"When Archie's beloved grandpa is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Archie tries to slow the progression of his grandpa's memory loss through shared role-playing fantasies. But he has to face the reality of what he's losing"--
Hardcover
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
"When Archie's beloved grandpa is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Archie tries to slow the progression of his grandpa's memory loss through shared role-playing fantasies. But he has to face the reality of what he's losing"--
Description
When Archie's beloved grandpa is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Archie desperately wants to slow the progression of his grandpa's memory loss.
Using Grandpa's old journal entries as inspiration, he creates shared role-playing fantasies with epic quests for them to tackle together—allowing Grandpa to live in the present and stay in touch with his fading memories. But as Grandpa's condition gradually worsens, Archie must come to terms with what's happening to his hero. The limits of the fantasies, revelations about Grandpa's past, and a school project about the future force Archie to grapple with what it truly means to live a life worth remembering.
Awards
School Library Journal Best Book of 2022
Critic Reviews
“"'Grandpa didn't recognize me today.' This heartbreaking statement opens Dalton's tale of 13-year-old Archie, whose beloved grandfather has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. No longer able to ignore the symptoms, Archie is desperate to retard Grandpa's memory loss. That's when he remembers the fantasy adventures they used to share and decides to revive them. Soon the two are battling dragons, but the success of this strategy only temporary. In the meantime, Archie and his friends are given a major school assignment: write an essay and mount a display about their future. Archie secretly hopes that his future might involve lovely Desta, on whom he has a major crush, but he is afraid to make a move. As for the assignment, he hasn't a clue what topic to choose. What does he want to make of his life? And what to make of this book? Its first half is rather tepid, but it is redeemed by a dramatic second half that will deeply involve--and move--its readers. An important subject and one that, altogether, is well-handled."--Booklist”
"[A]n excellent book for students who are close to their grandparents and wonder about Alzheimer's."—Children's Literature
"Dalton sensitively delineates the complexities of loss, hope, and love in this unusually rich and philosophical middle-grade novel."—The Horn Book Magazine
"This novel sensitively explores difficult issues with hope and warmth, creating believable characters readers will care about."—School Library Journal
"[W]ill deeply involve—and move—its readers. An important subject and one that, altogether, is well-handled."—Booklist
About the Author
Ryan Dalton spends his time thinking up stories when he’s not wearing a cape and fighting crime. He’s a singer, a voiceover artist, a pretty decent amateur chef, and a lover of all things geek. Ryan lives in an invisible spaceship that’s currently hovering over St. Louis, Missouri. He is also the author of the Time Shift Trilogy.
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