The Book of Hat

by Harriet Rowland

Harriet Rowland — known as Hat — was 17 when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that began in her knee. At the time she was a student at Queen Margaret College in Wellington, New Zealand.

Going through treatment was often a lonely time, as friends — while supportive — didn’t always understand Hat’s new life. This was until she fell in love with the character Hazel Grace from John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars, a girl who talks honestly and openly about living with cancer. Like her, Hat found life changed in ways that were both good and bad: falling in love and hospital stays among them. And she was surprised by how much happiness there was still to find.

Throughout her journey, Hat kept a blog called My Experience of Walking the Dog, and this book is a collection of those posts edited with the author. Why the blog title? Her parents say cancer is like a dog — fine if it stays in its own yard. Hat’s dog got out.

Harriet Rowland entered the Mary Potter hospice in Wellington two days after her book launch, and died surrounded by family and friends at 7.05 am, Friday, 7 March, 2014. This is her unexpected story.

‘This way I will NEVER have to get a job, learn how to cook more than two-minute noodles or do anything mildly productive. I never have to grow up and I can forever be a kid! Though my ‘forever’ is shorter than most, I don’t mind. What I do mind is that I am going to have to leave everyone I love behind.’

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on the blog of Harriet (aka 'Hat'), a teenage girl who was diagnosed with cancer. Through the blog posts, Harriet shared with her friends and supporters her love of life, and reflected on what she learnt from John Green's wonderful book The Fault in our Stars about cancer and illness in young people. And like that book, her story doesn't end as we'd expected.
Harriet's huge love of life, unselfish concern for others and courage is totally inspirational.

[Julie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harriet definitely deserves five stars for this honest and heartbreaking collection of her blog posts and facebook statuses. She was incredibly brave not only in the way she "walked her dog" (you'll have to read it to understand) but for sharing those thoughts and experiences via her book. A lesson to everyone about looking at the positives and loving life to the fullest.

[Bonnie Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This is the true story of Harriet Rowling and her fight, then subsequent loss to cancer.

[Hugo Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book as it is my cousins cousins book so I thought I should read it.

This book is a true story about Harriet Rowland, it is an assortment of her blog posts from when she was going through cancer. It follows Harriet start the blog, go through the initial operations and then chemotherapy. All throughout the book Harriet keeps such a positive mindset and even in the toughest of situations manages to see the funny side in it. This book is an amazing true story that really touches your heart.

The character I found interesting was Harriet as I never met her but heard so much about her. Throughout the entire book she hardly ever looks at her situation in a bad way and always try's to see the light in a dark room. She is an inspiration and never gives up.

Something new I learnt from this book that I found interesting was learning about the whole process that cancer patients go through. Even though I have had family members with cancer I never knew exactly what they went through and I found it interesting to find out.

A quote I found interesting is “To those who have danced through the storm with me, there will never be enough thank yous and I love yous for me to give. We may be bruised and a bit battered but I wouldn't change any of you one bit. You truly are my own personal miracle.” I found this quote interesting as it really shows Harriet's personality and how she never stopped enjoying life and appreciating everything about it.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book of Hat is gonna make you cry, but there are so much love, life and hope that must be read. Harriet had a beautiful soul and was really open with us in here writing. Sometimes so naive, nevertheless too wise for her young age. A strong and inspiring fighter who loved her life and tried to live it till the very end without giving up.
She is so alive on every page of The book of Hat and she'll stay alive as long as people around the world will keep reading this story of short but magnificent life of Harriet Rowland.

[Nan Osullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Hat is the most up lifting, honest and inspiring read. Harriet Rowland's strength and positivity roll off every page. Within her limited number of years given to her after her diagnosis Hat takes each day as an opportunity to experience life and love to the fullest. It is not a hard read but it is a must read.....

[Nicole Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a sad but good book

[Bachyboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing account by a secondary school girl and her battle with a rare cancer. It is beautifully crafted, a well designed book and emotionally honest.

[St Stephen's C C]

Like so many people her age, Harriet threw her thoughts down on a blog. However, her reasons for writing were different from her friends, and it was clear from the outset that she was a writer first and foremost. The Book of Hat captivates the reader with its facility for expressing everything from the ordinary stuff of life to the almost unspeakable. And part of its charm for readers young and old is the author's ability to find happiness and good luck wherever she looks. This is one of the year's surprising reads: an upbeat book about living with cancer.

[Melinda Szymanik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The diary-like blog of a young adult diagnosed with cancer, this true story enables the reader to share Harriet's roller coaster journey and appreciate it's full impact on her and her family. Highly recommended.

[Wendy Lovatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always interesting to read about how things are for others- their life experiences.

[Lynsi Latham-Saunders]

what a courageous young woman

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that the book sounded like it was written from the person who actually had cancer which it was, which made the book alot more interesting in different ways. I liked how the person who had the cancer explained what she went through and all the ups and downs that happened to her. Lastly I loved how it was written from her point of view and that it explained how much things she went through when she had the cancer.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my full review here: http://www.readgabrepeat.com/2016/01/...
Inspiring, honest and heartbreaking collection of blog posts following Harriet's life 'walking the dog'. I read this book as Harriet went to my high school, and although she was a year younger than me, and I did not know her personally I saw her around, and this book let me get to know her beautiful life attitude.

[Taylor Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the ending spoiled to me but still enjoyed this book very much. It was very real due to the fact that it is a biography of someone who actually has cancer. I loved the fact the you could hear her voice coming through, almost as if she were reading it to you. Absolutely beautiful! The addition of adding pictures throughout the book made it a lot more real, personal and emotional. I hope that she was happy in the end...

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed this book for Hooked On Books 2016, and received a free copy of it. It was a delightful read which started off a bit slow, but was very deep and inspiring. Harriet (the protagonist) also was very humorous and lovely. This book was based on the blog posts of Harriet Rowland, a teenager who went to Queen Margaret's College in Wellington, New Zealand.

Here's the link to my full review:
http://www.hookedonbooks.org.nz/life-...

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. It showed me that you can just be living your normal life and something as big as cancer can just come through and take your freedom away from you. It showed me how much I have and how grateful I should be for everything. Harriet went through so much but still did everything with a smile and a positive attitude. I would suggest this book to anyone!

[Aylanalana_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how it had pictures throughout the book. I enjoyed reading her journey with cancer even though it was a bit boring at times.

[Jayne Downes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir was well written and honest. Harriet Rowland was an amazing girl who enjoyed her life and lived it full on right up to the end.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a teenage girl's struggle with cancer. It's honest, funny, sad and well worth reading. Everyone who enjoyed "The Fault in Our Stars" should love this.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book and struggled to put it down till I finished!!!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody needs to read this book!
Incredibly thought provoking. Weeks after finishing this book it's still with me..

[Chrizia Nicole Cayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay, so I didn't cry but I definitely could've.... know what I mean? Harriet lived in Wellington, I used to live in Wellington, so being able to visualise some of the places she went when she was sick made this story a lot more real to me, and a lot more heart-breaking... But I think it's a really important story for all ages because it makes you feel very grateful for the life you have and inspires you to live it to the fullest.