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 quickly and treatment is pretty full on with heavy side effects. The story is told from the perspective of Ross and how he understood what was happening , what the adults did and said and how it all made him feel. It's a lovely honest and funny story . Its not focusing on the doom and gloom of cancer but the things you learn when you have it . Like what matters most, who matters most and that's it's ok to be angry sometimes. It's an amazing, uplifting book i will be sharing it with my son once he is old enough. His dad died of cancer when he was 1 so reading this story will hopefully make him feel what his dad must have felt when he was doing through treatment.

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 and the interspersion of somewhat comical drawings provides a safe distance from which children can explore or perhaps draw comfort in a subject area which could be a frightening reality for some readers. Not only does the author Rob Harrell allow us to experience how this rare form of eye cancer affects the story's main character, 12-year-old Ross, but it also enables us to see the broader implications of how the disease, and how Ross deals with it, affects the lives of his close and wider circle of friends and family and the classmates at his school. I would recommend this 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 through his current cancer treatment, back to when he was first diagnosed, and other Bad Days that Ross has experienced along the way. Throughout Ross has to contend with his self conscious worries about his cancer on top of his normal teenager worries. Given the subject matter, many may steer clear of this book - especially as it is a teen/YA book; however the author has approached the topic with an affable sense of humour and included cartoons and illustrations throughout, which makes it very readable. The fact that this is based on the author's own experience with eye cancer gives the book gravitas, and I would definitely recommend reading it to anyone - not just the teen or YA market.

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 easy to read, but stays interesting, it has a fantastic pace to it. I enjoy the humour poking fun at serious situations and making light of awkward and upsetting subjects, yet you still get the deep feeling of dread and suspense in wait of what will happen next. I feel like the author writes about these situations and sums up the main characters thoughts and feelings perfectly; they're stuck in a terrible situation yet their mind continues to wander and attempt to lighten things. The author captures the feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and the urge to improve or ease the feelings or outcome. The illustrations are wonderful too, and help with the pace and flow of the book. They're funny too, and assist with portraying the inner-workings of the main characters mind. All the characters are fascinating, I'd love to know more about every one of them, and they're interesting without being too cliché or basic. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this first read and would love to read more.

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 page turning fiction book, for young people to read and adults. Much of the character Ross cancer treatments are based on Rob’s experience with cancer. In Wink a character Ross suffers from eye cancer. The story is very educational as it takes readers through the steps of radioactive, where Ross has to wear a mesh mask with an eye hole and has to keep his eye on a Red Cross. I loved the little illustrations showing what the mesh mask looked like and the red cross. Children can be quite inquisitive. We are taken through the question what school friends ask Ross and the ones that really care about Ross. Wink is quite a heartbreaking read as Ross suffers from a puffy eye and surgery with a slot scar and hair loss. Just like the author went through, with his eye cancer. By Doctors orders hats are an important part of life for Ross to keep the sun off his face which he has to wear inside and outside. Once again this fact why Ross had to wear hats became educational. The drawings of all types of hats were amazing. I highly recommend Wink as it’s a page turner fiction novel being, very educational. Everyone is talking about Wink. It’s the perfect type of book you can sit and read your self what ever your age or read to your child. This is a perfect choice for schools and book club to talk about. If there is a caregiver in your life, drop everything and go give them a huge bear hug. Seriously. Go do it now before you forget.