"Why did cancer turn my life upside down?" is geared toward children, but is also a useful insight for people of all ages to understand what a child experiences as a parent goes through cancer. Eddie has a happy family, lives in a friendly neighbourhood, and has large comfortable home. This stable life comes crashing down around him when his father is diagnosed with cancer. When Dad can no longer work due to his illness, the impact is enormous: bills can no longer be paid, the electricity is shut off, and finally their home is repossessed as Eddie's father does not get any sick pay from the construction company where he worked. The family has to move to a homeless shelter, although Dad can't join them so the family is split. This book describes very well the powerlessness and the fear and anger that Eddie experiences, and shows the devastation that lack of financial support can have on families when the main earner develops a serious illness. The book is quite grim in tone, though the family's prospects are better at the end. It has an overt political message and specifically calls on USA-based readers to effect change through their representatives for the introduction of financial and other supports to ensure that there are not such catastrophic outcomes for families experiencing serious illnesses. Adult caregivers may wish to reassure young readers that not every family with a parent who has cancer will have such extreme financial hardships. Short novel with some colour illustrations. Audience: Child 10 - 12 years; Adult caregiver