Echo's Sister: A Powerful Middle Grade Story of Love, Community, and Overcoming Illness for Kids

by Paul Mosier

Twelve-year-old El has planned on making her first week at a new school fantastic. She won’t go by her given name, Laughter. She’ll sit in the back of the classroom where she can make new friends. She won’t even have time to think about all the fun her old friends are having without her. Everything will be great.
But when her dad picks her up after school and tells her that her younger sister, Echo, has a life-threatening illness, her world is suddenly turned upside down. And with her parents now pressed for time and money, El feels lost and powerless.

Then she befriends Octavius, the only other kid in school who gets what she’s going through. As El begins to adjust to her new life, she soon finds that maybe a little hope and a lot of love can overcome any obstacle.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Juvenile, Childrens, Chapter Books

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2018

Reviews

[Eleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This book was written by my dad so I was allowed to read it before everyone else-that is why I am writing a review before it's initial publish date. I won't give any spoilers- just my thoughts and ultimately my overlook on the entire novel.

Since I am someone who's younger sister has cancer, I can relate to this book on an extremely personal level. Obviously this book was written for me and by someone whose life has also been affected by cancer, but I felt like the protagonist was someone that was real and true to life. I felt as if she truly existed and was waiting for me in New York with her little sister Echo. The book made me so empathetic towards El, the protagonist, and made me feel like I was going through wild mood swings like her.

From the beginning, this book was sad but also hilarious and sweet and heartwarming, even angering at times. Basically everything you could wish for in a book is in this one. Even if you don't know someone affected by cancer you will be able to relate to El and her journey. I loved how the characters were true to life and not just one dimensional, which many books have a tendency to make their characters like. Echo is a little girl whose personality is too complex to explain in one sitting, and that is what enriches the book further and makes it more beautiful. All in all I would rate this book a 9 out of 10.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve year old El was starting a new school on the first day of year seven, and she had planned how it would go. But often things don't go to plan. El's birth name was Laughter, but she chose El for the first letter of her name, and her parents were fine with it. She had a wonderful first day, with her favourite subject - English - and the teacher Mr. D making her look forward to the next day's lesson. But when her dad picked her up from school - not what was planned - El knew he had bad news. And he did. El's little sister Echo, who was only six years old, was in hospital, with a life threatening sickness...

El's following days at school were not like the first. She couldn't concentrate, her brain was fuzzy. When not at school, she and her dad went to the hospital where Mum and Echo were, and gradually a plan was made. And a friend from school, Octavius, helped El - slowly but surely, many people were on Team Echo.

Echo's Sister is the debut novel by Paul Mosier and it's exceptional. Told in El's voice, it was heartbreaking but very heartwarming, and the love and support that surrounded El's family was wonderful. El struggled; they all did, as El tried to get her head around what was happening to her little sister. A middle grade novel, I have no hesitation in recommending it highly.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someday, a sixth grader will be reading this book and discover a world where we still don't have a cure for cancer. While we live in this world, books like this give us a glimpse of life with a cancer patient in your family. If you have not seen cancer treatment up close and personal, it is impossible to really understand what life is like during that fight. Not all families have positive outcomes, but all families definitely could benefit from following the example of El's family. The support of the community was such a beautiful aspect of this book, bringing tears to my eyes. My only change would be to switch out "the universe" for God's providence. Highly recommended!

I received a digital ARC of this book from HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacqueline Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Reader's Copy of this beautiful book from the author/publisher. This in no way influences my review. *

I knew going in that this book was going to make me cry. Stories about childhood cancer are always tearjerkers, but I found this book particularly moving because like El, I have a little sister who is my favorite person in the world. And like Echo, my little sister has endured extensive hospital stays and undergone major medical procedures.

Now, my family was very fortunate. My sister did not battle cancer. But I can imagine, that if she did, I would find myself feeling a lot like Echo's sister: lost, numb, angry, scared, sad. So, so very sad. Reading this book (for the record, I read it in about five hours... yes, I devoured it), I saw so much of my little sister in Echo. Her silliness, her optimism, and most of all, her strength. Little sisters are such special, unique creatures, and I say that with love. While we, the older sisters, find ourselves on the more serious and ambitious side, little sisters can always find a reason to laugh. I see it daily in my sister, and I saw it in Echo.

