Childhood cancer and the Family Negotiation

Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin

                Counting Thyme is an amazing book about an 11 year old girl named Thyme, and her family dynamic having a 5 year old brother named Val who has Neuroblastoma, a nerve cancer. The novel begins as Thyme and her family move to New York from San Diego so her brother could participate in a drug trial for his illness. Thyme deals with starting 6^th grade over in a brand new school, and changes in her family dynamic as she does not get the attention from her parents she once did before Val became ill. Thyme is embarrassed to let kids at school know about her brother, because she knows they will treat her differently with pity, as the “boy with cancer’s sister”.

                The perspective of this book being that of Thyme’s gives an incredible view of living with a sibling who is ill. The negotiations and sacrifices Thyme and her family must make for Val show the ways in which a loving family dynamic may not always seem so loving. This book is beautifully written, making it accessible to readers of all ages. The way Val’s cancer is portrayed is through careful, kind, and patient eyes, as Thyme is the one describing him during his fragile state. Thyme must negotiate between wanting attention from her parents, missing San Diego, but constantly worrying about Val. Val’s cancer certainly does not define the bright, smiling little boy he is. He is more than his cancer, as Thyme comes to learn she is much more than the “boy with cancer’s sister”. The portrayal of the characters and their relationship to Val is incredible. The dynamic of his family truly shows the way everyone copes differently, and the need for patience with loved ones during though times. Despite the nature of the book, the ending is a happy one, and leaves the reader with a smile. I believe this novel is incredibly effective, and a joy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those who may have a family member with an illness such as cancer. For a list of more books about childhood cancer, click here.