Finding Balance (Brave Enough, #2) by Kati Gardner

Aug 16, 2020 katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, contemporary, 4-stars

Thank you to the Favourite Pages Club and Flux Books for sending me an ARC of Finding Balance in exchange for an honest review.

Mari Manos and Jase Ellison are both cancer survivors. Mari can’t hide that fact because it took one of her legs, and Jase hides his past from everyone. Both have attended Camp Chemo, a summer camp for kids fighting cancer, and love it.

But when Mari transfers to Jase’s school, she could bring his carefully built image down. Will they both be able to move on?

Finding Bala ...more

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Oct 04, 2020 Samantha (WLABB) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, romance, ya, diverse

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Deemed a risk due to her refusal to utilize a prosthetic or other mobility aid, Mari was forced to enroll at another school. There, she was reunited with her Camp Chemo crush, but he was less than enthusiastic about her presence.

• Pro: I adored Mari in Brave Enough and was really happy she got her own book. She managed to make herself memorable in the last book, and it was fantastic getting to know her story.

• Pro: This is NOT a cancer book. This is a book about cancer survivo Rating: 4.5 Stars

Deemed a risk due to her refusal to utilize a prosthetic or other mobility aid, Mari was forced to enroll at another school. There, she was reunited with her Camp Chemo crush, but he was less than enthusiastic about her presence.

• Pro: I adored Mari in Brave Enough and was really happy she got her own book. She managed to make herself memorable in the last book, and it was fantastic getting to know her story.

• Pro: This is NOT a cancer book. This is a book about cancer survivors, and what it's like navigating the world after the diagnosis and treatments. This is the first of its kind for me, and I really appreciated the insights Gardner shared.

• Pro: It was interesting seeing the stark differences in what life-after was like for Jase versus Mari. Jase could pretend he never had cancer, while Mari couldn't hide it. Because her missing leg was evidence of her past illness, she had to contend with comments and judgements on a daily basis, while Jase didn't.

• Pro: Part of Mari's story that grabbed me was how inhospitable the world can be for an amputee at times. The beginning of the book made me furious and I wanted to lash out at the school administrators. Additionally, I have read other books, where the characters had prosthetics and appreciated learning more specifically related to those with little residual limb.

• Pro: This book had it all for me. There was lots of focus on friendship and family, with the added bonus of a little romance. It taught me some things, while also making me feel so much.

• Pro: As with the previous book, I found the community aspect of this book wonderful. The network Mari and Jase established at Camp Chemo was a strong and important one, and it was fantastic to see some familiar faces too.

Overall: I loved getting this perspective of the "cancer kid". It was interesting, informative, as well as emotionally satisfying. It was easy to see how personal this story was to the author, and I am grateful she chose to share it with us.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 Kris (frantic4romantic) rated it really liked it

I received this book having never heard of the author or reading any of her work. It always makes me wary as a reader to step out of my comfort zone to read something I’m not familiar with. I’m a reader who invests myself into what I read, so I usually don’t take it lightly.

I’m so glad I took that leap and trusted my gut on this book.

I’ve never read a story like Finding Balance and I think it was a big reason I liked it so much. This was real life fiction where we see real life struggles. Storie ...more

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Dec 09, 2020 Jypsy rated it really liked it

I received a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Finding Balance
By: Kati Gardner

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

Although I do not share the same disorders portrayed in Finding Balance, I am a disabled person with a rare disorder. Does a person forever become their diagnosis, for example, the girl with cancer, even after treatment is done? Does a disability define a disabled person? I think the answer is yes. This story is about balancing who you are with who you ...more

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Nov 25, 2019 PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps rated it really liked it

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of FINDING BALANCE by Kati Gardner in exchange for my honest review.***

3.5 STARS

Nobody at school knows Jason had cancer when he was three. Cancer took one of Mari’s legs so she can’t hide that she’s a survivor. Friends and maybe more from Camp Chemo now attend the same school and Jason has everything to lose if his peers find out.

Kati Gardner is a cancer survivor who lost her leg and it shows with how much she gets right about survivor ...more

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Dec 02, 2019 Maria rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, various, young

Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
Super-realistic when dealing with such serious matters, yet touching and emotional in so many ways! “Finding Balance”, by Kati Gardner (Flux), could be hard to read, but there’s so much hope in these characters, particularly in brave Mari. The leads’ personal and unique stories are more interesting and genuine than the romantic relationship, which is sweet but has some dimensions I didn’t like (Jason’s nastiness towards Mari, Mari’s do ...more

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Aug 14, 2020 Azraa rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs, 2020, contemporary