But this book is far more than another cancer book. Those are a dime a dozen. Echo's Sister openly and honestly explores all the best of humanity when confronted with the very worst of circumstances. Mr. Mosier could easily have written a book of angst and experimental drugs and the utter unfairness of childhood cancer, which, I think we can all agree is absolutely and undeniably unfair. But instead, he focuses on hope. On positivity. On strength and love and generosity. And perhaps, most importantly, the bond between sisters.

It might seem weird to quote a move in this review, but here it goes. It's the movie based off of Jodi Picoult's novel, My Sister's Keeper. From what I understand, the movie and the book are quite different (I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't read the book), but there's a line near the very end of the movie that has stayed with me since the first time I heard it. It brings a tear to my eye every single time, and as I read Echo's Sister, I couldn't help but think of it again.

"Once upon a time, I thought I was put on this Earth to save my sister. I realize now that wasn't the point. The point was I had a sister."

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not going to review this book—although if I was I would probably mention how it somehow managed to be both depressing and uplifting at the same time—instead I’ll write to the girl who inspired it all.
.................

Dear Harmony,
Do you go by Harmony? Maybe you go by Aech or Haech or Harmy or Harmony Sea, I don’t know. Does it matter? If it does to you then I apologise if I got it wrong.

I don’t know you. You don’t know me. Yet somehow you have touched my life. That, my dear friend, that is a uniquely beautiful power. To touch someone’s life. Not even to change it. Just to, for one second, exist in someone else’s world. And you’ve accomplished that.

If I was going to be all sappy I’d say that you’re an inspiration and you’re so brave and strong and that’s all true, but I’m not going to say any of that. Sorry! I don’t want to say things that someone has already said to you before.

And if I was being depressing I’d say life is mean and unfair and horrible, but I’m not going to say that either. Life is life. It’s a river, an ocean even. An ocean of pain, happiness, wonder, hope. Everything that we are just ebbing and flowing like the waves. Rolling and swaying, always the same and yet somehow completely different.

And that’s you. That’s you and that’s me. And that’s your parents and your sister and your dog and your neighbours and everyone you’ve ever known. Changing, transforming, every emotion, and so so human. So beautifully human.

I never had the chance to meet you. I never had the chance to tell you how human you were. But I think you knew. I didn’t know you but you must have known. For all the greatest warriors who fight impossible battles know that being human is our strength and our weakness and everything in between. It is everything at once. It is peace. It is harmony. And it rolls like the oceans, like the sea, and it carries us away to something better.

I’m sorry I couldn’t say more. Or say it better. I’m sorry if you disagree or if you hate it or if it hurts you. I don’t have more to give except my words. And I didn’t have to say anything but I wanted to. Because you deserve it. You always did.

Rest now, little one.
Be at peace, Harmony Sea Mosier.
With everything that I could give,
KP

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Today is the first day of school, and it's gonna be fantastic." So begins twelve-year-old El's (legal name Laughter) narration is this tender, powerful, and uplifting novel. And her first day of seventh grade at a private arts academy is fantastic. A handsome, witty English teacher starts the day with a unit on Emily Dickinson, her most favorite poet ever. She quickly makes friends with Emy who invites her to join her for at lunchtime. El's mom packs her an almond butter and blackberry jam sandwich, tahini cole slaw, and dried mango slices, (which,save for the mango, sounds right up my alley) and she scores a goal in field hockey. However, El's father meets her at the door with devastating news; her six-year-old sister, Echo, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. And, whoosh, just like that El and her family face one of the the most frightening, stressful situations one can imagine.
While this book is about childhood cancer it is also very much about the power of community, even in a place as large as New York City. Both friends and strangers in their Greenwich Village neighborhood rally their support for El, Echo, and their parents. The novel is also a fabulous coming of age story. El joins the ranks of other favorite literary characters including such a stars as Anne Shirley, Ramona Quimby, and Scout (aka Jean Louise) Finch. She is caring, intelligent, mature, and talented. She is not merely "Echo's sister," but, rather a remarkable human being in her own right. El is able to articulate her thoughts and feelings with both grace and humor. (Seriously, hire this kid as a speech writer!) I liked her on page one and was an even bigger fan by the final page.
This details of this novel give away the time period in which it was written. A typical dinner for the family is turmeric dusted tofu, Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate seeds, all washed down with hemp milk. Granted, the parents are artists, but I do find it interesting to note such references because I imagine this book being around for a long time. Like the fashions and cuisine of literary works that have stood the test of time, these details will provide clues to future readers about the cultural climate in which we currently live.

