It Can't Hurt Forever

by Marilyn Singer

Eleven-year-old Ellie describes her experiences during twelve days of hospitalization for heart surgery.

176 pages, Unbound

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.

Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.

Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a favorite when I was little and going through a lot of heart surgeries. It is a pre-teen book about an 11 year old that has PDA (patent ductus arteriosis) and how she deals with the fear and pain of heart surgery. It was written in the 70's so the hospital details are a little prehistoric to how they are now. I loved it however reading it now I think. What a baby she cries constantly, I guess I have a tougher skin :)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child - I read my first copy so much it fell to pieces and my mother tracked down a new paperback- which I also read to pieces. This book played no small part in my choosing a medical career.

[H. Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book. I have read it so many times and think it's an excellent story about being in the hospital, being scared, and recovering.

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely obsessed with this book when I was like, 9. In High School, I met my best friend, turns out she had patent ductus arteriosis as baby lol

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was very young(about 20 years ago) and I still remember it almost perfectly. This was one of the saddest books ever, the main character is a young girl, if memory serves me correctly her name was Ellie or Ellen or something along those lines, and she is describing her stay in the hospital awaiting heart surgery.

I'd also like to say how odd it is that I remember so many details from a book I read forever ago, yet at times I can't remember what I did yesterday. I guess what I'm trying to say is that obviously it was a fantastic read if I'm still thinking about it.

[Annie Insight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this book when I was eleven. I checked it out over and over from our town library...I suppose I was the only kid who read that book... *giggle* I remember Christmas when I was thirteen...Mom had bought the library's copy and gave it to me as a gift...and I still have it. It doesn't smell like the library anymore, but that's okay. I have the book!!!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so many times when I was little that I still have the first page memorized. Definitely this was y favorite book for a long time although I can't quite understand why I loved it so much.

[Nova (Taylor’s version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first books I read as a kid that I really liked.