I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Go to Boise

by Erma Bombeck

The story of children fighting and surviving cancer is a tale of innocent courage and remarkable strength of character in the face of a seemingly implacable foe

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir, Comedy, Biography, Medicine

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Erma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life humorously, in the second half of the 20th century.

For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.

Reviews

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Erma Bombeck in the newspaper. I remember seeing several of her books on my grandma's bookshelf. After she passed away, I read those books and loved them quite a bit. Erma Bombeck has a fun and interesting take on subjects such as motherhood and housewifery and domestic issues. This book is a little different in that the subject is children with cancer. How can anyone write a "humor" book about something like that? In fact, Mrs. Bombeck asks that same question. And then she met the children. Their positivity and optimism showed her that cancer doesn't have to big a big scary thing. The children show her that humor and optimism is what helps them fight the disease. Sure, cancer is a terrible thing, but finding the humor within the situation helps them keep being kids. I think that is an important message. The kids are kids and not the disease. This is well worth a read.

[Heather Alderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at a used book sale since I have always enjoyed Erma Bombeck's humor. When I saw that the premise of the book was childhood cancer, I debated on on getting it. But true to her word in the introduction, it is a book about hope with some humor and some sadness, but mostly inspiring words and stories from children battling cancer.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slowly reading through the old stack of Erma Bombeck books on my shelf. Obviously, she is most popular for her popular humor-filled essays on motherhood and the family. This one is something very different. Erma investigates and interviews countless people who have had or work with those who have childhood cancer. Not exactly a funny or fun topic- or so Mrs. Bombeck thought.

This book is a series of essays compiled in topics ranging from the reaction of the cancer sufferer/survivor, the parents, the siblings/family, the medical staff, the researchers, and even the cancer camp staffers to the various periods from discovery to, ugh, the reappearance of that hated disease.

I thought the humorist did well to find the hope and humor out there and let the kids and those around them speak in their own voices. This was thought-provoking and hopeful- also a wee bit funny. I was most challenged to simply be there when friends and those around me suffer or have a family member with a form of cancer. I've taught a couple kids over the years who were undergoing treatment while in my class and I remember making accommodation, but also letting them be a kid, too. I also remember taking the time to hug kids who had siblings with cancer so they know they are remembered. I appreciated this book for the poignant stories, but good reminders.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erma Bombeck got tired of writing about suburban absurdities, and wrote this book about kids with cancer.

It tugs at your heartstrings, but I can see why the publishers were iffy about it.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit I like it only because I'm in it. No, I can't tell you where! It's only a brief mention, as when my family spoke with Bombeck I wasn't in the kind of straits that would have made good fodder for what she tries to keep a light-hearted book. That's another reason I give her kudos. I have no idea how many interviews she had to conduct for this work, but to have had the strength to face the stories you don't see and still write a work with this hope and tone is no small feat. I know, I've seen this world from all angles, and I don't think I could do it myself.

Read it. Be inspired. Take hope. Laugh a little. We're all people and we all have personalities no matter our condition.

[Valerie]

The children in this book have disgraceful vocabularies. Nobody under the age of 15 should be able to discourse learnedly on 'hematocrit', or 'white blood counts'.

Yet they haven't prematurely aged. They still make a game out of who can go longest after chemo before throwing up.

Erma Bombeck was brought up hard against one of the failures of our society: for all we boast of our (very real)achievements, we still can't seem to keep kids from getting sick. Until vaccines can be developed and become routine, this sort of book will be necessary. But I won't be reading it more than once. It was harrowing enough the first time.

[Rushmee Thapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 9," What are Friends for?" is such an enlightening. We sometimes are so busy and in rush that we forgot We have a life with a timeline.
Reading the book in which the children are suffering from cancer, the deadly disease and have a beacon of chance for survival and utmost in love with life was speechless.
Hope eventually turns into faith. And turning Hope into faith is the most crucial thing.
Life is miraculously wonderful and I will definitely try to live everyday with positive vibes, happiness and gratefulness. of course suffering and pain are part of life and that is why the value of happiness is greater.

[Benjamin Fresquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very moving. Erma Bombeck presents childhood cancer in a "truthfully optimistic" manner. My favorite chapter was What Are Friends For....Written in 1989 the content is very relevant today. The children in the book accept their diagnoses and they each have their own way of dealing with treatment and explaining their struggle to others. I truly appreciate the way Erma gives a full perspective of children surviving cancer.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way that Erma writes. She wrote about a difficult subject, yet still did it justice. Good job!

