Review Detail

"Gertrude changed my life in many ways,
Both big and small."

Lady Sunflower is a poignant memoir that I could not put down. In this touching collection of poems, stories, and songs, author Sierra Shuck-Sparer shares how her life was altered at age 15 when she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer. Sierra provides straightforward, apprehensible cancer explanations and beautifully portrays feelings of hope, optimism, and expectancy, as well as doubt and anxiety, that all cancer patients can relate to.

This book is enlightening, making it a terrific book to read if you or someone you know is battling cancer. I admired Sierra's honesty and courage. She shares the good and bad days and isn't afraid to voice even her most vulnerable stories and poems. Her creative songs add a touch of creativity and even humor, and they helped me to understand her personality and overall experience better.

LADY SUNFLOWER is a truly memorable book. I wish I had met Sierra in person, but reading this memoir, it felt like I knew her. This book is her legacy, and I am so glad that her story will continue to touch countless others as it did me.