Mom Goes to War

March 15, 2013
Great intentions yield few rewards in this well-meaning, plodding explanation of breast cancer for kids. A king and a queen call their sons in for a consultation. The queen reports that there is a rebellion underway, but it's not in the kingdom. The rebellion is of breast-cancer cells, and the battlefield her body. Using martial terminology, the queen is able to answer her sons' questions and calm their fears, walking them through the entire process of this "war." Unlike similar books for a younger crowd, this title eschews avoiding frightening topics and uses an unusual approach to make the discussion about fighting cancer both straightforward and appealing. Sadly, troubles abound. Martin loads the book down with excess text, overloading readers from the start. The conceit--royal family, war terminology of many eras--lends itself to mixed metaphors. Most worrisome, at no point do the words "radiation" or "chemotherapy" appear. Instead faux treatments with names like "Scalpozap" and "Extermamide" muddy the issue. Silly, simplistic art adds little to the narrative, sometimes making things worse by displaying frighteningly huge syringes and pills. A good idea drowns in unnecessary excess. (Picture book. 4-8)

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November 1, 2013

K-Gr 4-A homespun tale resounding with contemporary issues, mainly that of a mother facing cancer and the subsequent prospect of explaining her illness to her beloved sons. The story assumes the form of an allegorical fairy tale in which the woman's body becomes the battleground where a personal war against the illness is waged: her red and white blood cells portrayed as soldiers, her ganglions as watchtowers, and cancerous cells as rebels attacking a host of other cells personified in whimsical illustrations. Although these folksy drawings are top-notch and the premise of using allegory to explain the workings of cancer is quite effective, the narrative retains a personal tone and scope that seems a bit one-dimensional as it lacks lively language, imagery, or literary device. This story may appeal to boys more than to girls, especially as it is riddled with superficially bellicose verbiage of warfare. Though lackluster in literary technique, the picturesque illustrations, compelling conceptualization, and poignant story of a mother's struggle to survive will both inform and stimulate children.-Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME

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