Zac & Mia (A J Betts, Text)

As far as introductions go, a cancer ward is not the first place that comes to mind, but that is exactly where Zac and Mia meet while undergoing treatment. What follows is the story of two remarkable young adults dealing with a very serious illness, and discovering strength and love in each other. While happy endings are not always possible in these situations, it is the journey that Zac and Mia share that binds and strengthens them in a way that the love of their families cannot quite do. The winner of the 2012 Text Prize, Zac & Mia will provide a much-needed dose of reality to fantasy-laden YA shelves. The narrative style is direct and reflects not only the difficult times faced by its characters, but also the role that social media and other staples of modern teenage life play in obscuring the reality of someone’s life. There is also a great sense of warmth and humour in this story, which will appeal to both YA and adult readers. Zac & Mia should be mandatory reading for anyone dealing with cancer in their family. It is definitely a stand-out novel for 2013.

Natalie Crawford is a freelance reviewer and works at Dymocks Claremont

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Category: Reviews