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We Are Not Alone
Win a free print copy of this book!
28 days and 23:35:03
5 copies available
U.S. only
After his best friend dies, cancer survivor Sam is given a notebook filled with his friend's mysterious theories about the universe, which sends loner Sam and popular girl Cat on a journey to find the secrets of the unknown—only to discover that the answers are closer than they think.
- GenresMiddle Grade
Published January 1, 2024
About the author
Katryn Bury
3 books50 followersKatryn Bury works with middle grade readers as a youth library technician. A lifelong true crime nerd, she has a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminology. Her short and serialized fiction can be found in Suspense Magazine and The Sleuth. She lives in Oakland, California with her family and a vast collection of Nancy Drew mysteries.
Website: katrynbury.com Instagram/Twitter: @katrynwrites
Website: katrynbury.com Instagram/Twitter: @katrynwrites
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 16, 2024
Wow. All I can really say is wow. I don't know how Katryn Bury managed to take such a heavy topic, childhood cancer, and make it feel lighter. Sam is such a real character. He's quirky, and sweet (and his moms are the literal best characters ever). Given the heavy subject matter, the addition of an X-Files like show as an obsession was a welcome breather. Similar to Katryn's other books, the banter is her strong suit in writing. The back and forth between Sam and Cat is so quick and real that you feel like you are there with them.
Don't let the backdrop of Sam being a cancer survivor sway you away thinking this book is going to be sad and overly heavy. This book is as uplifting as they come and a great way to introduce middle grade readers to the reality of cancer and not fitting in.
I would give this book 10 stars if I could, and look forward to sharing it with my nieces and nephews.
And I know I said it before, but Sam's moms are the literal best and I want a book of their love story.
Don't let the backdrop of Sam being a cancer survivor sway you away thinking this book is going to be sad and overly heavy. This book is as uplifting as they come and a great way to introduce middle grade readers to the reality of cancer and not fitting in.
I would give this book 10 stars if I could, and look forward to sharing it with my nieces and nephews.
And I know I said it before, but Sam's moms are the literal best and I want a book of their love story.
July 15, 2024
I loved this book! It was beautiful and insightful, and it tackled tough topics in a smart and sensitive way. At the same time, though, it was also really fun! The middle-grade voice was spot-on, and the characters were so lovable and real.
It follows Sam, a recent cancer survivor and UFO enthusiast, as he returns to school. The transition is especially tough as he is also dealing with the loss of his best friend, Oscar, to brain cancer. Things look up when he's paired with popular girl Cat, a secret mega-nerd, to work on a school project. This leads to an even more exciting personal project, as they investigate a UFO mystery left behind by Oscar.
My heart went out to Sam as he struggled to downplay his fears and anxieties, in an effort to appear "normal" and prevent the people around him from worrying. He had such a loving heart and genuine affection for his moms and friends. And while they were supportive and kind, Sam would still do anything to keep them from being unhappy-even lie. I appreciated his journey as he learned to let people in and tell the truth, even when it's hard.
I adored Cat and enjoyed her journey, as well. The banter between her and Sam was hilarious, and I loved everything about their growing friendship: the code-cracking, the mystery solving, the nerding out over shared interests, and the mutual support.
Also, I just have to say, I would LOVE to be friends with Sam's moms.
Definitely recommend!!!
It follows Sam, a recent cancer survivor and UFO enthusiast, as he returns to school. The transition is especially tough as he is also dealing with the loss of his best friend, Oscar, to brain cancer. Things look up when he's paired with popular girl Cat, a secret mega-nerd, to work on a school project. This leads to an even more exciting personal project, as they investigate a UFO mystery left behind by Oscar.
My heart went out to Sam as he struggled to downplay his fears and anxieties, in an effort to appear "normal" and prevent the people around him from worrying. He had such a loving heart and genuine affection for his moms and friends. And while they were supportive and kind, Sam would still do anything to keep them from being unhappy-even lie. I appreciated his journey as he learned to let people in and tell the truth, even when it's hard.
I adored Cat and enjoyed her journey, as well. The banter between her and Sam was hilarious, and I loved everything about their growing friendship: the code-cracking, the mystery solving, the nerding out over shared interests, and the mutual support.
Also, I just have to say, I would LOVE to be friends with Sam's moms.
Definitely recommend!!!
August 23, 2024
Sam is a recent cancer survivor and dealing with the loss of his best friend Oscar to the disease. When Sam has trouble returning to school and having to pretend everything is "normal," he prefers to escape into his favorite sci-fi TV show rather than deal with doctor visits or his parents' questions. Along the way, he meets Cat, who shares his interest in science fiction and paranormal activity. She might even be able to help Sam solve some clues about UFOs that Oscar left behind in his notebooks. However, Sam has trouble telling her the truth about his condition, since his friendship with Cat offers the only avenue where he feels like he can be himself outside of his diagnosis. Since the author is a cancer survivor herself, this book provides a helpful lens into what it's like to not only have cancer, but deal with its aftermath, especially regarding how to heal both mentally and physically. Despite the heavy topics it covers, this book is a light-hearted and digestible read for younger readers.
May 13, 2024
As this is an issue book, teen cancer, it is always a challenge t.o know what will appeal to readers. This was a muddled read. Sam is in remission but the fear of cancer is a constant worry for him. And he has not dealt with the death of a fellow cancer patient he became friends with through a teen support group. Enter a crush, Cat, that he randomly gets assigned a class project to complete. And the introduction of so much paranormal stuff and an X-files like TV show obsession, didn't interest me at all. The author is a cancer survivor so this story has insights to living with cancer that are an important perspective. But that isn't enough for this reader.
May 19, 2024
As a teacher, what I love most about this book is that I can offer it to students who are struggling with tough issues - like cancer. However, it's about more than the illness. It's about friendship, curiosity, and perseverance - all topics I try to cover during SEL lessons. And best of all - it's a page turner! So easy and enjoyable to read. I loved it, my students loved it, and even a few parents have picked up copies and loved it! Easy to read and easy to recommend!
June 29, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews