Sick Kids In Love

Gr 8 Up–Isabel, aka “Sick Girl” according to her weekly column in the school’s newspaper, has one self-imposed rule—absolutely no dating. Life is just easier that way for her and everyone else. Isabel has rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic, invisible illness that she’s been trying to manage for the past few years. Her friends often forget and have difficulty understanding her experiences because she struggles with opening up and depending on others, and her doctors don’t always take her complaints seriously. Enter Sasha, who Isabel meets in the infusion room at the hospital. Sasha has Gaucher Disease—a genetic illness that affects his spleen and liver—and he understands her better than anyone else in her life. He does everything he can to woo her, convince her to break her own rule, and take a chance even if she doesn’t know the outcome. Moskowitz’s newest novel is a refreshing and poignant look at chronic illnesses that aren’t often represented in young adult literature. The story offers a unique take on finding your person and contains an array of representation.