Finding Balance

By Kati Gardner

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Paperback$11.99Add Paperback to cart
Ebook$9.99
Jase Ellison doesn’t remember having acute lymphocytic leukemia when he was three years old. His cancer diagnosis only enters his mind twice a year: once at his yearly checkup at the oncology clinic and one when he attends Camp Chemo in the summer. No one in his “real” life knows about his past, especially his friends at Atlanta West Prep. 
Mari Manos has never been able to hide her cancer survivorship. She wakes every morning, grabs her pink forearm clip crutches, and starts her day. Mari loves Camp Chemo—where she’s developed a healthy crush on fellow camper Jase. At Camp, she knows that she’ll never get “the look” or have to explain her amputation to anyone. 
Jase wants to move on, to never reveal his past. But when Mari transfers to his school, he knows she could blow his cover. That’s the last thing he wants, but he also cannot ignore his attraction to her. Mari wants to be looked at like a girl, a person, and not only known for her disability. But how do you move on from cancer when the world won’t let you?

About the Author

Kati Gardner is a recovering actor, wife, and mom. She is a childhood cancer survivor and amputee who writes books about disability and kissing. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives and writes in Raleigh, North Carolina. Brave Enough was her first novel. You can find her on Twitter at @AuthorKati, on Instagram at AuthorKatiGardner, and at katigardner.com.

  • Paperback ISBN: 9781635830521
  • Ebook ISBN: 9781635830538
  • Reading Age: from 14 to 18 years
  • Interest Age: from 14 to 18 years
  • Paperback dimensions: 5.25 x 8 in
  • Publication date: Sep 29, 2020
  • Rights/Sales territory: Worldwide
  • Format: Paperback | Ebook
  • Pages: 344
  • Series: Brave Enough
  • Imprint: Flux
  • Subjects:
    YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Contemporary

Reviews of Finding Balance:

"Gardner, an amputee and cancer survivor, realistically tackles such tough issues as the massive costs of health care, the fear of relapse, and pressure to appear nondisabled." —Kirkus Reviews


"Plenty of heartbreak and joy shape this compelling story, as well as reminders to find balance in our own lives." —Booklist, starred review


"Cancer creates a lifetime of fallout. Gardner writes compellingly not only about the romance between these two teens, but also about the nuances in their navigation of survival. Recommended for YA collections."—School Library Journal

Awards received by Finding Balance:

Moonbeam Awards Silver Medalist (Young Adult Fiction)

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