Mari is a cancer survivor and an amputee. She lost a limb to cancer but she refuses to lose anything else. Her amputation is a part of herself that she gracefully accepts and has learned to live with it. Sadly, others haven’t been as accepting. When her school says she can’t continue to use crutches as it isn’t safe and she can’t attend their school anymore unless it’s on a wheelchair, she has to leave behind her friends and the familiar place for a new one.
Jase had Leukemia when he was three. Mari is a cancer survivor and an amputee. She lost a limb to cancer but she refuses to lose anything else. Her amputation is a part of herself that she gracefully accepts and has learned to live with it. Sadly, others haven’t been as accepting. When her school says she can’t continue to use crutches as it isn’t safe and she can’t attend their school anymore unless it’s on a wheelchair, she has to leave behind her friends and the familiar place for a new one.
Jase had Leukemia when he was three. He barely remembers it and other than Camp Chemo which he attends every summer and annual treatments, cancer is non existent in his present life and that is how he wants it to be. But when Mari walks into his school, she comes threatening the life he has built. Jase is determined to protect his secret even if he has to hurt Mari in the process.
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When I read the synopsis I was intrigued to read this book. I enjoy books that are educating along with entertaining and this one was just that. Mari is a cancer survivor and an amputee and we see her daily struggles as she accepts both of these with bravery. The author has done a brilliant job to showcase the disease as well as difficulties that a disabled person would have to face in everyday life which we see that are not only physical but also mental. In fact the struggles were more mental and emotional as we learn how people were uncomfortable in presence of someone who was different from them, how to make themselves feel better they acted in a mean way which borderlines on cruel. The way Lindsay and Madalyn behaved made me furious as to such ignorant and insensitive people exist in the society. And they aren’t just in schools or colleges but everywhere you go.
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I really loved Mari’s character. He was brave, fierce, proud, loving, caring, a good friend and a great daughter and sister. She always thought of others in any situation. She carried herself well despite the criticism from others. I was routing for her from the start.
I liked Jase’s character afterwards as I got to understand his reasons for being so rude to Mari in the start. The only thing that I wished was different in the book was that there was more of Camp Chemo shown so we could have learned about Mari and Jase’s friendship before Mari joined AWP. Jase came across as selfish, arrogant, and pretentious jerk from his behaviour towards Mari and I felt I would have liked him more if I could see how he was without the fear of his people knowing his secret.
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Overall a four star read for me that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun and light read with a strong and likeable protagonist.
...more

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Jul 09, 2020 Faith Noelle rated it it was amazing

I received an eARC of this book, and it was so good! I finished it in no time at all. The book beautifully balanced a touching, wonderful message with adorably fun scenes of family, friendship and love. It's a book about how we put together the pieces of our own stories and accept ourselves within that. Mari and Jase are such excellent characters to follow, and I love the way that disability is portrayed through each of their eyes. For Mari, who had her leg amputated years ago, her disability is ...more

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Dec 16, 2020 aar.raj rated it really liked it

I thought this one was better than the first one.

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Apr 23, 2020 Lisa Mandina rated it it was amazing

So, I got this book from the publisher at the AASL convention in November 2019. Originally it was supposed to be published in May of 2020, but because of all the COVID-19 stuff, it got postponed until September. However I wanted to go ahead and get my review done while the story was fresh in my mind, and I’ll come back and revisit with a promo post probably in September.

Now, I haven’t read the first book in this series, Brave Enough, and I don’t know when or if I’ll get it read, although I am de So, I got this book from the publisher at the AASL convention in November 2019. Originally it was supposed to be published in May of 2020, but because of all the COVID-19 stuff, it got postponed until September. However I wanted to go ahead and get my review done while the story was fresh in my mind, and I’ll come back and revisit with a promo post probably in September.

Now, I haven’t read the first book in this series, Brave Enough, and I don’t know when or if I’ll get it read, although I am definitely intrigued now. I was told you didn’t have to read that book to understand and enjoy this one, and I’m guessing that is true, because I didn’t feel like anything was missing from the story.

This was a really emotional read, but so good. There are a lot of books about kids with cancer out there, but I feel this one had something unique, or at least not often seen. The main character, Mari, lost one of her legs due to cancer when she was younger. The other main character, Jase, had cancer when he was very young, so young he doesn’t really remember it. And he is able to hide it. In fact, even though every summer he’s gone to a camp for kids who have had or do have cancer, since middle school, when his friends got cruel and teased him about having cancer when they found out, he’s been able to hide it at his new school. He and Mari are great friends at camp, possibly even summer love interests. But since he wants that part of his life kept away from his new friends, even at his new private school, when Mari shows up, he is cruel to her, and does everything he can to make sure no one finds out.

I totally hate him for this at first. Even though it is soon apparent from how the girls in his crowd treat Mari when she arrives, that he probably isn’t wrong to be worried about it. Because wow, the things the girls say are so mean. I mean Mean Girl on steroids! Now Mari does make friends at her new school, and is able to ignore the mean girls, and even move past the friendship she thought she’d already have in place with Jase. But they end up going back and forth, as he can’t stay away from her because he really does like her. But he also refuses to come clean.

There’s so much more to this story than their romance though. A lot of things about having cancer that we don’t always get in YA books. How getting a prosthetic leg isn’t as straight-forward and easy as it might be thought. How maybe someone might not even want one. The fact about how people with those types of handicaps are considered to be such miracles when they do get a leg or arm and are able to “do so many things.” Not wanting to be in the spotlight as being inspirational, just wanting to be a normal teenager.

There were a lot of tears for me in this, but a lot of smiles and laughs at times too. It was a feel good story in the end, and I was able to read it in less than two days because it was so hard to put down. I’ll be looking into getting this for my school library when it gets published next fall.

Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature. ...more

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Aug 31, 2020 Bee rated it it was amazing

Thank you to Netgalley and Flux Books for my eARC of Kati Gardner's 'Finding Balance'.

I was initially drawn to the book because when I was in school my close friend passed from Leukemia. I have also had family members these last couple of years fighting forms of Cancer and I welcomed any book that might give a perspective about this cruel disease that would help my children.

Finding Balance was everything I could have hoped for in a book that deals with topics that are often not in the forefront Thank you to Netgalley and Flux Books for my eARC of Kati Gardner's 'Finding Balance'.

I was initially drawn to the book because when I was in school my close friend passed from Leukemia. I have also had family members these last couple of years fighting forms of Cancer and I welcomed any book that might give a perspective about this cruel disease that would help my children.

Finding Balance was everything I could have hoped for in a book that deals with topics that are often not in the forefront of any novels never mind those for a younger audience. I had moments of laughter, and moments were I cried; the emotional rollercoaster had me at every turn and I know without doubt I would and will read this tale again along with the first book by Kati Gardner.

It is an insightful read both during both the good moments and the bad and it was apparent that this story truly mattered to the author and that it was a true labour of love. The scenes at 'Camp Chemo' were wonderful and showed how anyone can feel more 'themselves' when surrounded by others who truly understand what they have gone through. I think all too often, childhood Cancer is shown about the fragility of the sufferer and not so much the survivor who simply wants to be who they are or where before they got sick. I couldn't help but laugh at how our two main protagonists were your typical teenagers who had crushes on one another - especially how Jase doesn't even register the fact Mari is an amputee, she is just his friend and her only have one leg doesn't affect how he sees her. I confess that there were smiles and tears as it is abundantly clear that to him, she is still so beautiful to him - as it should be.

Although Finding Balance's main characters are both Cancer survivors I liked how there was so much more to the story than just that. You saw how people judge others all too often by how someone looks than rather who they are; something we are all often guilty of doing.

It was interesting seeing Mari's battle in regards to whether she should have another prosthetic leg or be as she is when we meet her using her hot pink crutches and having her old prosthetic as a 'very expensive doorstop'. Her refusal to essentially make others more comfortable with her disability by going through the painful process to be fitted for a leg had me cheering her on. She is only sixteen but a true warrior and very comfortable with who she is and what she needs to make her life better. I found myself wanting to hug this fictional girl and cheer her on as she acknowledges how she is so much more than a leg that hasn't been there longer than it was. Her vulnerabilities are obviously still there but she fights through them and is an excellent role model for anyone who finds themselves in that situation.

I felt for Jase whose demons linger in the back of his mind and make him reticent to be truthful to his friends. His determination to keep the two parts of his life separate from one another is a hard thing to do but also a very human thing when we're afraid. His Cancer doesn't so much haunt him but the cruelty of children who don't fully understand, (thinking it is contagious for example). However, he does deserve everything he gets when he treats Mari the way he does and I can guarantee you will feel the same.

I am wary of ruining the story with too many spoilers, but I will say that if you want an emotional insightful and wonderful story of love, of life and the fragility of being human? Finding Balance is a must for your to be read pile. I am eager to read more from Kati Gardner. ...more

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Aug 14, 2020 Olivia rated it liked it

Shelves: other-reviews

FINDING BALANCE is a YA contemporary romance that follows Mari and Jase. Mari had osteogenic sarcoma when she was 10 and had a complete amputation of a leg as a result. She was left without any residual tissue, which makes a prosthesis uncomfortable and challenging. As a result, pretty much everyone notices her disability right away and pries into her life. When her public school says that she must use a wheelchair or prosthesis instead of her crutches, Mari is shocked- what they are asking woul FINDING BALANCE is a YA contemporary romance that follows Mari and Jase. Mari had osteogenic sarcoma when she was 10 and had a complete amputation of a leg as a result. She was left without any residual tissue, which makes a prosthesis uncomfortable and challenging. As a result, pretty much everyone notices her disability right away and pries into her life. When her public school says that she must use a wheelchair or prosthesis instead of her crutches, Mari is shocked- what they are asking would make her life so much more difficult and is completely unfair.

Her parents find another solution, enrolling her in a private school on scholarship, where they are willing to be more accommodating. Mari is excited to see that her almost-kiss friend from Camp Chemo attends the same school, but she is shocked when he ignores her and pretends not to know her. He tells her that he doesn't want anyone to know that he ever had cancer, so he pretended not to know her. He also allows his friends to say horrible things about her- even in her hearing range. Despite all of this, Mari is understanding and willing to accept his apology. However, things may not be so simple.

