Synopsis
Ross Molloy just wants to be normal. He doesn't want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don't know what to say to 'the cancer kid'. But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, simply blending in is no longer an option. Ross - and his friends and his family - all need to work out how to deal with this devastating challenge that Life has thrown down. Maybe Batpig can come to the rescue?
Based on Rob Harrell's own real life experience of eye cancer, and including amazing comic-strip artwork, this poignant and authentic novel is unforgettable, hilarious and uplifting.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Templar Books
- ISBN: 9781471409141
- Number of pages: 320
- Dimensions: 202 x 129 x 20 mm
- Interest age: From 10 years
- Weight: 238g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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I LOVED IT!!
This book is phenomenal!! Whilst this book is obviously aimed at a younger age bracket than I am myself (possibly 10-15 year olds) I thoroughly enjoyed it!... READ MORE
Well written and humourous
Ross, a seventh grade student, chronicles his life and the reactions of the people around him during his treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer. It is ... READ MORE
A light hearted read
This is a light hearted read about a young boy who has a rare eye cancer and needs to deal with everyday life including school.
Ross Molloy tries to get ... READ MORE
I loved it!
From the front cover to the ending, I absolutely loved this book. It only took me 2 days to read so not the longest book but just long enough for a good re... READ MORE
Brilliant
This book is so easy to read. It covers the usual childhood/early teenage issues with school, fashion, identity and relationships.
However it also covers ... READ MORE
Very approachable
This book tackles a serious issue in a way that’s very easy for an older child to comprehend but written in a way that’s very relatable. Ross is a very ave... READ MORE
Funny, engaging and poignant
The subject matter, cancer, seems to conflict with the bright engaging book cover, but after reading it is a fitting contrast. While the subject matter is ... READ MORE
Loved this!
What a great book! An honest, lighthearted and beautifully written insight into Ross' struggles with childhood cancer. From discovering new friends and the... READ MORE
Brilliantly witty
I highly recommend Wink by Rob Harrell, it is a semi autobiographical book about teenager Ross, who is diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer above hi... READ MORE
Uplifting read for a difficult topic
This story about a young boy named Ross centres around his cancer diagnosis. It shows how children can be strong in times of adversity and in places it rea... READ MORE
Surprisingly light hearted journey
The conversation went like this: "Whats that book? it really like the cover".
"Its called Wink, a new young adult book"
"what is it about?"
"A kid who ha... READ MORE
Brilliant
What a lovely little book this is! Firstly the cover is so bright and appealing it instantly attracts you. It follows a young boy ,Ross, through his diagno... READ MORE
Awesome book
Wink is a story of a boy , Ross , who finds out he has a cancer in his eye. Its is a very rare and very aggressive cancer and things need to be done quickl... READ MORE
An insightful and hilarious insight into a painful subject
Wink is an insightful semi-autobiographical novel by Rob Harrell. Based on Harrell’s own experience of being diagnosed and treated for a very rare form of ... READ MORE
Amazing book
I have really enjoyed reading this book, it's a fiction book based around a school boy and cancer he was diagnosed with cancer around his eye, but it's als... READ MORE
Brilliant
This was such a great book to read. I thought that it dealt with the topic in a great way that will definitely appeal to younger people.
The characters w... READ MORE
Drawn in by the cover, adored the story.
I was really drawn in by the eye-catching cover of this book, I could tell it was going to give me the feels. I'm pleased to say I really enjoyed it, a hea... READ MORE
Well written account of a difficult subject
I was really pleased to win a copy of Wink to review. It is written from the perspective of Ross - newly diagnosed with a rare and invasive cancer and tryi... READ MORE
Not normally my type of book
I don't normally read books like this as i find them difficult to read but i think as this one was aimed at teens it was easier to read. I really enjoyed R... READ MORE
A New Yet Familiarly Touching Story
In the first 25 pages of this book, nothing that I thought would happen did! Although the story of a child dealing with cancer is one that has been told be... READ MORE
Great Book
Based on his own experiences of a rare and aggressive kind of cancer, Rob Harrell has written a very accessible book. Although written for children the bo... READ MORE
A fantastic read, insightful and thoroughly addictive!
What a great book! An honest, lighthearted and beautifully written insight into Ross' struggles with childhood cancer. From discovering new friends and the... READ MORE
Touching...And Rocking!
The book is more or less (read the author's note at the end) true story about something very sad and heavy but deliveres in the most light hearted and read... READ MORE
An important read
Wink is about a boy called Ross, who has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of eye cancer. The book jumps about in timescales; from following Ross ... READ MORE
Story is inspirational
The cover caught my attention. The story is very interesting and it covers an important social anxiety issue, it took me two days to finish this book. Writ... READ MORE
Breathtaking!
An amazing story about a young boy named Ross dealing with normal boyish stuff but on top of that cancer. This was such an amazing story, based off the aut... READ MORE
A Quirky Read Focusing on A Very Real Issue
I'd first like to say a big thank you to the teams at Readers First and Hot Key Books for kindly sending me a copy of Wink to read.
Seventh-grader Ross is... READ MORE
Touching and perceptive
A very touching and perceptive book on cancer and the way it affects a child’s life.
It is written in the first voice so straight away you really understa... READ MORE
Memes
Great story based on true events.
Ross develops a rare form of eye cancer affecting his tear duct. He's only a teenager and as well as struggling with scho... READ MORE
Great Cartoons
I loved this book, with Ross,the young boy and the main character in the book being diagnosed with cancer I thought I would be pulling on my heartstrings a... READ MORE
Great for older kids
The book follows the story of Ross who is diagnosed with cancer. I liked that the character is so relatable- it feels like we are really inside his head.
... READ MORE
Brilliant
I whizzed through this, I loved the story of Ross Malory and thought the author did a great job of relaying his own personal experiences as an adult throug... READ MORE
Loved this!
This is a fantastic book, truthful, heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time.
It reminded me very much of Wonder, but it is so much more as well. T... READ MORE
Memorable story!
Wink is a YA book written by Rob Harrell and based on his own experiences. The central character is Ross who unfortunately has just been diagnosed with a r... READ MORE
A 5 star read
Thank you to Hot Key Books and Readers First for a review copy of this book - my thoughts are my own.
Originally after reading this book I gave a review o... READ MORE
I loved this book!
I must say I absolutely enjoyed this book, it covers a serious topic of cancer in a lighthearted way. The illustrations throughout the book were well recei... READ MORE
Smile
Wink..surviving school with one eye open.
The author of this book Rob Harrell was diagnosed with eye cancer in 2005. he tells us this story of Ross (who is... READ MORE
Wow!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The subject is very heavy but it is written in a really accessible way and I loved the bat pig comics. I realise the book i... READ MORE
Brilliant
I read a preview version (the first few chapters) of this book on Reader's First, and I loved it.
I'm really looking forward to reading more. It's really ... READ MORE
Hard hitting
At the start I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this and I did indeed find it a very tough read.
The story focuses on Ross who is diagnosed with an aggressive... READ MORE
Recommended Reading
Wink is an imaginative piece of writing for older children which cleverly deals with the sensitive subject of child cancer. The upbeat choice of language ... READ MORE
For children 10 to 14 and adults/ book clubs/ schools
The author Rob Harrell, in October 2005 was very sadly diagnosed with a cancer above his right eye. Brave Rob took his eye cancer ordeal and made It into a... READ MORE