Cursed

suckage is on a whole different level. (For the record, the boy I was crushing on was totally crushing back until I got sick.)

5. About that I have this pathetic disease.  Never mind what it's called. If I told you, you'd laugh and think I was joking. That's what Crush Boy did right before he ghosted me. I did an internet search three months ago when I was first diagnosed, and what it turned up was so depressing I decided the less I knew, the better. Worse yet, pretty much no one gives a crap about this boring-ass disease. It's not something that would prompt my classmates to shave their heads in solidarity or have a bake sale for me. I doubt it's ever trended on Twitter. It's just this embarassing, painful, fucked up thing I have.

6. And, yeah, I curse. Deal with it.

fury moves the narrative along with an intense energy, showcasing her sardonic, foulmouthed self and drawing readers into her suffering. In time, a new doctor, a more promising medical regime, a wise classmate, helpful teacher, sister, and, yes, even her parents come through in ways Ricky will come to appreciate throughout her tough journey. Silverstein sheds a powerful light on disease and how managing it can bring out one s inner warrior. A blistering coming-of-age tale that will propel readers into Ricky s corner.
Booklist


Recently diagnosed with arthritis, 14-year-old Ricky Bloom now lives in the Batch Pad with her dentist father and attends a new middle school in Philadelphia. Ricky begins the Charade, ditching school to avoid bullying and the pain of getting there. Instead she spends her time sleeping, taking hot baths, and daydreaming about Julio, a cute drummer. Embarrassed by her pain and limitations, she prefers to keep to herself; the only person she chooses to see is her older sister Dani, a college basketball player who lives with her girlfriend of three years. When Ricky s truancy is discovered, she risks having to repeat ninth grade, which would bring more unwanted attention to her already miserable, angry days. Back to school (for real this time), she finds unlikely support from an English teacher and an adorkable guy named Oliver, a cancer survivor. These relationships and a new doctor who listens to her provide Ricky a sense of hope, allowing her to become a better version of herself. Silverstein s debut young adult novel is an accurate portrayal of the challenging relationship between parents and teens, as well as the frustration of living with a chronic illness. VERDICT: Readers will enjoy this contemporary coming-of-age story featuring a resilient protagonist and charming plot.
School Library Journal


 First-time author Silverstein offers an insider s view of living with a chronic illness in this heartfelt novel set in Philadelphia. Every movement has become a struggle for ninth-grader Erica ( Ricky ), recently diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, who has had to move from her mother s house to her father s bachelor pad to avoid using stairs. In constant pain, irritated by The-Disaster-Formerly-Known-as-My-Parents, and tired of taunts from schoolmates, Ricky vents her frustration by cutting school for six straight weeks and cursing copiously, both of which sit poorly with her new school s administrators. When she s eventually caught skipping and forced to attend classes, she faces new obstacles if she wants to make it to 10th grade, including makeup work and after-school sessions with a strict teacher. She also finds some rewards, especially learning how to advocate for herself and developing a friendship with empathic classmate Oliver, a cancer survivor. Silverstein, who was diagnosed with arthritis as a teen, excels at evoking the physical and emotional pain Ricky endures without having Ricky s condition define her. She emerges as a likable, relatable heroine whose wit and sense of hope will prove inspiring.
Publishers Weekly