I really enjoyed learning about Mari and what life can be like with a visible disability- as well as how cruel people can be and the horrible (and untrue) things they can say. The author has a similar story, and so, this book is quite educational to the reader as to this experience, and highly valuable as a read for teens.

The romance was tough to buy into, as Jase is really cruel to Mari in quite a large portion of the book. We do get context on why he has such strong fears about this (past bullying), which is helpful if you are inclined to forgive. I think Mari deserves so much better, but this is a personal opinion. I loved Mari- she felt so real. I also appreciated the conversations both characters had with their parents, that provide some learning opportunities and well-thought-out epiphanies.

As a small point, I did get confused during some of the book with regards to the characters, as there are a lot (and parents are sometimes, but not always, referred to by their first names), but this may have been because I did not read the first book in the series. About halfway through, I was having an easier time following who was who.

Overall, I think this is a great read, not for the romance, but for the strong story of Mari, her experiences and the way that people treat her. Viewing the world through her lens (and the author's) is a valuable experience.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Sep 28, 2020 Alicia rated it really liked it

Thank you to Flux Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
I want to start off this review by saying that I have never experienced anything like what Mari and Jason have had to go through. I do not have the same experiences as these characters, and I would ask that people try to prioritize Own Voices reviews over my own.
Mari Manos is a cancer survivor. This is something that is a big part of her life, particularly because of her amputation. Not only Thank you to Flux Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
I want to start off this review by saying that I have never experienced anything like what Mari and Jason have had to go through. I do not have the same experiences as these characters, and I would ask that people try to prioritize Own Voices reviews over my own.
Mari Manos is a cancer survivor. This is something that is a big part of her life, particularly because of her amputation. Not only is Mari a cancer survivor, but she is a disabled person. Mari possesses so much strength, and I really admired the character and the way that she lived her life the way she wanted to. Mari doesn’t want to use a prosthetic because it’s uncomfortable, but situations and people keep pushing her towards feeling like it’s something she has to do. This was a totally new perspective to me, and I found it really interesting. I got so annoyed and angry on Mari’s behalf while reading this because of the comments that people made and the way that she was treated.
Jason Ellison is a cancer survivor, but none of his friends at school know. Jase had cancer when he was a young kid, and he barely remembers it himself. When Mari shows up at Jase’s school, Jase reacts pretty badly. Mari and Jase go to Camp Chemo together in the summers, and Jase doesn’t want his friends to know that he and Mari know each other. While trying to figure out a balance to both sides of his life, Jase has to come to terms with something he doesn’t really remember, but that might come back to remind him.
This is a contemporary YA book, and so the plot feels like it’s on the lower-energy side but I still found it to be really interesting. A pretty character-driven story, the relationships between the characters, and the interactions were what was furthering the story. I really enjoyed the romance between Mari and Jase, and I liked the back-and-forth nature (even though it was so frustrating!) because it felt realistic for the characters and the situations.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and I think everyone should check it out because it highlights a disabled perspective in a way that I haven’t seen often in the wider umbrella of YA.
Content warnings: sick kids (we’re talking about cancer survivors here. There will be mention of others, and of various treatments that they went through), mentions of drug abuse.
...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Carly rated it it was ok

I went into this book with high hopes. I liked the sound of the plot and the look of the cover. It looked as though it would be about healing, acceptance and recovery. This story follows Mari and Jase who both have had cancer at different parts of their life’s. Jase is able to live normally without anyone aware but Mari has lost her leg, making it more noticeable.

There’s a part at the start of this novel that made me laugh and connect to one of the MC’s - Mari. I thought Mari was quite chill an I went into this book with high hopes. I liked the sound of the plot and the look of the cover. It looked as though it would be about healing, acceptance and recovery. This story follows Mari and Jase who both have had cancer at different parts of their life’s. Jase is able to live normally without anyone aware but Mari has lost her leg, making it more noticeable.

There’s a part at the start of this novel that made me laugh and connect to one of the MC’s - Mari. I thought Mari was quite chill and able to recover and deflect from her disability quickly. She had fallen over and Jase came to ask if she was okay and her response was. “Well Jase. It appears I’m falling for you.” There’s also another part on the cafeteria where she deflects with humour when she falls. I admire that a lot because I definitely wouldn’t handle it like that. In that sense, I really liked her as a character. She’s able to handle situations with grace.

Jase is a afraid for anyone to know that he's had cancer. Which is completely understandable because no-one wants to be treated differently. I did think he handled a little bit bad in the beginning but he recovered by the end.

RIGHT. Personally, I was not a fan of the writing style of this book because it felt incredibly rushed. I’m aware that in books you’re meant to show time passing, but this was just too much. I felt as though I was reading in fast forward. There was no build up context or ‘get to no the characters’ stage. The reader is, quite literally, thrown in the deep end. It felt a bit off. From one chapter to the next there could have been a couple of months passing. It was very young writing.