[Leonard Kim]

I am not going to rate this, though I would have given it a good rating. Reading about Mosier and his daughter, I don't know his reasons for making a book out of this, but since he did, he must want people to read it, and so we should, hard as it is. As for who can read it, I said, of Train I Ride, that his writing style seems more typical of what one would find in YA, despite the 12-year-old protagonist and lack of "mature content." I think that's true here too.

[Amanda M (On The Middle Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this middle grade novel we follow El who's younger sister Echo has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Throughout the book we get to see how Echo's illness impacts El and her family, from finances, to daily outings, to friends, schoolmates, and community. It is a beautiful story of hope even when things are tough. My only criticism is that the ending was almost too happy. It seemed like every little thing worked out in the end and I know that is just not reality for the vast majority of families who have a member with a cancer diagnosis.

[Dest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me of See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles. No one really wants to think about little kids dying, but of course it happens. People write heartbreaking books about it. I read those books even though I know I will be sad for days. The world of childhood cancer is not a fun world to dive into. But dive I did. I read this whole book on an airplane with my daughter sitting next to me happily absorbed in Frozen while I clutched her little hand and sobbed.

Reading literary fiction breeds empathy. (This is science: https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar....) A kid may pick up this book and discover a newfound gratitude for their siblings. They may find themselves reaching out to a classmate who seems sad. Or donating to a good cause. They may find strength to help them through their own sadness or struggle.

So while books like this can be hard to read, they are important and they should have a place in the reading lives of children (and grown-ups).

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true measure of a book for me is one that makes me “feel” everything. This book, which I was fortunate enough to receive, as an ARC copy from the author, is just that type of book.

I laughed. I cried. I was angry.
I was so moved by El, the wise beyond her years, protagonist, her family and the eclectic
group of supporting characters.

I have never been to Manhattan, but this book allowed me to experience what it might be like to live there.
There were so many passages, that literally brought tears to my eyes—and Mr.Mosier doesn’t hit you over the head—The author’s faith in humanity and kindness is present throughout this book.

Paul Mosier, “long may you run.”

[Jordan Henrichs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having two daughters, I have a soft spot for well written girls. I loved El's voice in this but as beautifully written as the book was, I couldn't escape the thought of how heartbreaking this had to be to write.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empathy is such a difficult feeling to grasp. We can easily say "I know how you feel", but when it comes down to it, do we really? Mosier brings forth a powerful storyline that captures the essence of what it truly means to feel for a character because the focus isn't placed on cancer, but instead on the struggles that surround it. The reader is instantly able to place themselves in El's shoes and travel on the emotional rollercoaster with her, feeling the loneliness, the uncertainty, the heartache and the compassion that encompasses a sibling riding shotgun as all the attention is placed on the battle her sister is facing. Approaching this subject from that point of view allows for a much deeper connection, a much stronger feeling of empathy because it's difficult to imagine what it would be like to fight cancer, but more intuitive to place yourself alongside someone who is. This book is a lighthouse guiding through a storm, a glimpse into the darkest of times that can eventually shine bright because of the goodness inside us all.

Being an extremely emotional person I found myself mentally preparing myself throughout this entire book, but when it was all said and done I hadn't prepared myself correctly. As I said before, this book isn't about cancer, it's about the goodness of humanity and the bonds that can form, the passion that can ignite and the awesomeness that can shine out of everyone, especially when their backs are against the wall. Whatever this book might have been for Paul Mosier, it is truly something special in its own unique way to each and every person who is lucky enough to read it!

[Emperor Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

I......😭. This book was amazing. That is all I have to say.

[Anne girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based upon my reading an advanced reader's edition.

This is a special story of a girl, her sister, their family and community. The characters and their lives together are so lovingly drawn and with such detail that we fall right into their world, a world where El, Echo's sister, experiences the heartlessness of the universe, along with the overwhelming goodness people can show to each other. I was touched by the verisimilitude of a father who tears off half a shopping list to give to El in the grocery store because, as he tells her, she's good at picking the produce. Of the girls in their bunk beds as El shares with us what she hears: "The classical station plays at low volume in the darkness, the music we sleep to." A book like this one reminds us of how graced we are to live in family and in community.

