Sort of Forever [Paperback]

Sally Werner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1998

Ever since Cady can remember, Nana has been there for her. Whether Cady was stuck at the top of a slide, or stranded in the middle of an ice-skating rink, or hit in the head with a tennis ball, Nana was always the first to her rescue. She's never let Cady down.

But the summer before seventh grade, it looks as if that might happen. Strong, funny, feisty Nana has cancer, a disease that threatens to take away her humor, her strength, and, ultimately, her life. And as Cady watches her friend changes, she's not sure she knows, or wants to know, this new Nana - until she realizes that now it is Nana who needs to be rescued.

With extraordinary honesty and grace, Sally Warner explores one of the toughest tests of a friendship, and reveals that even in the hardest and most painful moments, there is laughter and there is love.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439095085
• ISBN-13: 978-0439095082
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #942,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BIOGRAPHY OF SALLY WARNER

Sally Warner was born in New York City and grew up in Connecticut and California, where her family moved when she was eight years old. She attended public schools in Pasadena. She then received her B.A. degree from Scripps College in Claremont, California, and her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in fine arts from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.

Sally Warner worked as an artist (primarily charcoal drawings) for many years, exhibiting her work at galleries, small museums, colleges, and universities across the country. Her drawings are in many private collections. She also taught art education for ten years at Pasadena City College. Her teaching led her to write her first non-fiction book for adults, ENCOURAGING THE ARTIST IN YOUR CHILD, in 1989. This book sold more than 20,000 copies. Another of her non-fiction books for adults, MAKING ROOM FOR MAKING ART (1994), is still in print and doing well.

Sally Warner then began writing fiction for young readers. Her first novel, DOG YEARS (1995), has almost 90,000 copies--in Italy! Sally Warner did the cartoons herself. IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY, another novel she has illustrated--with nearly 100 drawings---was published in 2008 and is for ages 8--12.

To date, Sally Warner has had 23 novels published, mostly for ages 8--12. One of her most popular books so far was SORT OF FOREVER (1998, still available through Scholastic Book Club), which has sold more than 220,000 copies! She also writes for younger readers, ages 7+; the books in her current funny series for Viking (ONLY EMMA, NOT-SO-WEIRD EMMA, SUPER EMMA, BEST FRIEND EMMA, and EXCELLENT EMMA) have been getting lots of positive attention. At least 3 ELLRAY JAKES books will be coming out in the next few years as well.

Sally Warner and her husband live in Southern California. She has four step-daughters, five step-grandchildren, and two sons who both have active careers in the arts: dance/choreography/teaching, and computer generated imagery for television and movies.

For photos, cartoons, and more information on her books: www.sallywarner.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Friends!!!!!, October 15, 2003

By 

Molly Thomas (Falls City, Nebraska, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sort of Forever (Hardcover)

Sort of Forever is a book about two 12 year old girls named Cady and Nana. They have been best friends since they were babies. These two friends live in the same neighborhood. In their neighborhood, there is an empty lot at the top of the hill. Cady and Nana love this lot. It is a great look out to see the ocean. Nana claims she is going to buy the lot when she get older. Nana soon becomes diagnosed with cancer. She becomes weaker and weaker as time goes on. Cady visits her everyday either at the hospital or at home. School is getting ready to start and Nana will not be going to the 7th grade this year with Cady. She will have a tutor for all of her school work. Cady still visits her everyday after school. Cady's parents become worried about Cady because they don't think she should be around this terrible situation.
I thought this was a fantastic book!!! There wasn't really anything I didn't like about the book. This would be a good read for someone who has a friend who is diagnosed with cancer. It would help you on how to deal with the problem.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book about a true friendship and how to let go., October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sort of Forever (Hardcover)

I really liked this book alot i never had a friend that had cancer before but this book a felt like i was their. It is a very toching book about two girls who are best friends and one of them named Nana has cancer and Cady her other friend sticks by her side through the end and then has to let go!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Struggles of Cancer...For Everyone, February 15, 2005

By 

Prism Light "Prism" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sort of Forever (Paperback)

Cady feels nothing but loyalty to her best friend, Nana, who has been struggling with cancer. Finally, it appears as though there is nothing left for the doctors to do...it is time for Nana to come home and wait to die. "Sort of Forever" is the story of the struggles of the two friends. While Nana struggles just to be herself in the midst of the weakening disease, Cady struggles to be there for her whenever possible, knowing that any minute could be Nana's last. This book was touching, and taught me a lot about cancer. My great uncle was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, and it was helpful for me to actually learn about what cancer was and some ways it affects your body. So I guess "Sort of Forever" was a two-in-one type of book, and if I could rate the educational value of it, I would give it a four. I think girls will enjoy this interesting, entertaining book about friendship and finding a silver lining in a dark time.