ANOTHER THING that really bothered me was the complete and utter knowledge or empathy towards cancer. There is NO WAY anyone could be that unaware. The character that bothered be the most was Lindsay. The stuff that was said was just not believable. I found myself just open mouthed thinking, what on earth did I just read?? People don’t treat people with cancer as though they’re contagious and ‘gross’. Even someone young wouldn’t be cruel, they’d be curious, sure. But not mean. If anything, they wouldn’t say anything at all.

Overall, a little bit disappointed in this read if I’m being brutally honest. BUT, in saying that I can see it as the young love read it’s portraying. I also like the camp idea as well because I love the sense of community behind it. ...more

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Sep 29, 2020 Sarah {The Clever Reader} rated it it was amazing

Happy Book Birthday to this adorable YA Contemporary!

Mari is a cancer survivor and when she refuses to get a prosthetic leg to help her improve her mobility she is forced to enroll at a new school. As she begins adjusting to the new school and all the rumors circulating about what happened to her leg she finds herself avoiding Jace, the boy from Chemo Camp she's had a crush on. Mari doesn't let her disability define her. She makes every effort to do things for herself with little help from othe ...more

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May 05, 2020 Shar | sunsnacksseries rated it really liked it

Thank you Netgalley and Flux for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Finding Balance was an empowering, inspiring, realistic and cute YA contemporary romance. The story follows Mari, a sixteen-year-old who had cancer and is also an amputee, due to an infection. Along with Jase, who is a fellow cancer survivor. They met at Camp Chemo, a summer camp for who have or are going through chemotherapy.

Although everything changes when Mari moves to the school Jase attends. The friendship--and flirt ...more

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Nov 28, 2020 Malka rated it liked it

3 Stars

I think this is a really important story in terms of disability representation. You have two childhood cancer survivors that deal with the repercussions of their cancer in very different ways, and I really appreciated all the different topics that this book discussed.

However, the romance was a little too toxic for my liking. By the end of the story I wasn't shipping the two main characters because of all the terrible choices that were made (and that were forgiven too easily). I think tha ...more

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Apr 10, 2020 Nadia rated it liked it

I received this Arc from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for letting me review the book. I liked the premise of the book. It was a sweet story of love, forgiveness, acceptance of who you are, and health. It was predictable in some places. And I loved Mari’s siblings. I wanted more of them.

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Apr 24, 2020 KappaBooks rated it liked it

Shelves: own-voices, contemporary, anticipated-for-2020, arcs

Read this review and others like it on my blog, Kappa Reads

ARC From NetGalley

First of all, can we all appreciate that cover? I can't think of the last time I saw a cover that had an image of a person with a disability.

Ok, now into the proper review. This book follows two teenagers who survived cancer. Jase was a toddler when he recovered from cancer and only thinks about cancer when he goes for medical check-ups and the summer camp that is specifically for kids who have/had cancer. Mari had canc ...more

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Sep 17, 2020 Deekay rated it really liked it

Kati Gardner back at it again with another new wonderful story. I read Brave Enough back in 2018 and I loved it, so I automatically knew that this one will be good too which turns out to be correct.

This book tells a story of Mari and Jase whom I’ve met briefly in Brave Enough, and ever since then I’ve been wondering what their story was like. I was grateful to be given an opportunity to read an ARC of this book and to learn and find out what their story is. Let’s just say that I enjoyed reading ...more

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Apr 24, 2020 Shirley Cuypers rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-beta, 2020, ebooks

3.5/5*

Original review

This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Flux and Netgalley!

Finding Balance is the second book in the Brave Enough series and tells the story of Mari and Jase. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

It’s been a while since I read the first book, Brave Enough, but I do remember enjoying the book because I learnt so much about what it means to be a survivor. I liked this book a ...more

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Jun 12, 2020 Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* rated it liked it

Shelves: high-school, optional

Finding Balance by Kati Gardner, 320 pages. Flux (North Star Editions), 2020. $12.

Language: R (117 swears, 10 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

High school is difficult enough to navigate with two legs and a healthy body, but Mari, a junior, and Jase, a senior, are pressing forward the best they can despite their trials. However, lies, secrets, and betrayal hurt the same for those people who don’t look like everyone else -- something Ma ...more

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Jul 12, 2020 Lillie Lainoff rated it it was amazing

Shelves: accurate-disability-rep-in-ya

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, and I've got to say, while it's hard to imagine, FB is just as good as BE (Brave Enough, Gardner's debut).
Gardner's words ring with authenticity. Her examination into what it's actually like to be a disabled teen is necessary, important, and means/will mean so much to so many disabled teens.
I was particularly struck by the nuance with which Gardner depicts medical trauma. I haven't read anything like it before in YA.
This is the disability rep kidlit needs.
* ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 Rose (Adventurous Bookworm) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-own-2020, ya, romance, contemporary

Wait, before you close out of this tab, you need to know that this isn't your typical cancer story. It is so much more. It is a story of overcoming your past. It is a story of choosing how to see life. It is a story I won't forget.
The characters were fantastic. Their thoughts and emotions were expressed so clearly and I felt like I knew them in real life.
One thing that I loved seeing was the Bible verses subtly woven throughout.
My only complaint about this book is the language. It could have e ...more

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Jan 10, 2020 Melissa See rated it it was amazing

As a disabled person, I am hungry for #ownvoices disability rep. Both as a reader and as a writer. There aren’t words adequate enough to express my gratitude to Kati for doing this. I am so incredibly proud of her.

