Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor is a deeply moving novel that focuses on friendship and dealing with illness when you think you are invincible.
Even when she isn’t sure what to say.
Even when Olivia misses months of school.
Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia’s crush.
The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.
In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might be something that is actually happening to someone else. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe’s unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.
Review: ‘Maybe One Day’
Maybe One Day is, at its heart, a book about friendship. The novel focuses on Zoe and Olivia, who have been friends for 13 years. When Olivia is diagnosed with cancer, everything changes in the lives of these two teens.
The story is told through Zoe’s eyes, which is a unique experience for the reader. She observes Olivia’s sickness and how it affects her parents. The viewpoint brings an entirely new perspective that lends new understanding to the dynamics of cancer and how it affects everyone around the person who is sick.
The beauty of this novel is that the friendships described are realistic and unlike most portrayed in young adult novels. As Zoe tries to resolve how she feels about what is happening to Olivia, her other friends support her unconditionally. Zoe also finds comfort in Calvin, who happens to be Olivia’s crush. While this may seem drama-inducing, it isn’t, and is only a small part of the whole story.
The other aspect of the novel that is unique in young adult books is the inclusion of both families. Zoe sees so clearly how Olivia’s illness affects her parents. Zoe’s own parents support her and try to give her advice as she struggles with what is happening. It is refreshing to see family units so well developed and involved in the characters’ lives.
Maybe One Day is a deeply moving, profoundly effecting and beautiful novel. Melissa Kantor tells a story of friendship and devotion without the clichés. This is not a book about cancer; it is about friendship and dealing with what life throws at you, together.
Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor is available February 18, 2014 through Harper Collins.