A hilarious and heartwrenching story about surviving middle school--and an unthinkable diagnosis--while embracing life's weirdness.
Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn't want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid." But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table. Based on Rob Harrell's real life experience, and packed with comic panels and spot art, this incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life's weirdness. This paperback edition includes an exclusive sneak peek to Rob Harrell’s next book, Batpig: This Little Piggy Wears a Cape! |
Activity 1:
Ross has a superhero alter-ego known as Batpig that he things about when he is dealing with tough situations. Draw Batpig cartoons about your own life, or draw your own alter-ego. What would your own superhero alter-ego be like? What superpowers would it have?
Activity 2:
Music is known to have positive therapeutic benefits. Ross likes to listen to music during his treatments. He prefers loud head-banging music like the Ramones. If you had to pick music to listen to while undergoing something unpleasant or even painful, what do you think you would choose? Come up with your own personal "playlist." Your "playlist" should be at least 5 songs long as well as include reasons why you chose each song.
Activity 3:
Ross, his family, and friends all try to help him come up with ways to protect himself during the treatment period. He had to wear a hat all the time. What hats would you have chosen to wear? Would it be the same one every day or would you have one for each day of the week? You can choose to either write about the hats, draw pictures of the hats, or find hats online and create a collage of them. I've got to think hats would make you feel better!
Ross has a superhero alter-ego known as Batpig that he things about when he is dealing with tough situations. Draw Batpig cartoons about your own life, or draw your own alter-ego. What would your own superhero alter-ego be like? What superpowers would it have?
Activity 2:
Music is known to have positive therapeutic benefits. Ross likes to listen to music during his treatments. He prefers loud head-banging music like the Ramones. If you had to pick music to listen to while undergoing something unpleasant or even painful, what do you think you would choose? Come up with your own personal "playlist." Your "playlist" should be at least 5 songs long as well as include reasons why you chose each song.
Activity 3:
Ross, his family, and friends all try to help him come up with ways to protect himself during the treatment period. He had to wear a hat all the time. What hats would you have chosen to wear? Would it be the same one every day or would you have one for each day of the week? You can choose to either write about the hats, draw pictures of the hats, or find hats online and create a collage of them. I've got to think hats would make you feel better!