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Nov 23, 2020 Your Books Are Calling rated it it was amazing

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“‘I don’t do the impossible,’ she whispered hotly. ‘I live life as someone who is disabled. That is not worthy of any praise.’”
I received this copy as an e-arc from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Mari has lived with one leg for a few years now, after contracting an infection after a limb-sparing surgery - an attempt to remove the cancer without taking the limb. During summer, she spends a week each year at I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“‘I don’t do the impossible,’ she whispered hotly. ‘I live life as someone who is disabled. That is not worthy of any praise.’”
I received this copy as an e-arc from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Mari has lived with one leg for a few years now, after contracting an infection after a limb-sparing surgery - an attempt to remove the cancer without taking the limb. During summer, she spends a week each year at Camp Chemo; a place where kids who have or have had cancer can be just kids. At Camp Chemo, her best friend is Jase. While they don’t keep in contact during the school year, each summer they settle back into familiar patterns. When circumstances necessitate that Mari change schools, she is excited that she will get to see Jase daily, but when she arrives at her new school, Jase - sorry, Jason - pretends not to know her. He has a secret to protect, after all: No-one at his school knows he had cancer as a child.
This book was great. OK, sure, Jase was a bit of a dick, but who isn’t? Having cancer, trying to be a “normal” teenager when you have a history of being bullied because of being “diseased”, going to an upper class school where looks and money matter more than who you are; who wouldn’t be worried about what people think?
I won’t try and excuse the way Jase - sorry, Jason - acted. He was a prick, and he treated Mari absolutely awfully. However, you’re not meant to like all the characters! I bet you a million that you do not get along with every single person that you meet. It’s just not how life works, and I have to say that I appreciate authors who put characters who are not perfect in their stories. I understand some people chose to stop reading because of Jason, and his behaviour, but personally, it was a non-issue for me. I liked that we left things not in the perfect happily-ever-after-all-is-forgiven stereotype that we so often find in books for children and teens. The messages we get from the media and movies where everything is perfect at the end - think every Disney movie, ever - is more harmful than helpful as we grow. Kati Gardner has done a wonderful service by writing characters who are flawed.
I read the acknowledgement at the back of this book. I love that the author acknowledges that she is not the be all and end all of being an amputee; that she took the initiative to have the story checked by others despite being an #ownvoices cancer amputee. I also love love love the cover; it's so rare to see a person with a disability visibly portrayed on a cover.
As someone with a medical background, I really appreciated the medical words without info - emesis, not puke; cardiomyopathy. It felt to me like a good way to potentially stretch the reader without being too overwhelming.
This book had me reaching for my highlighter (digitally, not on my actual book - I know some people would think I was a monster for writing in actual books… but that’s another post!). The author touched on many issues that able-bodied persons may not understand, including
“‘You know, the ‘the only disability is a bad attitude’ person.’ Mari rolled her eyes. ‘To quote Stella Young, ‘No amount of a positive attitude has turned a set of stairs into a ramp.’ ‘Inspiration porn,’ Paige interjected.’”
“‘I have a very different story as a mom of a cancer survivor, but I can never understand what it’s like to be a cancer survivor. I can never speak for you.’”
“It’s his story.’ She shrugged.’ I don’t mind you asking me questions; it’s how you learn. It only bothers me when strangers demand to know something really intimate’”
Content Warning: Medical discussions, hospital scenes, ableism
#ownvoices - Cancer Survivor, amputee
Rating; 5/5 ...more

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Aug 13, 2020 Anne (The Reading Life) rated it really liked it

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Me, who just finished this book, and don't know what to do with myself:

See, this is why I love reading books. Books can expose you to different perspectives from various people, opening your eyes to the world.

Finding Balance (a book so perfectly titled), is a book that follows our two protagonists: Jase and Mari. Mari is a cancer survivor who had to have one of her legs amputated to live. Jase, another cancer survivor, is from a wealthier background a I received a free copy for an honest review.

Me, who just finished this book, and don't know what to do with myself:

See, this is why I love reading books. Books can expose you to different perspectives from various people, opening your eyes to the world.

Finding Balance (a book so perfectly titled), is a book that follows our two protagonists: Jase and Mari. Mari is a cancer survivor who had to have one of her legs amputated to live. Jase, another cancer survivor, is from a wealthier background and attends a luxurious private school but also suffered his own share of trauma from his battle with cancer. The unlikely pair met at a summer camp for cancer kids, and the rest is history. The book utilized these two character's experiences and interactions to show how these strong individuals battle sickness, and the unjust judgment people like them would have to face after overcoming their own individual health obstacles.