[Stephanie Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'd think a book about a little girl with cancer would be depressing but Echo's Sister is so not that! Filled with hope, dreams, and a great cast of characters, Echo's Sister gives the reader a peek into a slice of the world filled with humanity. If only EVERYONE in the world could be like the characters -- from Octavius, to Miss Numero Uno, and the piano man, these characters explode on the page! Beautifully written, I admit I cried through most of it, but it's uplifting and oh so very sweet. You will fall in love with El (who's name is Laughter, and is just perfect!) and her adorable, spunky, COURAGEOUS little sister Echo!

[Sarah]

Books like Echo’s Sister are the reason authors are told to “write what you know.” Paul Mosier breaks your heart a dozen times over, then patches it back up so that it’s somehow larger than when you started.

[Jenn Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a moving story. I was so touched by El's experience with her sister's cancer and the incredible outpouring of support they found in their community. This is a great book for anyone who enjoyed COUNTING THYME.

[Beth Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Echo's Sister' by Paul Mosier is a realistic and heartwarming story that truly gets to the heart of the matter. Twelve-year-old El is the main character, and even though she has planned for her first day of seventh grade to go off without a hitch, she comes home to devastating news - her younger sister is very ill and in the hospital. El comes to learn that her sister, Echo, has a rare form of cancer, and life as she knows it disappears, giving way to worry, doubt, and a host of other emotions that no adult, let alone pre-teen, should have to deal with on a regular basis.

El and Echo are pretty close, but El finds it increasingly difficult to keep up the charade of being positive about Echo's treatments and how everything will turn out in the end. Her parents do their best to make everything as easy as possible, but nobody is perfect, and even they have their moments when El sees that she is not the only one being affected by this horrible turn of events.

Even though she feels her schoolwork is slipping, she finds some solace in art, and also in the comfort of her English class. Her attempts to make friends fall short, as she does her best to navigate the murky waters of middle school while doing her utmost to hide her home life. So many young people do this nowadays, and that is where Mosier's writing shines the brightest - in showcasing the truth of the situation and how people are dealing with issues like these every day and trying to find the ways that work best for them to cope. When a boy named Octavius befriends her, she finds out that he is not so different from her, and while this should be comforting, it scares her in ways she doesn't fully understand. Their relationship as friends is one that relates the innocence of youth along with the hardships of people who have encountered too much upset in their lives at such a young age.

Paul Mosier has written a beautiful and touching story that will pull on heartstrings, bring tears to readers' eyes, and shed light on topics that too sadly have a stigma about them. This book comes highly recommended!

Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughter is about to start seventh grade at a new private arts academy after attending public school all her life. She is sad about leaving her old friends behind, but happy because she's going to introduce herself to everyone as "El" and finally be able to move away from her embarrassing name. El's father is a painter and her mother is a dress designer, and they actually met at this same school. El's first day goes off like gangbusters; she likes her teachers, the kids are nice, and there's even a cute boy who seemed interested in her. But when she sees her dad waiting for her outside of school she immediately knows something is wrong, It turns out that her little sister, Echo, has been diagnosed with cancer. She is going to have to have chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and eventually surgery to take it out. It's going to be a long and expensive journey. Over the next few weeks El struggles to keep up at school while keeping her secret from her new classmates. She doesn't want to be known as the girl whose sister has cancer, and this situation is painful enough without everyone at school knowing as well. And at home her parents are so busy with Echo that El feels forgotten. Money begins to be a problem too, and the chemo makes Echo sicker and sicker. Slowly however, El begins to open up to a few people, and as Echo's story spreads throughout their neighborhood, El realizes that their community is behind them. This one is sad, but also full of love and hope.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Today is the first day of school, and it's gonna be fantastic. I think this as I sit on the toilet in the second-floor bathroom of the Village Arts Academy in New York City, looking at a page in my tiny journal with a list of things to say to all my new classmates.

