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Reviewed by: Anna Bayerl, Junior High School Librarian Title: No Matter the Distance Author: Cindy Baldwin Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 5-8 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction/Verse Novel
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Some descriptions of the symptoms of CF may be disturbing to a sensitive student. Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Updating our collection of verse novels this features a girl with Cystic Fibrosis. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: You can't help but cheer on Penney and Rose. Theirs is a friendship most of us cannot even imagine!
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Review:
Penney Rooney was born with Cystic Fibrosis, but she is more than her illness. She is stumped when her teacher challenges her students to write a poem describing who they are for a poetry slam. She wonders, "Who am I?" She has until the end of spring recess to discover the answer. On the first day of vacation, she and her sister, Liana, swim in the creek behind their house. Noticing a gray fin, Penney and Liana, quickly get out of the water. Expecting to see some sort of shark, the girls find it is a dolphin playing in the water. They are far from salt water, so why is the dolphin in their creek? They named the dolphin, Rose. Disbelieving at first, their parents witness Rose's existence the next day. When Penney wakes up in the morning she senses Rose soundlessly calling to her. She jumps out of bed and sneaks outside to the creek to look for Rose. When she sees her, Penney jumps into the water and begins playing with the dolphin. Her dad contacts a friend who is a marine biologist and she brings a team with her to investigate. As the week goes on, and Penney continues to secretly swim with Rose, her lungs begin to fill with mucus and breathing becomes difficult. After examining Rose, the marine biologist discovers the dolphin has developed pneumonia and must be led back to her pod. Both friends are sick and only getting worse. They communicate telepathically through pictures and words, knowing they will soon need to part for both of them to remain healthy.
The author does a great job of explaining Cystic Fibrosis and demonstrating, through Penney, the effect it has. Her parents are very supportive. When she is first diagnosed with CF, her dad goes back to school to become a Respiratory Therapist. Her mom, a school secretary, is able to keep a close watch on Penney as well. The reader learns about things that people with CF are unable to do, like going on a kayaking trip as Penney's dad and sister go on each year. The equipment for her treatment which is several times a day, is too big and requires electricity to operate. Some of the descriptions of coughing up mucus are fairly detailed. Penney is a great character, trying to be brave and not complain about the treatments or all the things she cannot do, but when she discovers that she may have to go back into the hospital, and her best friend is moving away, and Rose is sick and must be returned to her pod, life seems overwhelming and it is only through the loving care of her family that she grows into the knowledge of who she truly is.
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Find more resources for No Matter the Distance at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website
Find this book in the Monroe 2 Sora Collection