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New,
lighter novel about kids with cancer
[MAY
29, 2002] CANANDAIGUA,
N.Y. — Writer Larry Dickens announces the national release of his
new, young adult novel, "Mrs. McGillacuddy’s Garden Party."Single
Shard." Linda Sue Park. Clarion, 2001. 152 pages. Grades 5-8.
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The story is a playful tale about a spunky 11-year-old girl who is
diagnosed with leukemia and who shames a miserable, aristocratic
neighbor into doing good deeds.
Written for mature children and young adults, this inspirational,
yet rambunctious cancer awareness piece is an enjoyable read for all
ages.
Dickens, a 49-year-old ship’s officer-turned-writer, became
interested in the subject of childhood cancer after reading local
newspaper articles about Camp Good Days and Special Times (a cancer
camp for kids located in western New York State) and its founder,
Gary Mervis, who lost a daughter to brain cancer in 1982.
The novel is set in the lovely Finger Lakes region of New York
State, with the action taking place in a Canandaigua city
neighborhood and at Camp Good Days and Special Times on Keuka Lake.
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Dickens has begun the Mrs. McGillacuddy Book Donation Program and
has donated over a hundred copies of his book to every cancer camp
for kids throughout the nation, as well as parts of Canada and
Ireland. A portion of all future book sales will be used to support
this program and to further book donations to children’s hospitals.
The book is now available at 1st Books Library and at most of the
major online booksellers, including Amazon, Borders, Waldenbooks and
Barnes and Noble.
A summary of the story
and a picture of the fun-looking cover are on view at the 1stBooks
website, www.1stBooks.com.
[News release] |
