My Blood Brother

Gr 1—3—Stefan, a boy about 10 years old, narrates this story about his younger brother's battle with leukemia. He is exceptionally kind to Sam and always there for him as he goes through the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. One part of the story shows how Stefan joins a group for siblings of children with cancer; however, there is little mention made of the strain put on a child when a sibling is ill. Stefan is upset over his brother's illness, but he never complains about spending so much time at the hospital or having his parents concentrate on his brother's health, a common theme in the lives of siblings. The narration is somewhat stilted and does not sound like the voice of a young boy, and the pictures are somewhat flat, especially in the facial expressions. This book would be useful as a tool in a doctor's office or hospital setting, but its amateurish quality limits its value as a library offering.—Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD