‘Halfway Normal‘ by Barbara Dee is a middle grade novel exploring what it is like readjusting to the “real world” of middle school after cancer. The main character, Norah Levy, is a 12 year old girl returning to school after two years of time interrupted due to treatment for leukemia.
What is Leukemia?
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. It is the most common type of childhood cancer. Leukemia is most often treated with chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation as well. The full treatment course can take two to three years. This doesn’t mean that a child is hospitalized all this while. However, children with cancer do tend to miss a good amount of school.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can cause children to have nausea and vomiting. They may have painful mouth sores and poor appetite. They can also be at higher risk of infections.
These are short-term side effects, and though the treatment is difficult, the good news is that most kids will survive their leukemia. These survivors are watched closely over time for long-term side effects of chemotherapy
Back to School After Cancer
In ‘Halfway Normal’, Norah and her parents have a wide range of emotions around returning to school. Though it is a victory, it also creates a lot of anxiety. Norah has lost a lot of the independence that other kids her age are allowed, because of her cancer. Her parents are anxious about letting her spend too much time at school, out of the house, around people, doing normal middle school-ish things. This is somewhat understandable because of how sick Norah was. But slowly over time, they are able to let some of their worries go.
Meanwhile, Norah struggles with self-consciousness because of some changes related to her cancer. Her short hair and lack of boobs have the substitute teacher calling her a boy, which is …not helpful.
Chemotherapy treatments can cause hormone changes that delay puberty. Some kids gain or lose a lot of weight through treatment. Still others may have a hard time concentrating, and they have to be watched closely for learning difficulties. All these things can make school a challenge.
To top it all off, Norah has missed a lot. There’s new kids, and some she just plain forgot. Some friends have changed. Other ones just can’t relate to her experience being sick.
Fortunately, Norah has a good support system – including her tutor, a previous cancer survivor – that helps her cope with her transition.
Resources:
Returning to School After Cancer Treatment (American Cancer Society)
Want to check out some other children’s books that feature characters with health conditions? Take a look at our bookshelf!