Premise/plot: "El" is the narrator of Paul Mosier's second novel, Echo's Sister. (She hates her given name, LAUGHTER.) She's twelve and having a bit of a rough time--starting a new school, trying to make new friends, to find her place to fit and belong. But this isn't really that novel. Her perspective changes quite a bit after she learns her younger sister, Echo, has cancer. Talk about a BEFORE and AFTER. Will life ever be the same again? Would she really want it to?

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved his first book, Train I Ride. I loved this one too. I loved spending time with El's family. I loved the focus on family and friends. I loved how El's new friend was really there for her. I loved the hope. This isn't a happy-happy carefree book. It has substance. But it isn't a sad sob story either. Like life itself--it's balanced.

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This book hits close to home. I myself was a sick child in and out of hospitals, staying home from school. I remember the being both exhausted and bored. It was rough for me and I knew it was also hard on my siblings. After reading this book it gave me a better appreciation of all that they also suffered, emotionally, financially, physically. They also had a huge price to pay, all the things they had to sacrifice, the thing they needed but couldn't afford, time they lost with friends, all because I was the sick little sister. This book made me realize how strong and patient my family had to be with me. This book opened my eyes on how our family pulled together in hard times and it all worked out in the end.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a GREAT read it was an easy one, yes, but also deeply heart warming, I think we usually look through he eyes of the person who has cancer but here u get a unique perspective of not a friend not a parent but a sibling.
Being the friend of the girl who represents Echo in real life gave me a unique perspective on the book. Even tho I can't relate to El I think I can relate to the story on a general level and recognize, really the hard ships that a family really goes through during th heart breaking process defeating cancer.
I think it is a great read, very clear and that people of all ages can enjoy this book.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Could not put this book down. Absolutely love the characters and can completely see my fifth graders loving this book. It is a shorter book but with depth, beautiful characters and a sweet story. I think 4th through 7th graders can completely identify with El and her honesty. Heck, I even can identify with what she is thinking and going through. Very well written! Love it!

[Lindsay Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a “restore your faith in humanity” kind of book. And the story that inspired this novel took my breath away. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to give this book justice.

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me emotional. One line that stuck out for me in the book towards the end was “I didn’t know how great humanity could be.” ❤️

[Dramapuppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel weird reviewing this as a piece of art when it’s so close to the author’s personal tragedy, but it is a good book

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Newberry contender.

[LeeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

El is in 7th grade; it's the first day of school, and it's going to be fantastic! At the end of the day, as anticipated, she loves her school, made a "ton" of friends, and is flying high until she spots her father waiting for her at the end of the school walkway. The news he is about to give is not good.

"Waiting for miracles is not the best way to approach life's difficulties...but a miracle would be nice."

El's sister has a very rare form of cancer, this novel is about her treatments, her parents' struggles, and El's dealing with a probability that she may lose her sister. Through positive thinking, dealing with anger, and depending on each other, El learns that there are is lot of good in humanity.

"'Cause she's a six-year-old girl, and all-day-ride wristbands are the kind of wristbands six-year-old girls should be wearing. They're the kind of wristbands we all should be wearing."

[Mary Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been sitting here watching the cursor blink in this review box for seven minutes... not knowing how I could possible share with the world the beauty found within the pages of Echo’s Sister. As with Train I Ride, the characters in this book are so so real and endearing. More endearing and heroic, however, is the author, his family, and all the families that have lost a loved one too soon. Paul, I can’t even lie and say I can imagine what your family has gone through. I can’t. But please know my heart grew tonight because of your book and personal glimpses you shared on your webpage.
Thank you for having the courage to write this.
Thank you for making me believe that humanity is still alive and that it is ok to lean on others and let them help with heavy burdens.
Thank you for sharing Harmony’s story...a story that will forever be near and dear to my heart.
Thank you for giving me hope.
Thank you for not giving up.

Five million stars.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-told story explores grief and depression through the eyes of a seventh-grade girl whose younger sister is struck with a rare form of cancer. There is nothing very unique about the story in a YA genre clouded with illness and rare tragedy, however, the story is well told and compelling all the way through. It is made sadder after learning that the author experienced the loss of his daughter to the same rare cancer that Echo is unfortunate to have. The only trouble with this is book is that the thoughts and ability to express herself seem well beyond Echo's twelve years. Perhaps a girl who is forced into awareness of death so young could come to acknowledge her own feelings so quickly, perhaps not. Nonetheless, a highly recommended read.