Overview

""When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics."" So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can't forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

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Reviews

""Above average in this burgeoning subgenre; it's the healing powers of friendship, love, and family that make this funny-yet-philosophical tale of brutal teen illness stand out."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" ""Betts portrays cancer as hard, scary, and isolating, but beatable--or at least bearable--if one isn't facing it alone, and her depiction of a boy trying to hold onto a normal life and a girl realizing she can't keep hers from changing has power."" -- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Narrators Kristin Condon and Nicholas Mondelli voice the title characters, two teens residing in adjacent rooms of a cancer ward. The novel begins with Zac's perspective, and Mondelli brings a world-weary yet hopeful quality to Zac's voice as he recovers. His pacing is slow and measured, highlighting his feeling of resignation toward his slow treatment. His calmness contrasts with his description of Mia, who is angry, stubborn, and prone to fits of shouting. When Condon later narrates Mia's perspective, she reveals surprising vulnerability in an internal monologue that adds dimension to her complex character. Condon and Mondelli give thoughtful and subtle readings."" -- ""AudioFile"" ""The teens are in stark contrast to each other, though not always in surprising ways. Despite this, their situations are engaging, and their yearning to be treated like normal teens is well crafted."" -- ""Booklist"" ""There's complexity in their sometimes thorny relationship that makes this compelling as more than just a romance, but their connection is ultimately satisfyingly heartfelt. Hand this to readers looking for a love story with shadows but not inevitable doom."" -- ""Bulletin of the Center for Children's Literature"" ""This story is both heartbreaking and hopeful...Zac & Mia holds its own as a smart, well-crafted story about the importance of friendship and feeling understood."" -- ""School Library Journal"" ""This Australian import, told from alternating perspectives, introduces two characters who are remarkable in their own right."" -- ""Horn Book Magazine""

Author Information

A.J. Betts grew up in Far North Queensland, Australia. She has taught in Brisbane and traveled the world with a backpack and camera. When she's not writing or teaching, she rides bikes, bakes, and occasionally communes with the sea lions that live near her home in Watermans Bay. Kristin Condon is an accomplished actress, dancer, movement artist, and narrator. A life-long lover of books (she even studied literature in college), she delights in bringing stories and characters to life in the sound booth. She holds an MFA in acting from the University of Southern California and currently lives in Brooklyn with her editor husband and their Australian Cattle Dog. Connect with her at KristinCondon.com and on Instagram @KristinCondon. Nicholas Mondelli is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.

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