|
you are here: home > family reading list > adult level books
Adult Level Books
For helpful ways to utilize the books and videos, check out helpful hints for using the Family Reading List. For your convenience, and in association with Amazon.com, you can purchase certain titles by clicking on the cover images.
|
|
|
Can I Still Kiss You?: Answering Your Children's Questions About Cancer Neil Russell. Health Communications, Deerfield Beach, FL. 2001.
Short yet hard-hitting, the meat of the book is actual questions from children and superb answers. Some examples are "What will happen to me if you die?," "Why are you angry with me so often?" and "All you ever seem to do is sleep." There is ample space for personalizing answers, as well as adding questions from your family. Guaranteed to change the way you think about communicating with your children. <back to top>
Purchase fromAmazon.com |
|
|
Cancer in the Family: Helping Children Cope with a Parent's Illness Sue Heiney. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. 2001.
Extensively researched and written by a team of psycho-social professionals, this book includes developmental information about children, what to say and how to say it at every stage of the cancer journey, as well as advice for the ill parent. Setting it apart are the chapters on the much ignored "Time After Treatment," a removable section, "Kid's Corner," containing reproducible activities for children, and a superbly annotated "Resource Guide." Highly recommended for adults. <back to top>
Purchase from Amazon.com |
|
|
Cancer Vixen: A True Story Marisa Acocella Marchetto. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY. 2006.
A sweet treat! Hip city girl and cartoonist Marissa sketches and writes with a take-no-prisoners pen. Her journey from pre-9/11, pre-cancer “it” girl through diagnosis and treatment while planning a wedding, dealing with friends and family, and meeting deadlines will have you laughing, crying, and feeling love for the human condition. Sharing this book will help your loved ones totally understand the breast cancer experience. Highly recommended for teen and adult daughters, or for husbands, relatives, friends. And don’t miss it yourself! <back to top>
Purchase from Amazon.com |
|
|
Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer Peter VanDernoot. Hatherleigh Press, New York. 2002.
Real-life stories of how some parents deal with their cancer and with the fears and anxieties of their children. Great variety of approaches, leading to a calming sense that all will be okay. Highly recommended. <back to top>
Purchase from Amazon.com |
|
|
How to Help Children Through a Parent's Serious Illness Kathleen McCue. Martin's Press, NY. 1996.
McCue's philosophy is that children are able to stretch their abilities to new and unexpected levels in the face of a family problem. Her book guides adults from the moment of diagnosis through death and its aftermath. Anecdotes, advice, and summaries are included in every chapter. Thorough, reassuring and highly recommended. <back to top>
Purchase from Amazon.com |
|
|
Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child When a Parent is Sick Paula K. Rauch and Anna C. Muriel. McGraw-Hill, Boston, MA. 2005.
This book promises to become the gold standard for parents living with illness. As the authors state in the epilogue: “This is a book about good parenting. It happens to focus on taking care of children when a parent is sick, but it mostly talks about things that would help any child grow up emotionally secure and healthy.” Rauch and Muriel bring children front and center in every instance, distinguishing it from other adult books on the list. Please read this book. <back to top>
Purchase from Amazon.com |
|
Videorecordings |
|
Beyond Flowers; What to Say and Do When Someone You Know Has Breast Cancer Affinity Films, New York, NY. 2003.
Give this movie to members of your support team: spouse, children, or friends. It is very touching, filled with real people’s stories and suggestions, categorized into sections: relating, organizing, processing, healing, transitioning, or receiving. This recommended film strongly emphasizes the importance of the family unit. <back to top> |
|
|
Breast Cancer Legacy: You Family History, Your Future Principle Picture. 2004.
Give this movie to members of your support team: spouse, children, or friends. It is very touching, filled with real people’s stories and suggestions, categorized into sections; relating, organizing, processing, healing, transitioning, or receiving. This recommended film strongly emphasizes the importance of the family unit. <back to top> |
|
|
Kids Tell Kids What It's Like When Their Mother or Father Has Cancer (videorecording) Susan Nessim. Cancervive, Inc., Los Angeles, CA. 1998.
Children aged 6 to 10 talk openly about their reactions, emotions, fears, coping mechanisms and hopes related to their parent's cancer. This beautifully crafted film will serve as a wonderful discussion starter for families. We recommend adult preview followed by family viewing. <back to top> |
|
|
When Cancer Hits Home (videorecording) WETA. PBS Video, Alexandria, VA. 1999.
This dynamic video production opens with a powerful 15 minute clip of Sherry, a thirty-four-year-old breast cancer patient. She, her husband, and four-year-old Sam discuss the disease and how they survive it as a family. Followed by discussion with a psychiatrist and Wendy Harpham, cancer survivor and author. Shows the value of openness and sharing for even very young children. <back to top> |
|
|
Will Mom Be OK? Families Talk About Breast Cancer Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Bosom Buddies, Inc., Chicago, IL. 2003.
An interviewer speaks with a psychologist and an oncology chaplain about dealing with breast cancer in a family setting. Sections include; Breaking the News, Communicating with Children, Managing the Daily Routine, Signs of Distress, and Your Emotions. This movie could help after your diagnosis in deciding how to share information with your children. <back to top> |
|