Cursed is a difficult book, as it deals with a fourteen year old girl, Ricky, who has just been diagnosed with a serious chronic illness. Having been in a similar position, although slightly older when my illness struck, I can unequivocally state that this book honestly reflects the physical and emotional struggles of such a diagnosis. It does it in a high school setting and with a broken family, reflecting the realities of too many kids and of high schools today.
During the book Ricky learns to live with her disability. She also learns from her disability. Rooting for her, watching her learn how to stand up for herself and voice her needs, how to function in spite of pain, and how to depend on others makes this book hard to put down.
Great Characterization
The cast of characters is varied and vividly drawn, from mean girls to a teacher who at first is disdainful but comes to be one of her greatest supporters by making her stretch intellectually in spite of her pain.
Weakly Jewish
This is one of the books that almost made it to the Sydney Taylor Prize for a Young Adult book portraying the American Jewish experience. Unfortunately, almost the only Jewish reference was mention of Ricky’s Bubbie, who makes a joke with “a super-heavy East Coast Jewish accent that makes the joke even more hilarious.”
The lack of meaningful Jewish ideas saddened me, but this is the truth of the experience of vast numbers of American Jewish kids today. It will show non-Jewish readers that Jews are just like them. To those of us who find meaning in our differences and in our tradition, this is sad.
Well Worth Reading
In spite of these drawbacks, this is a book I would strongly recommend to teens. Sensitizing kids to the troubles of others can only help make them kinder and more thoughtful, and watching someone whose troubles are worse helps many young people navigate their own difficulties. And finally, this is a gripping page-turner worth reading just for enjoyment.
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