Defiance

by Valerie Hobbs

A memorable trio of characters, each fighting for independence
Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on
his he wants to hike and race his bike down the hill
and learn to fish out on the lake. The last thing he wants is
to return to the children’s hospital where his painful cancer
treatment finally ended. When Toby starts spending time with
Pearl, a spunky old woman who lives on a nearby farm, and
Blossom, her broken-down cow, he sees all the more reason to
keep the new lump on his side a secret from his parents. From
Pearl he discovers the beauty of poetry, and from Blossom he
just might uncover the meaning of life.
In this honest and life-affirming novel for young readers, which
Suzanne Fisher Staples, author of the Newbery Honor Book
Shabanu, calls “beautiful and gripping,” an unforgettable boy
learns about the importance of letting things happen on their
own and listening to his heart.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens, Friendship, Death, Fiction

116 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2004

About the author

Valerie Hobbs is the author of many award winning novels for young adults including Sonnys War, Tender, and How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadnt Called You Back, for which she was designated a Flying Start author by Publishers Weekly in 1996. Hobbs was the winner of the 1999 PEN/Norma Klein award for an emerging voice of literary merit among American writers of childrens fiction and the Arizona Library Association Young Adult Author of the Year in 2003. Defiance, her most recent middle-grade novel, was given the 2006 most distinguished fiction award by the Childrens Literature Council of Southern California and has been nominated for twelve state awards. "

Reviews

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby Steiner is eleven years old and is supposed to be in remission – he’s not. But he wants a normal life more than anything – one where he isn’t sick all the time, one where he doesn’t have to spend his life in and out of hospitals, taking treatments that make him feel even worse than the cancer does. So, when he discovers that the cancer has returned, Toby decides to keep it a secret for as long as he can. His mother takes him away for summer vacation to a secluded cabin in the country, but it’s hard for her to let him be a normal kid. She wants to protect him and keep him safe from everything. Toby’s frustration finds him biking out regularly to a farm up the road, where he befriends a cow (Blossom), and her elderly owner, Pearl.

You can learn a lot from an abused cow and an embittered old woman, especially when both cow and woman know a fair amount about life and have thought a fair amount about death. So, when Toby does get around to telling Pearl about his cancer and about his decision not to treat it this time, she doesn’t come right out and tell him that he’s making a terrible mistake. She listens to him. And then she tells him a story of her own. It is Toby who eventually decides that he wants to fight for his life. And it is Toby’s strength that helps Pearl return to writing the poetry that made her famous many years ago.

This is a beautiful novella. It comes in just over 100 pages, but it tells you everything you need to know about Toby and Pearl. There are a lot of stories out right now about kids and cancer (particularly leukemia), and this one manages to be beautiful and heartbreaking and right on for a juvenile audience. Toby is both gentle and fierce in his relationships with others and life. My complaint about so many of the children’s and young adult titles that I’ve read recently is that they seem more like sketches than full-fleshed stories. And I’ve wondered a lot if that’s because they were written for children (or for people with short attention spans) – do they think that children don’t/can’t appreciate details? Or is it just laziness? Oh, this doesn’t have to be as rich or tight because kids aren’t going to know the difference anyway. I don’t know. It makes me appreciate the stories that are really well-written, that include just enough information/details, and manage to be palatable for both children and adults. Highly recommended.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiance by Valerie Hobbs is about a boy named Toby and his struggle against cancer. During the summer he takes a vacation to the countryside, where he meets an old woman named Pearl and Blossom her cow. They end up becoming friends and neighbors. Since Toby has cancer he is not supposed to do a lot of things because his mother worries. But as any kid would do, he disobeys his mother. On his morning bike ride he sees a cow that looks a little too thin. The next day he decides to confront the owner and their friendship begins. After their friendship has grown he finds a cancer lump on his side, he decides to leave it there without telling his mother otherwise he will just go back to children's. Will his mother find the cancer? Blossom is an old cow and her days are numbered. Will she die? Pearl was a poet in her day now everybody wants her to make a comeback, but she is not ready. Her children are always being pesky and bothering her about not living in a safe environment. Will Her children ever stop bothering her, will she ever give in and write a book? to find out read this book

[Manny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a boy named Toby who had cancer and is now cured. He has an over protective mom, who worries too much about him. It is summer vacation and all Toby wants to do are normal things. He wants to hike and race his bike down the hill, and learn how to fish on the lake. What he doesn’t want to do is go back to the Children’s Hospital where his painful cancer treatment finally ended. The plan was that his dad would arrive to the little cabin they rented on Fridays, and leave on Sunday afternoon. Toby would wake up every morning and ride his bike to a field where he would visit a cow. There, he would feed her Cheerios or bring her a tasty apple. He wondered why the cow was so skinny. She was surrounded by grass but still was skinny. After feeding her he left to his cabin fast because he didn’t want his mother to get mad at him. When he got there, perfectly on cue, his mother was waiting at the door. She would always get mad at him, but just like he says in the book, sick kids get away with everything. If he would pretend he was sick, his mom would forget about what he did and take really good care of him. The next day Toby went to see the she-cow at the field and again wondered why it was so skinny. He grew angrier and angrier, and finally decided to go find the criminal who treated this poor animal like trash. He rode his bike to an abandoned barn. He thought nobody had lived there for years! On the door of the barn, was a message that said, “Whoever Takes My Freedom Takes My Life” BANG!!! There was a loud noise in the air. Just like a bullet, Toby took off on his bike back to his cabin. On the way Toby wondered what that noise was. It sounded like a gunshot. Was somebody trying to kill him? Did somebody get killed? When he got to his cabin, his dad was waiting for him. He gave his son a helmet to put on while he rides his bike. The next day he went back to the barn where the noise had come from. There he thought he had seen a witch carrying a broom trying to kill the crows that rested in her tree. “Get out of my tree,” she yelled. Then the witch knelt on started crying. Toby went to help the witch and found that she wasn’t a witch, but an old woman. He helped her up, and asked for her name. “My name is Pearl,” the lady explained. “Why don’t you come inside for some tea?” Pearl asked. So Toby followed Pearl inside for some tea. Toby had never tasted tea before, but he said yes anyway. Pearl told Toby that she loved poems. Toby had never read a poem before and thought he might have fun so he tried it out. When he read the poem, he didn’t understand it. So Pearl told him to read it again, but this time don’t read the words, imagine them. When he read them again he saw a changed. He didn’t see the words he visualized them. Pearl and Toby became best friends, and Toby would go everyday to Pearl’s house to read stories and drink tea. After a week Pearl asked Toby if he could milk cows and Toby said no. Pearl said, “Well then you’re going to learn.” She gave Toby a bucket for the milk, and a stool to sit on. After that, Toby and Pearl headed outside to find Blossom. Toby put the stool on the ground and pulled an utter. “Mmmooo!”Yelled the cow. Pearl told Toby to not to pull, but squeeze, so that is what Toby did and out came the milk spilling into the bucket. The next day Toby went to Pearl’s place and saw that no one answered the door, so he went around through the barn. There was Pearl with Blossom, and a man who looked like a vet. “What’s happening,” Toby asked. “Blossom is sick, and the doctor is checking her’” Pearl said. The vet stuck his hand into the cow’s mouth and said, “Yep she’s gummed.” That’s why Blossom was so skinny, because she couldn’t chew her food. After that, the doctor left. Pearl sat down said and said to Toby, “I was once a poet.” That is why she liked poems so much Toby thought. A whole month passed, and Toby still visited Pearl. One day when it looked like it was about to rain, Toby went to visit Pearl. She came to the field where Blossom always stood, but she wasn't there. So Toby went inside the Pearl's house. There he asked, "Where is Blossom." "I don't know she always comes inside for tea time," Pearl said, "She didn't even leave me a message." "What!" Toby thought, "The cow talks? Since when?" "Since a long time," Pearl answered. Pearl didn't believe her, but he went with it. Pearl asked Toby if he could take him out to the field to see Blossom, and he did. When they got to Blossom, they saw her lying on the ground. Both Pearl and Toby lay on the ground with Blossom, their heads rested on top of her belly. "Its okay girl," Pearl told Blossom. