Customer Reviews

I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Go to Boise (Children Surviving Cancer)

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My son was diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 8 years old with three brain tumors. We were told her would die in surgery and if he did live he would be a vegetable. The doctor was wonderful and he lives and is doing wonderfully! I have been involved deeply with brain tumor suppport now for 11 years. I talk to families at least once a week. This book gives great insight into how the kids feel about their disease and the experience that goes with it. The most important part of this book is the section that the fathter's discuss their feelings. Dads have a very difficult time knowing how to help and "fix" it as they think they must! This chapter is priceless. Good Book, Good Information, Important learning here!

Erma Bombeck became renowned by highlighting the amusing aspects of the terrene. She did not usually make what are typically called "jokes"-just offbeat observations. Her columns more often initiated a satisfying smile than a hearty belly laugh. But even on the occasions that she was painfully funny she showed respect for her subjects and her audience. It was the proud acknowledgement that she was one of us that allowed us to chuckle at family life, grocery shopping, housework, and all the other quotidian errands that compose the bulk of our lives. Regardless of the subject she found some aspect that was good for a "laugh with" not a "laugh at."

How about the subject of children battling cancer? The thought of jocularly treating such a topic sounds comparable to the depraved entertainment regurgitated by the likes of Howard Stern. Surely, Erma Bombeck-the avatar of wholesomeness-would never approach such a subject. No, but it approached her. She was asked to write this book, and at first the thought of it repulsed her. Momentarily dropping her guard, she allowed herself to be talked in to attempting this work. We should all be thankful that she caved. The result is a reverent; inspiring read that has had a propitiatory impact on many, many children and adults battling cancer---not to mention legions of us who are blessed with good health.

Treading with great veneration for her subject, she produced a book overflowing with warmth, encouragement, and-as unbelievable as it may seem-tasteful mirth. It stands a proud addition to her rich legacy.

I read this book for the first time while I was in the waiting room of the hospital where my younger brother was undergoing chemotherapy.

Out of all the books that we were reading as a family on the terrible subject of cancer, not one of them touched us as deeply as this book. This book was filled with two key elements that any person who is battling a life threatening disease will need lots of -- hope and humor.

Our whole family, including my terminally ill brother, read this book, and our spirits were lifted by it. We have since passed this book along to those who we feel are special enough to appreciate it.

Thank you, Erma.

Having grown up in an era when "the 'C' word" meant a death sentence, I was taken aback when a friend of mine suggested this little-known work of Erma Bombeck's. Why would a humerous writer tackle such a depressing subject? Kids with cancer? The book was not depressing at all. Sure I cried, but they were tears of joy. I laughed at the antics of some of the kids. I praised the professionals who dedicate their time and money to these kids. Cancer is no longer necessarily a terminal disease. People beat it all the time. I was unaware of this until I read this book, and no one could do it like Erma. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but it is especially uplifting to someone who has a friend or family member with cancer.

This book is by far my favorite of all Erma Bombeck's books. I suspect this book is not as popular as her other writings because it's about kids with cancer, but Bombeck does an amazing job of taking such a heavy subject and finding the bright side of it all.

I loved this book. It was a great help to me when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I've given it to friends when they had a family member diagnosed. It is wonderful and I'm sorry it is not currently available. Please bring it back!

In the Fall of 1992, our youngest child was diagnosed with leukemia. My mom gave me my first copy of this book that following Spring. I took it with me on one of our "Weekend Vacations" in the Pediatric Oncology wing of our hospital. As I read, I realized that our experiences mirrored so much of the things Erma wrote about in the book. The more I read, the more I believed that this book could help others who were dealing with cancer by preparing them for "things yet to come".

So, I took my copy and wrote an anonymous letter in the front cover telling whomever might be reading the book that in its pages they will find truth and reassurance in dealing with cancer. And then in the margins, chapter by chapter, I commented and added my real life experiences. In the letter, I told the reader that they will find my comments and those from others who are sharing their experiences with the hope that they were helping the reader prepare for the road ahead. I invited them to add their experiences to the margins as well. Then, I slid the book onto a shelf in the "Play Room" library.

I had the opportunity to visit the "Play Room" several years later, and my original copy of the book was still on the bookshelf. I opened the pages and there, scribbled all over the place were comments from people who had found comfort in the book. I stood there and cried as I read. The concerned staff came to my side to comfort me, and as I composed myself, I told them how I had been the one who originally left the book for others to read. They told me they all knew about the book and had often advised parents and children, new the the "Cancer World", to read it. It had served my intended purpose.

As far as I know, the book is still on the shelf. I thank Erma for having had the courage to write it, I thank all those who shared their personal stories, and I thank the staff for not throwing it away, but recognizing the power it held for others. I recommend this book to anyone dealing with cancer. When you finish reading it, I invite you to liberate yourself and write your comments and experiences in the margins. Then, share the book with someone else and invite them to do the same, and when they are finished, to pass the book to someone else.

Then go buy another copy for yourself to keep. Because in the years ahead, it will be a reminder of the strength and courage you possessed that got you through your cancer ordeal. From the prospective of a parent of a child who survived cancer, I recommend you read this book when you are ready. It will be funny, enlightening, and bittersweet. Sometimes just knowing that others share your experiences helps lighten your burden.

This book is a wonderfully humorous and insightful look into children's experiences with caner. Although it certainly is not a humorous subject, the book really shows the powerful spirit of children and demonstrates the importance of humor in illness. And no matter what they go through, kids are still kids. I read this for the first time in college, and now I am a pediatrician.

I wanted to read this book, because I found that any person who would take time out of their lives to focus attention on these young persons is a person who deserves respect, admiration and good attention.

This book makes me think about how much I have to be thankful for and how little I have to complain about. Erma Bombeck is a writer who hits the nail on the head every time and who can make us think about things in the right way.

God took her away from us too soon but her spirit was so large that it reaches us even today.

People should read this book. It is truly remarkable.

Outstanding, Finally got what I ordered, an audio cassette of Erma Bombeck's I Want to Grow Hair, I want to Grow Up, I want to Go to Boise. My dad absolutely loved his gift, this was the second one I had to order as the first one was all messed up and garbled wording but I was refunded immediately and my dad's new one arrived a few days later AND it wasn't a paperback book, it was what I ordered for him for his birthday. Thank you very much