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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “A father writing about watching his young son deal with impending death with courage. How can it not tear at your heart?” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Not my cup of tea- at all.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Not my cup of tea- at all.”
Yoselis R wrote this review Sunday, April 14, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ best book ever took me only a hour to read the book”
Julie wrote this review Friday, March 1, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wonderfully written true account by a father losing his son. The story encapsulates the battle between life and death. Johnny is only 17 when he dies of a brain tumor; he never loses hope and puts the interests of others ahead of himself always. Bittersweet.”
Birdie wrote this review Saturday, February 2, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I found this book to be extremely inspirational. Johnny, despite his deadly tumor, continued to stay positive and work toward his goal of going back to school. He was a couragous individual and it is truly sad that the world had to loss him so soon. This book really makes you greatful for what you have.”
Julie S wrote this review Tuesday, January 8, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“John Gunther, author and journalist, writes a memoir about his son's slow progression towards death. Johnny, just 17, is diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Johnny undergoes countless treatments, experiments, and doctor consultations. Gunther includes letters from his son, which gives the reader a sense of just how mature and brave Johnny was through the whole ordeal. Even with a gapping wound on his skull, Johnny is determined to make up his courses so that he can attend Harvard in the fall. Taking place during the 1940s, the novel offers insight into the medical theories and approaches of the time, including an emphasis on nutrition, which has often been overlooked even by modern medical professionals. Johnny shows the reader how a person can live and die with dignity. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates perseverance and connects with a story about a father’s love for his child. ”
Mrs. J. Brickey wrote this review Friday, November 30, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“John Gunther, a journalist, wrote this book about his teenaged son Johnny's battle with a brain tumor and his ultimate death. Gunther writes without sentimentality about his son's intelligence and kindness, and how throughout his 15-month battle with cancer he maintained a determination to continue his studies, pursued the path toward healing set down by his doctors, and impressed all those in whom in came in contact with his determination and remarkable attitude. The genuine goodness of this very young man makes his ultimate death the more heartbreaking. Gunther also presents a wonderful picture of the relationship Johnny has with his mother, Gunther's ex-wife. The conversations between mother and son are remarkable and it seems clear he learned much of his equanimity from her. I recommend this book to anyone.”
Leslie H wrote this review Wednesday, October 24, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Sad and a great story, just a big long and wordy. It could've had better diction and been more concise.”
likeanelectron wrote this review Friday, May 25, 2012. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very inspirational book. It was actually published the year I was born (1949) and now--63 years later I'm reading it and it reminds me of the struggles I went thru with my own son. A different type of cancer than the Gunthers were fighting but they are all insidious. I wish that I had know about this book and read it 15 years ago.”
Beverly R. wrote this review Friday, March 16, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Death be not proud
Douglas H period 2 wrote this review Friday, January 6, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Douglas Hall
2nd period
December 30, 2011
163 pages
genre
Johnny goes home after spring break with a stiff neck and the family doctor says that Johnny will be just fine and there’s nothing to worry about. However after the stiff neck remains unusually long the school doctors think that he has a brain tumor and have a specialist, Tracy Putnam, called in to have a look. John Gunther, Johnny’s dad, and Frances Gunther, Johnny’s mom, go to Deerfield where they learn that Johnny will die. Later Johnny has a spinal tap and is sent to the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. Johnny continues to stay optimistic about his condition and has his first surgery on April 29th. The surgery takes 6 hours due to the size and shape of the tumor. 2 weeks later Johnny has made a recovery and is living his life like he normally would. However on May 28th Johnny faints and is examined. The half of the tumor that had remained in his skull was mutating and there was a possibility that he would go blind and/or become paralyzed, but death was now inevitable.
Johnny is discharged on June 1st but, is supposed to get X-rays every day until June 20th which is when he returned home to Connecticut. Physically he can’t do very much so he does his science workshop instead. Johnny develops papilledema which damages the optic nerve and causes Johnny to lose some of his vision. The bump which has grown on his head breaks open and leaks pus. Johnny is then taken to Wilder Penfield, a surgeon. Penfield tells John that the tumor will kill Johnny. Frances then reads about an experimental treatment of mustard gas for tumors. In New York Johnny gets his first injections of mustard gas. It causes some bad side effects but helps Johnny a little. After wards he goes into the country and makes up the homework he didn’t do. On August 31st another leak develops. Then John learns of Max Gerson whose method of treating diseases is a diet. Johnny is put on the diet and on September 7th is moved to the Gerson nursing home.
At the nursing home Johnny gets much better and, John thinks that Johnny will make a full recovery. Frances tries to keep Johnny optimistic by bringing him gifts and reading to him. Then the bump suddenly got worse and a second one appears. When Johnny was told that he would not be able to go to school he decides that he wants to be tutored. Johnny gets even worse, and the doctors are amazed that he is still alive. Later there is a successful emergency drainage. Johnny starts making a strong recovery and the bump disappears. Everyone thinks that within the year he will be better and have made a full recovery. He returns home on February 6th.”“This book is about a kid who had a tumor and died at the age of seventeen. John Gunther died at seventeen because of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone who was really close to him was happy about his courage. During his illness John was always in a good mood no matter what the situation. JOhn eventually died after his struggle with the brain tumor.”
Allen Hames wrote this review Tuesday, October 11, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