[Sarah Reaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried at 6am at work when I finished this book. As a peds onc nurse this book truly changed the way I view my job and my kids at work and I couldn’t recommend it enough 🥲🥲🥲🥲
“To me, the animal ‘Hope’ is small. Sometimes it has two legs, sometimes not. Sometimes it has hair and sometimes it is bald. It can laugh and cry in the same breath. It doesn’t have to talk. Its very presence is enough to change the course of your life. It has a name. It is called a child fighting cancer.”

[Book Concierge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bombeck, best known for her thrice weekly columns on all the trials and tribulations of being a suburban mother, wrote this very different book about children living with cancer. She was originally approached by the director of a camp for children with cancer and asked to help write a pamphlet or booklet that would let the campers know they weren’t alone, something that would help the counselors and the children as they dealt with some very real issues.

After writing the first few chapters she asked a group of children to read and critique her work. The campers responded with , “You gotta make it funnier.” And they said she had to add a first chapter titled, “Am I Going To Die?” To her immense credit she DID find humor to relate in the thousands of letters she received from all across the United States and from as far away as New Zealand, from children and their families who were living with this disease, frequently beating the odds, always fighting with courage, grace, dignity and hope.

The book includes many personal stories from the children themselves, and, yes, there are even a few segments that had me chuckling. Like the four-year-old who judges her healthcare givers thus: “These people don’t know what they’re doing. They put blood in me one day, and they take it out another!”

[NTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what's a great idea when you're feeling subhuman? You should definitely read a book about kids with cancer. Even though it's supposed to be an 'uplifting' book about kids with cancer - and their parents, siblings, doctors, relationships, lives - still probably not the best thing to get you out of a funk. It was well written, of course (Ms. Bombeck's humor is sneaky and broad), and I liked that it approached kids with cancer as if they were, you know... actual human beings with whole lives that need to be taken into consideration. I'm not sure how great the scientific info is, since it's 25-ish years out of date (and Ms. Bombeck herself says never read books about cancer that are more than five years old because everything they say will be wrong), and I can only hope that all the progress she discusses as fact in the mid-1980's has continued so that in the mid 2010's we're that much closer to making childhood cancer an unthinkable circumstance.

[Casey Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great in many ways; despite the fact it was talking about a very unfortunate disease, Erma Bombeck made cancerous children very happy about having the disease. Almost every patient that she mentioned was full of optimism which made me so happy that kids are trying to make a bad thing much better.
Along with children who are full of optimism, another trait that many cancer patients own is self confidence. They are not afraid of the scars on their body or what people think of them. Also, many children try to put the disease beside them to make room for everything they like to do. They don't let cancer destroy any of their favorite hobbies or activities.
Overall, this book was a great inspiring book. It will make you regain your faith in humanity and your love of children. One of my favorite parts in the book is how Erma Bombeck added real children's pictures, which was truly awesome!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A difficult task for a news paper columnist/humorist?

You betcha.

Like several of Erma Bombeck's other books, this is a compilation of essays grouped under broader Chapter topics. The humor in these essays may be accompanied by tears. Sadness, joy, or compassion.

These stories were inspired by children with cancer and other terminal diseases, their families, and health care personnel, can help the average person put things in better prospective. I wonder if it could poke a leak of empathy in today's youth which video games have staunched.

Writing about children with cancer would be taxing to the best of us. what I found out subsequent to reading the book, was an even more difficult task. Mrs. Bombeck accomplished this with her own life threatening illness and refused to reveal it to the public.

This book and it's background sure does change a person's perspective.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really, really quick read and a nice, sweet look at kids with cancer who do well after their disease. Which is, happily, what happens to most kids with cancer. It was written in 1990 so the medical stuff is really dated, but of course kids' spirits and senses of humor don't change that much, nor do the emotions of parents, siblings, or friends touched by this awful illness. There are probably more detailed books written about this subject, but this book touches the surface of a sensitive topic with a great sense of humor. My favorite kids' joke:

Girl #1: Hey, honey, you come in here often? What's your sign?
Girl #2: Cancer, of course.

If only we could all take illness this seriously and unseriously at the same time.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title refers to what a child, suffering from cancer, said were his/her three wishes. Bombeck was approached to write an upbeat book about children with cancer. She wasn't sure she could do it until she visited a camp for children with cancer and got to know them. What she has written reminds me of the book "When Someone You Love Has Cancer," by DanaRae Pomeroy. You get to "know" kids with cancer, you get to know their parents, you get a sense of the joy and the tragedy, and you get a feel for how someone who cares can help -- what to do and what not to do. Not Bombeck's usual belly laughs, but a wonderfully thought out and written book (I would have expected nothing less of my hero).

[Thawab Fraihat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my whole life, I’ve never seen a book that everyone can read it smoothly, it gives hope for kids suffering from cancers, for their families and also for doctors!
The author is intelligent and talented, with a wonderful imagination that can be translated to great metaphors, I mean who else can write something like this “They reminded me of candles in the wind who accept the possibility that at best they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light"
I would give this book a dozen of stars.
Enjoy it :)

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am working on a children's book about a kid with cancer and her dog. So I've been doing a lot of researching and reading of other books about kids and for kids and cancer. I thought since this book came out in 1989, it might be out of date, but it's so not. And although Erma Bombeck herself died several years ago, her writing is as I remembered it, fresh and funny and full of heart. This book came out of interviews, conversations and experiences she had talking to kids and families about cancer. It captures the innocent yet wise voices of kids dealing with the absolute unforgiving horror of cancer. It made me cry and it made me laugh out freaking loud. I am grateful this book exists.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erma Bombeck approaches this tough subject with the same humour she's famous for. Her flair for writing is what makes it fun to read this book about children "SURVIVING" cancer. Notice the emphasis on surviving!!

This easy to read novel is filled with heartwarming stories of kids who have every hope of beating the odds and going on to drive their parents up the wall.

It's amazing to think how many children are stricken with cancer and equally as amazing to hear about how many BEAT IT!!! Kudos to all these children for their bravery and their optimism.

[Ayah Ristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be the first cancer book ever that I've read that had managed to stray from all the negative implications of cancer. At first it brought me a strange feeling, having read it after I've read several cancer books before it that were generally painful to read about. It was a delightful read. I was glad that this book just proved me that there was indeed always something positive to look at, even in the most dreadful situations. That positivity and negativity are not to be found in situations. It's how you look at things. Your state of mind.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

read it back in the days when i had the desire to be a pediatric oncologist. and i absolutely love this book. read it 4 times. it's remarkable to see children with such optimism despite their deadly disease, and it displays true innocence and love and kindness. reading it has always given me a different view on life, and the motivation to live better (how cliche). the simplicity of this book is definitely its greatest appeal.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The summary and the forward of this book promised that it would be funny, and the way it was talked about made it seems that it'd be laugh-out-loud funny. It wasn't really. Some parts were humorous, but, I mean, how funny can cancer really get? It was interesting, though, to see how cancer can affect everyone, though. From moms and dads to siblings and friends. That was probably the best part.

[Chelsea Gunderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely the kind of book that will make you laugh while there are still tears in your eyes. It's a fast read. I started and finished it on a 3 hour drive, though I had to pause at times to wipe my eyes. It really shows how resilient children really are, the perspectives of not only the patients, but the people around them. Such a fantastic read, I'd recommend it to anyone that's been affected by cancer in some way.

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

When America's funniest writer was asked to write about one of America's saddest good causes, as a fundraiser, this is the result. In this book Erma Bombeck talked to kids with cancer, their parents, their siblings, and their doctors. You'll probably laugh. You may also cry. This is so-o-o not another book like "The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank." It's still worth quoting if you're raising funds for current cancer research or treatment programs.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this before but need to check it out again. I remember loving it. Cancer, as only Erma could deal with it. She was lost to us too soon. I have it on my to-read list because I need to remember that part of Erma's life. I know she talks to the kids. But that was a great way for her to share her journey with us.

[Tender Leaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this book would be all about courage and grit and determination. It is. But it's also about optimism and humour and hope. Children, perhaps in their innocence, automatically have the power to not take things, life seriously. This book, once again, painfully reminds us of the childhood we leave behind. And then yearn for, without fail. Every single one of us.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read - especially the advances in childhood cancer survival rates. This was published in 1989 so I believe the cancer treatment and survival rates have improved more.

Much as we struggle with the thought of kids with cancer, they seem to adapt fairly well. The importance of being there for the child and family is highlighted.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, but I was expecting more. The tiny vignettes were fun and definitely gave some insight, but I felt like the book was too short and didn't focus on the kids enough. I would have liked to have learned more about the kids and their coping than lots of one liners.

[Fayette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very quick read and a reminder of why I always loved Erma Bombeck so much. She handles the difficult topic of childhood cancer with compassion and hope, while still pointing out that humor can make even the big C. more tolerable.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book by Erma Bombeck so I picked it up expecting a light-hearted and fun read. Even though this book was about pediatric cancer, there was still humor and a light-hearted feel to this heavy topic. Good read.