One of the important things I learned from this reading experience is that people like Mari are not asking for a lot, they just want to live their lives in peace. Just leave them alone. Don't go out of your way to "pity" them and get a life and not go out of your way to make life harder for them (seriously, I don't get people like this). Not to add on, there are so many instances that I can see pissing a lot of people off. I am going to make the logical assumption that many (if not all) of Mari's experiences are based on first-hand experiences from the author (since Mari's physical characteristics are based on herself), which makes it so much sadder. The fact that people would label people "diseased" and view them as some sort of disgusting creature because they are going through medical conditions that they cannot control and is not even contagious is infuriatingly ridiculous.

(me to the abominations known as Madalyn and Lindsay)

(that's the PG version of it).

Let's delve further into our center stars: Jase and Mari. I enjoyed reading through their perspectives. You know how a lot of times, the author would utilize miscommunication to create conflicts between the two protagonists to keep the story going? And just how annoying that is because we as the readers get frustrated due to the illogical nature of the situations? That did not happen here (thank god). Mari is mad at Jase because Jase lied about his situation at school and needs to pretend he has nothing to do with Mari to keep his secret. Sounds like a typical jerk, right? Well, here's the thing. Mari being upset with Jase was completely understandable, and her attempts at avoiding Jace felt very realistic, logical, and most importantly: not forced. But I also understand Jace's reasons behind what he is doing, and can sympathize with him with his own bad experiences with judgmental people. Specifically, I feel like I can relate to Jase because if I am in his situation, I would do the same thing too.

Ultimately, I am so glad I get to read this book. Even though the topics in Finding Balance is not what I usually read, it's a very thoughtful book that I take seriously and can learn something from. So I'm very appreciative of this reading experience.
...more

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Aug 19, 2020 Nabiha Tahsin rated it really liked it

3.5 stars
*Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange of a honest review*
This book follows the two individual interconnected stories of two Cancer Survivors, Mari and Jason. Mari lost one of her legs, to Bone Cancer when she was 10, and ever since then she can't hide away this part from her life. She tries to be strong when people ask questions about her leg, and demand to know her story and even when her mean peers through in nasty comments here and there. But she is blessed 3.5 stars
*Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange of a honest review*
This book follows the two individual interconnected stories of two Cancer Survivors, Mari and Jason. Mari lost one of her legs, to Bone Cancer when she was 10, and ever since then she can't hide away this part from her life. She tries to be strong when people ask questions about her leg, and demand to know her story and even when her mean peers through in nasty comments here and there. But she is blessed with a supportive and caring family members.

I Swear, Mari has the best set of brothers anyone can ever ask for. I loved Nick, Kris and Leo.They're not overprotective or anything, they know their little Mari is strong enough to fight her battles but also remain ready as a sheild whenever she needs them. Her brother's girlfriends are equally amazing, I love Giselle and Caroline so much. Actually, I loved Mari's close bonded family. Loved their chats and cozy settings. My favourite quote from the book was by her mom,

*𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥,𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.*

Our male protagonist Jason, on the other hand doesn't remember anything about his time with cancer as he was diagnosed with Leukaemia at a tender age of three. The duo have met at Camp Chemo many times over the years, where they became close friends and a bit more. But when, Mari transfers to AWP, the same school Jason attends, Jason instantly starts behaving like a stranger, as if he never knew Mari. This doesn't goes well with Mari ofcourse, But our girl Mari, is a breath of fresh air, a strong soul, soon, she befriends with some like-minded people like Lucas, who stand by her.
While Mari cannot afford to shut away her cancer survivor story from the world because of her one leg. She hates to explain to everyone she meets, she hates when people assume they have the right to know her story. Nevertheless, she keeps on going. But Jason has the privilege to hide away his story. So, except his family and friends from Camp Chemo, nobody knows he had Cancer. While I agree, it is completely his decision whether he wants to share his story or not. But that doesn't give him a free card to be a jerk to Mari.I loathed everytime Jason was a jerk to Mari, though he redeemed himself towards the end, still I wasn't quite convinced.

This was my first time reading a book with the main characters being survivors of cancer. The plot seemed unique, which is why I picked this book. I loved reading about both of the protagonists' journey with cancer. I have learnt so much by reading this book.
I completely agree with both of them finding it hard to explain to everyone about their story. And it doesn't ends well, when people are always demanding more and don't really care about their feelings and throw in mean comments. I hated characters like Lindsay, though it's a clichè (being mean to disabled classmates, bullying them) but people like them actually exist.
I loved Mari and her family,I tried to love Jason but just couldn't. Though I admired his journey and empathised with him.
This book felt slow paced, few of the things kept happening over and over again. This book had an unique plot I feel it could do more? But however I enjoyed reading this. Definitely recommend it.
Mari has leveled up to one of my favourite characters. ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Lara Pena rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

—Thank you to Flux Books and Kati Gardner for the ARC!—

“You said something one time: that you were in control of your story. It stuck. This way, I’m in control of mine.”

