At Risk

Rating:
Summary: AIDS wears a child's face
Review: There is probably nothing on earth more cruel and inexplicable than the death of a child, especially when a child succumbs to a horribly cruel disease known as AIDS. "At Risk" is the story of Amanda Farrell, 11 years old, who has been carrying a killer virus inside of her for five years, ever since a routine appendectomy in the early 1980's went awry and she had to receive a blood transfusion. They didn't test blood for HIV back then (how far away it all seems now) and Amanda got a dose of contaminated blood that has been slowly, invisibly, but all too relentlessly killing her. She's looking forward to sixth grade, she's a star gymnast on her school team, but all of a sudden she's hit by nausea, night sweats, and a host of other opportunistic infections. When her doctor, a family friend, gives her parents the diagnosis, it impacts on the family with all the force of a detonating bomb. But this is only the beginning. This is the 80's when the word AIDS sent ordinarily sensible people into mindless hysteria. Amanda's brother is eight years old and healthy, but his best friend's mother won't let her boy associate with him any more; what if he touched something Amanda touched? The principal of Amanda's school has to deal with frightened parents who think Amanda should be expelled to protect their own children. And the family finds themselves gradually but inexorably isolated: on Halloween night, no one comes knocking for trick or treat.

Hoffman doesn't play cheap with the reader's emotions but this story is a heartbreaker anyway; it reaches us on a visceral level as we watch a vibrant pre-teen on the cusp of life dying slowly of a terrible illness, all too aware of what lies ahead of her, frightened and trying not to be, and knowing that, for all the love and support she gets from her family, ultimately she is in this alone. She writes sparely, almost sparsely, but she packs a truckload of emotions into every sentence. Perhaps the most gut-wrenching scene in the book is when Amanda gets her last wish to have her braces removed, looks into the mirror, and smiles, because she realizes that, if she could live to grow up, she would have been beautiful.

Rating:
Summary: AIDS wears a child's face
Review: There is probably nothing on earth more cruel and inexplicable than the death of a child, especially when a child succumbs to a horribly cruel disease known as AIDS. "At Risk" is the story of Amanda Farrell, 11 years old, who has been carrying a killer virus inside of her for five years, ever since a routine appendectomy in the early 1980's went awry and she had to receive a blood transfusion. They didn't test blood for HIV back then (how far away it all seems now) and Amanda got a dose of contaminated blood that has been slowly, invisibly, but all too relentlessly killing her. She's looking forward to sixth grade, she's a star gymnast on her school team, but all of a sudden she's hit by nausea, night sweats, and a host of other opportunistic infections. When her doctor, a family friend, gives her parents the diagnosis, it impacts on the family with all the force of a detonating bomb. But this is only the beginning. This is the 80's when the word AIDS sent ordinarily sensible people into mindless hysteria. Amanda's brother is eight years old and healthy, but his best friend's mother won't let her boy associate with him any more; what if he touched something Amanda touched? The principal of Amanda's school has to deal with frightened parents who think Amanda should be expelled to protect their own children. And the family finds themselves gradually but inexorably isolated: on Halloween night, no one comes knocking for trick or treat.

Hoffman doesn't play cheap with the reader's emotions but this story is a heartbreaker anyway; it reaches us on a visceral level as we watch a vibrant pre-teen on the cusp of life dying slowly of a terrible illness, all too aware of what lies ahead of her, frightened and trying not to be, and knowing that, for all the love and support she gets from her family, ultimately she is in this alone. She writes sparely, almost sparsely, but she packs a truckload of emotions into every sentence. Perhaps the most gut-wrenching scene in the book is when Amanda gets her last wish to have her braces removed, looks into the mirror, and smiles, because she realizes that, if she could live to grow up, she would have been beautiful.

