A Time For Dancing
By Davida Wills Hurwin
Two friends who spend more time with each other than with their own families, and if you find one the other can't be far behind. In their last year of high school, they are are certain that they will share the triumphs and face the tears together whether it's colleges or dance careers- whatever the future brings them. Unfortunately, an unknown pain with no cure takes over Juliana's life but it affects her "One and Only", her best friend, Samantha Jefferson Russell the First, dreadfully. In his piece of work, Hurwin introduces two narratives of inseparable best friends who share the love of dancing. One day in dance class, Julianna faints and is diagnosed with stage four of lymphoma, a type of cancer, and her illness is a major focus in this book. Since childhood, they have supported and leaned on each other emotionally and mentally but Julie finds that this is something she has to fight alone. The chemotherapy results in devastating effects: loss of hair nauseousness, isolation, depression and most unfortunate her gradual drift from Samantha. And even though she and Sam have supported each other for years, Juliana finds that this is something she must fight alone. Her life changes physically and mentally. For instance, after several chemo therapies, she begins to lose her hair and describes herself as "a demon- girl...face set and cold, clumps of hair sticking out from the patches of bald" (109). All of a sudden her life turns upside down and she is yet to prepare herself for the upcoming challenges. This book is beautifully written and highlights a living tragedy. The loyalty demonstrated in this book redefines what friendship is all about and as the reader switches perspective/narrative of Juliana with a struggling health but a perfect family to Sam with a perfect family but crumbling health, it makes them appreciate little moments in life.
Hurwin executes an outstanding job portraying characters through text and diction. The readers feel emotionally connected to the characters and their life. It is emotionally appealing and reminds you that friends are all about helping each other when one is in the midst of turmoil of life, and keeping up your hope when everything seems to be crumbling around you. This is a great young adult book and I would recommend it to teens who are into dramatic fiction. It has a bit of humor and at times it gets very emotional. It's definitely a tearjerker and readers feel involved and attached to the characters based on the characteristics and the plot. Through diction, the author leaves us feeling sentimental. For example, after discovering Juliana has cancer, to comfort herself, Sam asserts "The one important thing in the whole world was to have Jules be well. But how could she not be? She was my One and Only. We were together in this world, and nothing could change that, ever" (66). True friendship and compassion in the two girls for each other incite readers to keep reading the book and accentuate friends in their lives.
As I read the book, there were tears on my face as I admired the beauty of friendship and what happens when a loved one is dying in front of you. It made me appreciate my own friends and remind me that everyone is going through their own struggles and we should never judge anyone based on what you perceive of them without being in their shoes. I enjoyed reading it a lot and the main theme of this book especially intrigued me because everyone wonders how someone would react if a loved one became ill. Would it be a temporary concern? How would their lives be affected? However, it is a good reminder that illness and tragedies that affect one person also affect their family and friends.
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