If there’s one thing this story is about, it’s about adapting and being able to be in control of how life treats you. Neither Mari Manos or Jase Ellison have had easy lives by any definition. Throughout the book, we see Mari transition into a new school because her previous one did not accommodate to her as she and her family exp —Thank you to Flux Books and Kati Gardner for the ARC!—

“You said something one time: that you were in control of your story. It stuck. This way, I’m in control of mine.”

If there’s one thing this story is about, it’s about adapting and being able to be in control of how life treats you. Neither Mari Manos or Jase Ellison have had easy lives by any definition. Throughout the book, we see Mari transition into a new school because her previous one did not accommodate to her as she and her family expected. She now attends Atlanta West Prep, the same school as her Camp Chemo crush, Jase Ellison. It’s a difficult transition to her as everyone speaks about her one and a fraction of legs as if she’s not there. She doesn’t get the chance to explain herself because people believe that her physical appearance explains everything enough for her, that she’s a girl who had cancer. Meanwhile, Jase Ellison has had the privilege to hide away his past of leukemia after his rough time in middle school. It goes as far as Jase pretending to not know Mari, which strikes a major drift between the two of them.

Throughout the novel, we explore Mari and Jase’s pasts, families, and futures. By all means, I would not consider this to be a typical book and that is a good thing. While this may be a story that has a typical trope of “ignoring your crush/friends-to-enemies-to-lovers”, I believe it’s the characters that make the book. Author Kati Gardner writes her experience into this novel especially, as she is also a cancer survivor and amputee. Nowhere does she write that Mari or Jase are lacking because of their previous conditions or setbacks. In fact, I’d say Mari is greater than life and is much more relatable than other characters from books I’ve read. Being able to see Mari and Jase’s interactions with each other was adorable, and being able to see their interactions with their families created a sense of wholeness and authenticity.

I have not read Kati Gardner’s previous book, but “Finding Balance” works as a spinoff/sequel to her last one. This book includes characters from her first book, but this book works fine on its own. This is also the first book I’ve read from Gardner and I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to review this book in advance.

There are some setbacks, however. I wish the novel could have been more concise with the dialogue and in the same sense, more intentional with the events. Some of the events with Lindsey and her friend group seemed over the top at times, and it wasn’t enjoyable. While it’s not completely perfect, I would still recommend this story to others because it teaches you that nothing can ever be taken for granted! Congratulations to the author for another book, and I hope to see more great things from her. ...more

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Sep 28, 2020 Libriamo3116 rated it really liked it

Shelves: september-2020

Thank you Flux Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣

Mari Manos has been forced into a new school. At her old school, she was told not to use crutches anymore, that a prosthetic or a wheelchair was safer. However, a prosthetic would be uncomfortable for her, and a wheelchair would only get her more grief from her classmates. Mari already survived bone cancer and lost a leg because of it, so why should she be forced to give up the freed Thank you Flux Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣

Mari Manos has been forced into a new school. At her old school, she was told not to use crutches anymore, that a prosthetic or a wheelchair was safer. However, a prosthetic would be uncomfortable for her, and a wheelchair would only get her more grief from her classmates. Mari already survived bone cancer and lost a leg because of it, so why should she be forced to give up the freedom that crutches give her? After enrolling in her new private school, she is excited to see somebody she knows from Camp Chemo, Jase Ellison. Unfortunately, Jase pretends he doesn't know her, because even though he survived leukemia as a toddler, he doesn't want anybody to know he's a cancer survivor. Mari wishes she could hide her history with cancer too, but with all the mean things her classmates are saying, and Jase wanting nothing to do with her, how can she find a normal life that doesn't revolve around her past with cancer?

Right off the bat, I want to say that I think Finding Balance is a very personal work for the author, Kati Gardner, because both Mari and Kati are survivors of cancer who lost a leg in their fight with it. I imagine that many of Mari's struggles and internal thoughts in this story carry at least some similarities to Kati's own real-life struggles in the aftermath of surviving cancer, and understanding these facts helped Finding Balance to resonate more strongly with me than it might have otherwise. I found much of the story to be sad, in the sense that children can be so cruel, and fear is such an awful motivating force for cruelty. I did like that Jase's actions, while mean at first, did have a reason behind them that related to a bad experience of his in the past. Mari is a really great character who just wants to be normal and accepted, even with all that has happened to her, and her internal dialogue and interactions with family members was a highlight for me. Jase and Mari do start to find some balance (see what I did there?) between them as they acclimate to both of them being at the same school, and I liked seeing that happen. Kati Gardner has created a personal, powerful work that I really appreciated for its unique perspective and internal insights, and I'd love to read more books like it. Finding Balance is an important book about perception, fear, the impact of medical trauma on the mind and body, and moving beyond that to a life that balances the bad that happened in the past with the good that is possible now, even if others try to assign their own feelings and expectations to your experience. Highly recommended. ...more

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