The Chemo Kid [Turtleback]

Robert Lipsyte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1993

When the drugs that he takes as part of his chemotherapy suddenly transform him from wimp into superhero, sixteen-year-old Fred and his friends plot to rid the town of its most lethal environmental hazard, toxic waste in the water supply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first few chapters of this novel promise a run-of-the-mill account of a brave and likable boy's struggle with cancer. Soon, however, the tale changes course and becomes an unwieldy but intriguing examination of the connections among drugs, sports, big business and politics. When the egg-shaped lump Fred discovers below his ear turns out to be cancerous, the boy begins an experimental course of chemotherapy. Gradually he becomes aware that the treatment has made him into a superhero of sorts--there are moments when his senses are extraordinarily heightened and he is possessed of unusual physical strength. Putting his newfound powers to use, Fred organizes a two-pronged attack on the high school's bullies and the factory that has polluted the town's reservoir. Unlike the gritty, streetwise individuals that people such Lipsyte novels as The Brave and The Contender , Fred's cohorts and enemies alike have little life aside from the big ideas for which they stand. These one-note characterizations give the novel a cartoonish quality that detracts from the power of its timely arguments. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9-- This story begins realistically as high school student Fred Bauer discovers he has cancer and ends up in the hospital full of needles and sick from the chemotherapy. As usual, Lipsyte's images here are right on target, and will cause readers to flinch. Equally effective are his portraits of the other young patients, observed in Fred's first-person narration. The story shifts, however, when the boy returns home. First, in a story line straight out of a Frank Capra movie, Fred finds that his girlfriend, Mara, is caught up in an investigation of illegal toxic waste dumping; the entire town has sunk into a pit of corruption and only Fred, Mara, and a few others see the truth. More surprising, though, is the fact that Fred develops superhuman powers, ripping down steel fences, throwing 300 pound weights around, and swimming across the lake in a flash. The point of this is to show that the mind is more powerful than matter, and certainly mightier than Fred's disease, which is ultimately cured. But all the diverse elements don't blend together well, and the New Age message is overdone. --Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback: 167 pages
• Publisher: Demco Media (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606052003
• ISBN-13: 978-0606052009
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars determinaton, February 22, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Chemo Kid (Hardcover)

This book was pretty good. The reason it was good is because it was about a boy with a rare disease. It showed how he overcomes all the problems he had to face in having the disease. He still had a girlfriend too, so he had to keep that relationship going while he was practically living in the hospital. He gets pulled in to a type of nature-loving group that fights pollution that his girlfriend is involved with. And it starts showing the whole story uncover while he goes on adventures with his girlfriend as they try to stop pollution.

4.0 out of 5 stars A four star book, October 13, 2003

By 

Jose Mendez (San Joaquin, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chemo Kid (Paperback)

I rate this book a four star book. This book had some very ecciding events that were very surprising, in other words it was an intresting book. This book was more than it can happen if you used to read an action comic book. Some events seem like only superman could do it, not a simple kid with cancer on his neck. Well it was not that bad of a book what I'm trying to say is that some parts ded catch a atention for that whole sene. Some parts had so many detials that i could even picture what was going on inside my head. It was like it was happining to my in real life in other words like if a was the main character of the book. That was what i liked about this book it had ecciding part, emotional, physical, events that had so much details that even if a grown up would of read it to there little kids even they would picture it in there mind detail by detail. It's a very good book that's what the only thing i can say. I still have alot to say about this exellent book but i just can't find those perfect words to discribe what an exellent master piece this autor has created for anyone with a good emaganation.

3.0 out of 5 stars Mneh, April 29, 2003

By 

Shelby (Lynnwood, Wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chemo Kid (Paperback)

This was a quick book to read, but I really didn't enjoy it. It was about a boy who had some form of cancer. In order to get rid of the cancer, the doctor prescribed an experimental drug that they had never used on anyone before. It then caused Fred, the main character, to have superhero powers. To me this book shows, to young readers, that if you have cancer, you can have super hero powers and save the world. I know it is only a book and not all books are true, but this book made it seem like it was real life. Maybe to some, this book shows that if you think you can, you can. It could also show that even if you do have cancer, Chemo won't make you incapable of doing the things you like to do. That's why I will be putting this on my list.