Another D for DeeDee

Hello Readers! 

I was able to set aside some 'personal reading time' this weekend and I quickly got "lost" in this book by Bibi Belford. "Another D for DeeDee" was a great YA book. My oldest daughter (11) had also read the book so we compared notes over dinner. The book was very enjoyable and had some surprises along the way, I found some parts of the book very predictable, you know because I am more "experienced" in life. My daughter enjoyed the book as well and she did not think it was predictable at all, which goes to show you how life experience can change the overall perception of a book. The predictability did not change my enjoyment of the book, it was interesting to see how long it took others to read the signs DeeDee was giving out until she was actually able to get the much-needed care. 

I enjoyed the brief but detailed emphasis on the various characters and their qualities. The author, Bibi Belford, did a great job of helping the reader to really know the characters through such a small window of exposure for each one. DeeDee was able to give them a nickname based on qualities she sees, but she soon finds out how hurtful that can be. Friendship is important for any child, but as DeeDee learns, friendships take the work and willingness of two people to make them last. This book was a quick read, but it really brought forth emotion after understanding more about each character and their lives beyond the school walls. 

Here are some other books that discuss or teach about various illnesses/diseases while captivating the audience with a secondary story: 

Turtles All The Way Down, by John Green--This book involves a billionaire and a girl with obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling, by Lucy Frank--This book follows two girls who live with Crohn's disease. They share their parallel stories through the book while sharing a hospital room. 

It Only Happens in the Movies, by Holly Bourne---This book discusses family struggles with mental health and how dealing with other's mental health can ultimately affect yours. 

The Weight of Zero, by Karen Fortunati--This book follows a teen who has bipolar disorder, as well as depression and thoughts of suicide. As she begins to check off items on her bucket list, she has an epiphany. 

The Memory Book, by Lara Avery--This book follows Sammie, who has a rare disease. This causes her to forget things. Sammie still dreams big and has hopes and dreams to accomplish so she starts writing a book for her future self. 

Happy Reading!