From the initial discovery of a lump in her right breast, James recounts in arresting detail how the diagnosis affected her personally as well as those in "the secret society"—the close friends and family members she chose to share the news with and include in her recovery. James also explores the ways she coped, both after hearing the diagnosis and during chemotherapy treatments, methods that included meditation to stop her negative thoughts and visualization of loved ones for strength—“Out of my love for them, I’ll find the courage to go on” she writes.
James makes it clear her suffering has a purpose—to mentor others, drawing on her experience as “a constant reminder that hope, much like joy, is contagious, and hope, in itself, is powerful.” That desire to help is palpable throughout, as James offers readers practical tools, including a “Healing Light Meditation” she created to aid her body’s recovery, as both an audio link and embedded in the text. "Even if I wanted to remain in my old life, there was no way I could. I had changed. The cancer had changed me, and there was no going back" James declares, and that resolve persists through the 247 days from diagnosis to ringing the bell on her last treatment. This will resonate with anyone affected by cancer.
Takeaway: A powerful anthem of hope and perseverance in the fight against cancer.
Comparable Titles: Natalie Holland’s Scarred but Smarter, John Marshall and Liza Marshall’s Off Our Chests.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
