Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-52).

Upheaval comes into Clare's life when her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. She charts her experiences in a journal describing life during "The Year My Mother Was Bald". The format is cleverly designed to look like a real journal, with handwriting-like fonts, doodles, and pictures, photos and articles that look to be attached with paper clips. This book explains in accessible language what cancer is and the various procedures and treatments that Clare's mum undergoes (including a biopsy, post-surgical exercises, chemotherapy and radiation therapy). Clare deals with feelings of anger, fear, guilt and frustration, and finds ways to deal with the changes that cancer brings. For example, after too many horrible school lunches and embarrassing clothes because her mother is too unwell to deal with these household chores, Clare decides to learn how to do the laundry and to prepare her own lunch. We see other examples of good experiences that cancer brings to this family's life, and the book ends with Clare's mother getting good news from her mammogram. This book also includes a List of Resources (with an American/Canadian focus). Longer text with illustrations.
Target Audience: Child 8 – 13 years; Adult caregiver