Thursday, February 16, 2012

Blind Speed Dating #4


Title: THE SYMPTOMS OF OUR SHADOWS
Genre: YA Contemporary
Word Count: 61,000

Query:

When fifteen-year-old former ballerina, Alice is diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia her prognosis is grim, at best. So, Alice makes a list of things to do and people to ruin. After manipulating her kind-hearted best friend, Harvey, into helping her, Alice sabotages the school play, humiliates her ex-boyfriend, and rescues a tiny terror of a Pomeranian. Together as they complete the list, Alice and Harvey explore the highs and lows of their ever-changing, and at times toxic, lifelong relationship as well as the grey area between just friends and more than friends.

All of Alice’s scores are settled— until she goes into remission. Now, a year later, and very much alive, Alice must face the legacy she left behind and live in the shadow of all that she’s said and done, including her true feelings for Harvey.

Told at different intervals, and from the perspectives of both Alice and Harvey, THE SYMPTOMS OF OUR SHADOWS chronicles what happens when Alice says her final words, only to find that life isn’t through with her yet. With a full cast of multidimensional characters and a weaving plot, THE SYMPTOMS OF OUR SHADOWS will interest readers of Jenny Han’s SUMMER series and fans of the motion picture MEAN GIRLS.

First 250:

Before I could stop myself, I reached for my hair, my fingers smoothing over my naked scalp. Gone, it was all gone. Even now, almost a year later, it still came as a shock. I did this several times a day, like clockwork. It felt like a phantom limb, my hair.

My oncologist for the last year or so, Dr. Meredith, bustled through his office door. Noise from the hallway bled through for just a moment, before the door shut behind him, sealing us in. My mom drummed her fingers on her leg, a nervous habit. Dad reached over and took her hand in his, absorbing her tension.

Dr. Meredith was a large, robust man, and jolly too, with rosy cheeks and this perpetual baby powder smell. I always thought he would be better suited as a Santa Claus at the Green Oaks Mall rather than a doctor charged with the duty of delivering earth-shattering news. Maybe his appearance was supposed to soften the blow. The bad news is you have cancer. The good news is Santa Claus is your doctor. Peppermint stick for your trouble?

I’d always had this strange affinity for fat doctors. I wondered if they got on their scales every morning, shook their fists at death, and said, “Ha! Still fat and still breathing, suckers!” But, seriously, they knew how very possible it was to just die. At any moment and for no reason. Death did not discriminate. Death did not see age or cholesterol or workout regimens. Death saw time, and my time was just about up. 

23 comments:

  1. Honorary Cupid Waffle FriesFebruary 20, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    This sounds great, sort of reminds me of YOUNG ADULT. Struck with Honorary Cupid Waffle Fries arrow! One partial for the win!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great query! You've been struck with Honorary Cupid Agent Amour's arrow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Honorary Cupid Agent AmourFebruary 20, 2012 at 1:15 PM

    ...for a partial (1 arrow) - Honorary Cupid Agent Amour

    ReplyDelete
  4. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:58 AM

    *thunk* *steal* *cackles*

    You've been struck with Honorary Cupid Plum Charming's (3) (super special, sparkly) arrows for a FULL REQUEST.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Honorary Cupid Waffle FriesFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:58 AM

    Struck with Honorary Cupid Waffle Fries' three (3!) arrows for a full! Waffle Fries for the win?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no, I was too early! This time!

      Honorary Cupid Waffle FriesFeb 23, 2012 08:58 AM
      Struck with Honorary Cupid Waffle Fries' three (3!) arrows for a full! Waffle Fries for the win?

      Delete
    2. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:01 PM

      Hehe, we did the same thing. Wonder if Cupid can see the seconds for the tie breaker?

      Delete
    3. Ha, maybe! Unless you want to arm wrestle for it? Thumb wars? Um... scrabble? :-)

      Delete
  6. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:59 AM

    Oops! will do it again, I promise!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:00 PM

    *thunk* *steal* *cackles*

    You've been struck with Honorary Cupid Plum Charming's (3) (super special, sparkly) arrows for a FULL REQUEST.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh no! Plum, we resent at the same time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Honorary Cupid Waffle FriesFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:03 PM

    Cupid, what happens now?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:07 PM

      Rock Paper Scissors?

      Delete
    2. That or the high jump!

      Delete
  10. In my comment stream I am showing Plum Charming's second official post coming in before Waffle Fries'.

    Kinda confusing with the threaded comments, but that's what my behind the scenes comment feed says. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Email shows the same. I think we need to award this one to Plum Charming!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    I do like your scrabble suggestion. Very fitting. Us being in the word business and all. Except... I happen to suck at Scrabble. And the high jump. How about an Iron Man Triathlon type race?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Honorary Cupid Plum CharmingFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM

    Yay! *Rocky theme song plays*

    ReplyDelete
  14. ::sad violin music::

    ReplyDelete
  15. Agent Laura BradfordFebruary 24, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    Since it is a big ol' free for all now, I'd like to request a partial of this ms.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to see this, too!! When it is free!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Same here! Would love to see a partial when it's free. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete