Rob Harrell

Rob Harrell’s Wink is both funny and poignant as 7th grader Ross Maloy deals with a rare form of eye cancer. Ross would rather be a low-key kid in middle school, but his cancer makes him stand out – he has a squinty eye, a funny hat, funky eye ointment, and the effects of radiation such as hair loss and rough redness on his face Ross deals not only with the standard insensitivities cancer patients often encounter but a student in his class is posting awful memes about his illness. Despite this, Ross’s father, stepmother, and his best friend Abby help him cope with his treatments, bullies, and loss of friends, and try keep the serious diagnosis from overwhelming him (and at times it does). During his treatment, Ross develops other friendships with his radiation tech/guitar teacher and another cancer patient who understand his cancer in a way his own peer group cannot.

All the supporting characters add depth to the story and help Ross discover that music and friendship can see him through the dark times and his insecurities. Ross and Abby have a great friendship and Ross is a strong character that is also self-effacing – I think this is a strength of the novel. Rob Harrell’s own experience with cancer gives Wink a genuine feel and a platform for middle grade readers to talk about illness, empathy, and compassion without being overwhelmed by a heavy tear-jerker.… (more)