Brave Enough

Gardner, Kati. Brave Enough. 2018. 320p. ISBN 978-1635830200. Available at FIC GAR on the library shelves.

Cason Martin has been working her whole life towards joining the Studio Company of the American Ballet Theater, the best ballet school in the country. The best dancer at her mother’s school, Cason breathes and lives ballet. In the last few days leg has been strained, a presence so painful her knee and tight are swollen and every movement sends stabbing shards of pain up her spine. A perfect performance in her audition for a spot at the Studio Company will take her away from Atlanta and her controlling mother, but a discovery right after her performances has her struggling for more than dance. She has cancer in her leg, and the best outcome includes several chemotherapy sessions and physical therapy, while the worst, short of death, involves a leg amputation.

Arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, Davis Channing did a stint in rehab and avoided prison by being sentenced to community service in the oncology service of the Children’s Hospital, the same place he spent time as a cancer patient four years ago. Haunted by the decisions he made while using drugs, his brain still craves for one more hit, and sobriety is a constant daily battle.

When Davis enters Cason’s room, she at first believes he can’t understand what she’s going through, plus she knows of his arrest and sentence. For his part, though he can’t relate to her desire to dance again, Davis knows what it’s like to live with cancer and to be addicted to something, and he knows that Cason will need a friend in the weeks and months ahead. As they spend more time together, however, they soon discover that they have more in common than they thought. An accident in the shower and the re-apparition of Alexis and Ethan, Davis’ ex-girlfriend and his dealer, however, threaten both of their futures. Are they brave enough to confront their demons and move forward?

Cason’s frustration at being a cancer patient, then an amputee, come through clearly in the vivid descriptions of daily life. Davis’ struggles with addiction are palpable and realistic. Natalie’s powerful conversion from smothering dance coach in complete denial about her daughter’s cancer to understanding and caring mother adds an element of healing to the story. However, the myriad discussions on going to Camp Chemo throughout the book build an expectation that is not fulfilled at the end, and though Cason dances again, the conclusion feels rushed and incomplete. Sparse use of swear words and authentic descriptions of drug abuse make this book more appropriate for older teens. Fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars or of A.J. Bett’s Zac & Mia will enjoy this story of healing.