 out of 5 because there are not a lot of books that can get my attention right away and this book to my attention right away.

[Katie Killingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet ending to the series. I appreciated that this series was a good, clean read.

Age-wise, I think it appropriate for a pre-teen, but I would caution those who are especially sensitive, as cancer/death/loss are themes throughout the entire series.

[Rachel Yzenbaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great end to a wonderful series. Some of the parts seemed a little extra, but also kept it real and made it work in the end. Great book and wonderful series!

[Ashley W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the only McDaniel book where someone doesn't die. Which is super refreshing. Felt more sorry for Dawn than any other character so far even though she didn't die. She has just been through so much. I also learn a lot from this book. I had no idea that cancer treatments caused strokes. Love that she puts those facts in and makes the story feel more real. I did think the plot with Jake was kind of unrealistic though.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good close to the series. I’m happy she wrote one more. I liked this series, but none of the books were 5 star books. The books are worth the read but they are sad and I know Dawn was going through a lot but she was really annoying. I recommend these books to everyone.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming ending to a great story. I recommend all the Dawn Rochelle Novels, they are all beautiful tear-jerkers.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so awsome! Everybody should pick these books up in the book store and read them and I promise you won't regret it.

[~ ! ♥ I rp therefore I am Awesome ♥ ! ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best series

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

THAT WAS EVERY BIT AS CHEESY/DRAMATIC/TERRIBLE AS I WAS HOPING.

My 13 year old self is pleased.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book. I really enjoyed reading it. Dawn is still a great character and her struggle with life is cont Dawn is still getting strong.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good and fast read. The only problem I had with this book was the divulging of information about other patients.. as working in healthcare myself, I know that would be a big HIPPA violation. Other then that it was a cute story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. The whole series is amazing. I am sad that it is over. This is a series I could read over and over again. I get so wrapped up in it that it makes me feel like the characters are real. Not many books are able to do that for me.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently had a stroke, I found the information interesting. My situation was completely different, but I could relate to some of the thoughts running through the protagonist's mind.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good ending, I just wish Brent was in it more and didn’t focus on Tasha as much.

[*Weebles* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series so much! I can't wait to read another one of her series cause they are awesome!

[carlareadssometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread for the nostalgia

[Annette Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome conclusion to the Dawn Rochelle series! I won't say much here because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who may wish to read this excellent book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Sad and heart-wrenching in parts--just as the first four books in this touching series about a teenage girl beating the odds and overcoming a very serious illness were--this book shows us that we should never, ever take our health for granted. Not only that, but it also shows us that with determination, one can overcome seemingly impossibly huge obstacles. I would recommend all five books in the Dawn Rochelle series to anyone who enjoys reading about people--and in this case a teenage girl--who deal with serious illness and beat the odds. I also appreciate that the author went into all the feelings and emotions Dawn felt during all of her illnesses. Very deeply emotional and moving!

[Terrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars because at the beggining it was a little confusing but as you read it would slowly make sense. What I did like was that Dawn's best friend was there no matter what. That her friend was constantly asking if she was ok and if she had any troubles. I felt bad for Dawn because her disease that she had was deadly and could kill her if it wasnt cured right. I also didnt like how at prom her date,Jake, left to go check on someone in the hospital that didnt really needed to be seen.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn Rochelle has survived Leukemia and is living like a normal teenager trying to finish high school and plan for college. When she suffers a stroke possibly due to chemo treatments and ends up with partial paralysis, she is not sure how much more she can take.

In many ways, this felt like an unnecessary and over-dramatic end to the series. It almost seems like an after thought. However, it does promote perseverance through hardship and that is a good message.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love Lurlene McDaniel's books when I was younger. I never read this one, probably because it came out when I was too old for these books. Which is funny, as my sister pointed out, because I am now much older and reading it. haha. It was a nice way to wrap up the series, and I'm glad I got to see how it all ended. I was particularly interested in reading the book now because I am studying speech language pathology.

[Ellen Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was truly awesome. If you read the other four Dawn Rochelle books you have got to get this one. It was great how Dawn lived her life to max with hope in the other books, but will she have the strenghth to get past the stuggles that lie ahead in this book, you'll just have to read this book and find out. I found this book heart breaking and hopeful. I hope you think it is the wonderful book I thought it was.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading the Dawn Rochelle series. As much as I am not fond of Christianity and the theme of Christianity in books, I was able to enjoy the whole series.

I read this book in particular over and over mostly because of its realistic point of view. I enjoy books that teach people that just because one's suffering is over, it doesn't mean that we will never experience sufferings of any kind in the future.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's what Cassady G. had to say about this book:
Overview: Big brother and little sister are a happy family.
This book ROCKS because: To Live Again is about a little sister and a big brother. They have a happy relationship. The reason they have a happy relationship is because the little girl almost died. The brother helped her get better with parts of his own body.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean, cute book about a girl that recovers from a stroke. My 13-year-old daughter wanted me to read it. Lots of info about stroke victims, rehabilitation, and social support for those suffering from accidents, chronic illness, strokes, etc. Includes a sweet, light romance that would be appropriate for preteens even.

[Abby O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave the book To Live Again 5 stars, because it is a really sad book but it was also good I liked the beginning of the book because it shows her being a normal girl again and how she can live and go to school being a normal kid. She just got rid of her leukemia and she can live a normal life once again. That is why I like this book.

[Coryn N · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really like this book as much as the other ones. I gave it 3 stars. It wasn’t very exciting, but it was still ok. Dawn tries to live a normal life even though she is a leukemia survivor. Her idea of a life was different from the one she had to live. Her life was harder then most teenagers her age. She made it through though, and with a smile on her face.

[Dorel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 5th book was a awesome story to read. I love how Ms. McDaniel's introduces you to another illness. This series was a great series for me to read because it helped me learn & gave me good insight about cancer. Dawn can also be inspiring to anyone who reads this series. So sad that this is the last book & I am glad I own it.

[Erin]

I remember starting this series back in elementary school, and loving them all. When I heard there was a fifth and final book to the series I had to read it of course! It was a decent end to the series, not nearly as memorable as all the others, but perhaps that has come with age and growth of my own.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having not read the other books and just picking it up as something light and meaningless to read at school it was fine, I don't recommend it as a serious read. It is obviously meant for younger readers and might be more interesting for them. The complete story line that is implied in the beginning seems like it could be very inspirational.