Kirkus Review
Devastated by her father's revelation of his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), 17-year-old Tobin must cope with his swiftly declining physical and mental health.Tobin lives with her father, Steve, a paramedic, in their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Her paternal family has deep roots, going back some 340 years to the original white European fur trappers who founded the city. Steve hires Ike Navarro, the son of his ambulance partner, as his personal care assistant. Ike was an Army medic in Afghanistan and is the great-grandson of Mexican immigrants. Together, Tobin and Ike take care of Steve, with Ike providing Tobin big brother-like support and helpful guidance about the medical trajectory of the disease. The first-person perspective, which includes some journal entries, reveals a loving daughter tormented by the rapid worsening of symptoms and her father's unfathomable plan to end his life. Cronn-Mills (Original Fake, 2016, etc.) paints a clear picture of the anticipatory grief Tobin is experiencing as well as the difficulty of communicating with family and friends. One important exception is her understanding great-uncle Paul, who is gay; this detail is presented matter-of-factly. The city of Duluth is described well and provides a rooted-in-reality backdrop for the action. Lake Superior is an important presence, serving as a key part of the recurringand effectivemetaphor of Tobin's frozen-with-grief heart.A realistic take on ALS, caregiving, loss, and loyalty, with an appealing main character. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Tobin's life turned upside down that day her dad, Steve, called her to the hospital after taking a bad fall. Turns out there have been other falls and now she notices his slight slurring of speech. Steve marathon runner, author, and well-known paramedic in their small Minnesota shore community has been diagnosed with ALS, and both father and daughter are stunned by the prognosis. Readers lodge in Tobin's head as she tries to cope with her despair and fear as Steve rapidly deteriorates. Parallel, heartbreaking threads weave powerfully together: Steve's ongoing compilation of a charming book of wisdom for Tobin; her own biographic photo-essay, using action figures and other props, to be submitted as a portfolio to an art school. Strong characterizations of Ike, family-friend-turned-caretaker for Steve; friend Sid; and even Gracie, the well-meaning BFF whose support turns awkward for Tobin, enliven the narrative, providing rich context to a family in crisis. The dramatic, discussion-worthy ending adds a provocative right-to-die element that will stay with readers long after the last page.--Anne O'Malley Copyright 2019 Booklist
