Lurlene McDaniel focuses on the lives of young adult characters facing significant health challenges. Her work delves into the emotional and psychological impact of chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer and organ failure. Through her narratives, she offers readers insight into resilience and hope when confronting adversity. Her writing is characterized by empathy and a profound understanding of the experiences of young people navigating difficult circumstances.
Set against challenging circumstances, the narrative unfolds a poignant love story that captivates readers with its emotional depth. The characters navigate obstacles that test their bond, showcasing the resilience of love in the face of adversity. With a blend of passion and determination, this tale promises to resonate with anyone who believes in the power of love to overcome even the toughest challenges.
You don't know me, but I know about you.... I can't make you live longer, I can stop you form hurting. But I can give you one wish, as someone did for me.Three letters. Three last wishes.In Mother, Help Me Live, Sarah discovers that her birth mother, whom she's never known, is the one person who may have the bone marrow she needs to survive. When Sarah journeys to find her mother, she learns the real meaning of family.Let Him Live tells the story of Megan's friendship with Donovan, who is hoping to receive a liver transplant. Megan helps make Donovan's wish for his mother and little brother come true, along the way, Megan comes to understand true giving.In Sixteen and Dying, when Anne finds out that a blood transfusion she had seven years ago has made her future uncertain, being given one wish helps her face her pain. She chooses to spend the summer with her father on a ranch out west—and there she meets someone who will change her life.
Be sure to read this summer's highly anticipated companion to Angels Watching Over Me and Lifted Up by Angels: Until Angels Close My Eyes When Neil, Leah's warm and loving step-father, reveals that his cancer is no longer in remission, Leah finds comfort in a visit to Amish country to see her true love, Ethan. When Ethan chooses to leave his life on the farm, he moves in with Leah and her family. But once Ethan arrives, they realize that his Amish values are quite different from those of Leah's complex "English" world. Will their love help, or hurt, Leah as she faces the complex hurdles that await her? From the Paperback edition.
Dawn Rochelle has just turned fourteen, and her cancer has been in remission for almost a year. This summer, as she helps prepare for her brother’s wedding and goes to camp, her life seems almost normal again. But when Dawn returns home from camp, she’s suddenly tired all the time. Her latest tests show that the worst has happened: Her leukemia is no longer in remission. Dawn must receive a bone marrow transplant from her brother. Even then she has only a fifty percent chance of survival. Will Dawn live to celebrate her fifteenth birthday?
Sixteen-year-old Melissa Austin has always worked hard to get what she wants. As the school year begins, her work is paying Her grades are up and she’s landed a coveted spot on the Brain Bowl team. She and her best friend, Jory Delaney, are determined to have the best junior year ever.Then Melissa receives devastating news about her health. At first she refuses to accept the doctor’s diagnosis, but as her illness gets worse, she cannot deny the truth. Only with the loving support of her family, and especially Jory, can Melissa come to terms with the mysteries of living . . . and dying.
It is 1974 and the country is still struggling to come to terms with the Vietnam War. In the small town of Conners, Georgia, Darcy has just started high school, her older sister Adel goes to weekend dances at the local Army base, and their mother tends her beautiful garden–the biggest and best in town. But Darcy’s world is soon changed forever when her mother goes to Atlanta for tests. The diagnosis is not good–breast cancer. There is so much Darcy wants to talk to her mother about: the war and what happened to the soldiers who were there; the feelings she is having for the new (and troubled) boy in school. But she can’t. So she finds solace in her mother’s garden. There she can help the flowers her mother planted bloom.
Set against the backdrop of Tennessee horse country and the enchanting landscapes of Italy, this inspirational novel follows three high school graduates as they navigate their futures while confronting complex personal challenges. Lurlene McDaniel delves into various forms of love—familial, platonic, and romantic—highlighting the sacrifices each girl must make. The story captures the essence of friendship and the emotional journeys that shape their paths, resonating deeply with readers who appreciate heartfelt narratives.
Thirteen is supposed to be a great age—dances, cheerleading, boys—she never thought it would also include cancer. Dawn Rochelle is about to face the toughest fight of her life—a fight she has to win. Otherwise, she has only six months to live.
With the support of her two best friends, sixteen-year-old Kathleen tries to balance her summer volunteer work at the hospital with her responsibilities caring for her mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and her attraction to a handsome boy
The story highlights Raina's joy as her friends, Kathleen and Holly, discover the fulfilling experience of volunteering at the hospital. Their positive summer experiences lead them to continue working there for credit during their junior year, showcasing themes of friendship and personal growth through community service.