Rating:
Summary: Heart-rending, Moving, Beautiful
Review: This book is a masterpiece. I just finished it like a minute ago, and I'm blown away. "At Risk" touched me deeply. Alice Hoffman writes in a way that drew me in utterly and completely. The characters were real to me, and I love all of them (except the ones that I hate). This book explores the animosity and the baseless fear that people have toward AIDS patients, and how it tears apart friendships. It also showed how AIDS wreaks havoc on families, how family dynamics change when it becomes painfully apparent that a daughter/sister is going to die, and soon.

Hoffman writes beautifully and poignantly. This book is really sad, but it's good like that. It's a sadness that makes you examine your own life -- I know that I take my own life for granted, but after I read this book I realized just how lucky I am. I'm healthy, and so are my family and friends.

I can't even explain it, but this book just touched me so deeply. It broke my heart, that people were so awful to AIDS patients and their families. Although I was too young to be aware of it at the time, AIDS was a big issue when this book was written, and it hurts me that people were so cruel. I commend Alice Hoffman for writing a book like "At Risk." It really opens your eyes.

Her writing is lyrical and unique -- very enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Once you start you won't put it down.
Review: This book is a remarkable story that tells of a of a young girl that gets AIDS during a blood transfution and her family begins to break up and then comes together once a- gain.This story is for anyone that has ever dealt with a lose or is sick or not dealing with pain at all. Just as a fair warning it is a true tear jerker.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply Moving
Review: This book is so poignant and lovingly crafted that I cried. The writing is beautiful as is the way this story unfolds, and what this family goes through in a time when AIDS was not accepted is angering.

After reading this book, I dreamt that I was diagnosed with AIDS . . . definately not a pick-me-up, but a poignant and tumultuous tale.

Rating:
Summary: This is an inspitational book.
Review: This book really hit the heart. It showed what a family with a terminally ill child went through. I admired Ivan, the father, at his willingness to accept the facts near the end.

Rating:
Summary: Hug A Person With AIDS-You Won't Catch It!
Review: This book tells the story of an American family, as ordinary and special as your own is. Polly is the mother of two children, a boy and a girl. Ivan her husband, is an astronomer. Their son Charlie is an eight-year-old obsessed with dinosaurs; and Amanda their eleven-year-old has high aspirations with gymnastics.

When Amanda suddenly becomes ill, her mom takes her to the family doctor, thinking it's only the flu. But a real tragedy is in store for the whole family, when they find out that the real problem is AIDS. As the word spreads, throughout their neighborhood and community, the family is shunned. No one wants to come around them, thinking they will contract the virus by getting too close.

The book is very true-to-life, in that it points out that AIDS is misunderstood by others. The author points out that the only way to get AIDS is through blood or other body fluids. You don't get the virus simply by being a friend, or family member to a person with AIDS. Very well written.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read!
Review: This book was on my summer reading list in high school nearly six years ago. I purchased the book in June, and like most students, did not pick it up until the night before the test. I fell in love with the book and stayed up all night long reading it. (I also received an A on my test!) Alice Hoffman is a passionate writer and because of that, I was able to literally feel the pain, triumph and strength of each character in the book. Since then, I have read this book over a dozen times, and each time I still cry at the end. Make this book part of your summer reading, but don't let it collect dust for three months like I did!

Rating:
Summary: loved it
Review: this moving book is one of the best I have read. it's great and shows how close-minded people can be when something big happens

Rating:
Summary: A long-lasting tear jerker,you will never forget!
Review: This story is about a little girl,who contracts AIDS while getting a blood transfusion a little while back.Soon she comes down with a horrible cold,but her mother always tells her children,you'll be better in the morning.This time,her child is not.She goes to the docter and they soon find out that she has the AIDS viris.It is a very new viris to their little town.Many worries spred,as everyone sees it,she is not even human.A little hope and prayer will pull this family together,as she goes through her life thats just begining,with AIDS.If you read this book it will capture your heart.I just couldn't put it down.I am a 12 year old girl and I thought this was one of the best books I will never forget ever!