A debut novel for fans of The Fault in Our Stars that thoughtfully and humorously depicts teen Ricky Bloom's struggles with a recent chronic illness diagnosis.
Karol Ruth Silverstein attended the American Film Institute and works as a writer and screenwriter in L.A. Cursed is her debut novel.
A teen fights to put her life back together after developing a
painful chronic illness and secretly skipping school for six weeks.
Ricky lives in Philadelphia in her father's one-room "Batch Pad,"
sleeping on a lumpy "Sofa-Bed-From-Hell." Her parents unilaterally
decided she'd live there because Mom's house, in another
neighborhood, has three stories—and Ricky, as of four months ago,
has juvenile arthritis. She has chronic pain—"dull and sharp,"
often excruciating, her joints on fire. Her feet feel like she is
walking on broken glass. So she bailed on school—the bullying
didn't help either—and, instead, waits each morning for Dad to
leave, then crawls into his (non-sofa-)bed, desperate for sleep.
Naturally, she's caught. This justifiably furious kid who says
"Fucking asshole!" to a teacher's face launches "Operation
Catch-Up-So-I-Can-Get-The-Hell-Out-Of-This-Crap-Ass-School"—in
other words, somehow pass ninth grade. Ricky's sharp, flowing,
uninhibited voice makes this a page-turner. Her life improves:
accessibility accommodations, a proper bed, agency (sometimes!), a
new doctor, more treatment options. The ending's a bit glossy, but
Ricky's pain and future aren't romanticized. Ricky's white and
Jewish, and her family is middle-class; characters default to
white, and brown skin and curly hair are sometimes exoticized.
Protagonists with chronic nonmalignant pain and illness are far too
rare; this does the job.
—Kirkus Reviews
High school begins with a double cataclysm for Ricky, short for
Erica: her parents suddenly divorce, and she
receives a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis, a very painful
autoimmune disease that has her relearning how to move her body
with the least amount of embarrassment. “Worse yet, no one
gives a crap about this boring ass disease. It’s not something that
would prompt my classmates to shave their heads in
solidarity.” Brimming with rage, she skips school and lashes
out at her parents and the world. Ricky’s fury moves the
narrative along with an intense energy, showcasing her sardonic,
foulmouthed self and drawing readers into her suffering. In
time, a new doctor, a more promising medical regime, a wise
classmate, helpful teacher, sister, and, yes, even her parents come
through in ways Ricky will come to appreciate throughout
her tough journey. Silverstein sheds a powerful light on disease
and how managing it can bring out one’s inner warrior. A blistering
coming-of-age tale that will propel readers into Ricky’s
corner.
—Booklist
Recently diagnosed with arthritis, 14-year-old Ricky Bloom now
lives in “the Batch Pad” with her dentist father and attends a new
middle school in Philadelphia. Ricky begins “the Charade,” ditching
school to avoid bullying and the pain of getting there. Instead she
spends her time sleeping, taking hot baths, and daydreaming about
Julio, a cute drummer. Embarrassed by her pain and limitations, she
prefers to keep to herself; the only person she chooses to see is
her older sister Dani, a college basketball player who lives with
her girlfriend of three years. When Ricky’s truancy is discovered,
she risks having to repeat ninth grade, which would bring more
unwanted attention to her already miserable, angry days. Back to
school (for real this time), she finds unlikely support from an
English teacher and an adorkable guy named Oliver, a cancer
survivor. These relationships and a new doctor who listens to her
provide Ricky a sense of hope, allowing her to become a better
version of herself. Silverstein’s debut young adult novel is an
accurate portrayal of the challenging relationship between parents
and teens, as well as the frustration of living with a chronic
illness. VERDICT: Readers will enjoy this contemporary
coming-of-age story featuring a resilient protagonist and charming
plot.
—School Library Journal
First-time author Silverstein offers an insider’s view of
living with a chronic illness in this heartfelt novel set in
Philadelphia. Every movement has become a struggle for ninth-grader
Erica (“Ricky”), recently diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, who
has had to move from her mother’s house to her father’s “bachelor
pad” to avoid using stairs. In constant pain, irritated by
“The-Disaster-Formerly-Known-as-My-Parents,” and tired of taunts
from schoolmates, Ricky vents her frustration by cutting school—for
six straight weeks—and cursing copiously, both of which sit poorly
with her new school’s administrators. When she’s eventually caught
skipping and forced to attend classes, she faces new obstacles if
she wants to make it to 10th grade, including makeup work and
after-school sessions with a strict teacher. She also finds some
rewards, especially learning how to advocate for herself and
developing a friendship with empathic classmate Oliver, a cancer
survivor. Silverstein, who was diagnosed with arthritis as a teen,
excels at evoking the physical and emotional pain Ricky endures
without having Ricky’s condition define her. She emerges as a
likable, relatable heroine whose wit and sense of hope will prove
inspiring.
—Publishers Weekly
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