Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas

(Hardback)

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Description

Twelve-year-old Josephine has a lot on her plate best-friend issues twin-brother issues divorced-parents issues...not to mention first-crush issues. And then her mom hits her with news that shakes her to her core a breast cancer diagnosis. Josephine doesn't want anyone to know not even her best friend. Sharing the news means it's actually real and that's something she's not ready to face. Unfortunately for Josephine her brother Chance doesn't feel the same way. And when he dyes his hair pink in a show of support it's all anyone can talk about.

Reviews

...does a great job at showing how family events can impact students' lives, and how normal concerns about school and friends don't fade away in the face of larger issues, just become more complicated. Definitely purchasing.-- "Ms Yingling Reads"
...An excellent example of middle grade fiction because it tackles big issues without losing sight of the fact that, even when faced with potentially life-changing news, a 12-year-old will still be worried about the party of the year, the judgment of their peers and whether or not their crush likes them back.-- "KidsRead/The Book Report Network"
As adults, the great majority of us have dealt with friends and/or family with health issues, some of them quite serious. It's difficult, heartbreaking, and confusing. I can't imagine a child being in the middle of that. In Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas, Pyros shows us how two people, siblings, deal with their mother's breast cancer diagnosis. What I loved about this book was that Pyros showed us how people can have completely different thoughts, fears, and methods of coping with difficult situations. Every reaction is not only possible, but also appropriate, and no one should feel ashamed or embarrassed at how they choose to deal.-- "The Winged Pen"
Cancer is dealt with in a gentle, age-appropriate manner. . . .Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas is an empathetic story about learning to face problems both great and small.-- "Foreword Reviews"
It's also nice to read a story where sickness has a big impact on people's lives but isn't the focal point of the story. We do get some info about the journey Josephine's mother is taking - hospital visits for instance - but there's more focus on the effect on the children than the disease itself. This story is a quick read but one that stays with you for a few days. . . .I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a touching contemporary story about family, friendship and growing up.-- "Books by Kimi"
Josephine is a true-to-life character. Her pre-teen emotions and reactions are spot on--from having a parent with cancer, school drama, having a crush, or feelings from divorce. Andrea Pryos' book Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas is truly heartwarming, charming and poignant.-- "Angel Cancer Foundation"
Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas puts you smack dab into the middle of the raw emotions felt during a cancer experience. This book does a phenomenal job of expressing the common emotions, feelings and actions of an adolescent as they begin to cope with the reality of cancer.-- "Angel Cancer Foundation"
There are few changes as scary as having someone you love face a serious illness or injury. That's why 12-year-old Josephine doesn't want to tell anyone that her mom has breast cancer. . . .But then her brother dyes his hair pink in support of their mom, and it's all anyone can talk about. Suddenly Josephine is questioning all her priorities, like whether it's OK for her to care so much about getting invited to the best parties when her mom is sick.-- "New Moon Girls Magazine"

Author Bio

Andrea Pyros is the author My Year of Epic Rock, which was called "a perfect read for anyone who feels BFF-challenged" by Booklist and "a charming addition to upper elementary and middle school collections" by School Library Journal. Andrea is a contributor to the popular website, From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors and has written extensively for young adults, starting with her stint as co-founder of the pop culture website Girls on Film and then as a senior-level editor at a variety of teen magazines. A native of New York City, Andrea now lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and their two children. For more information, visit her at www.andreapyros.com.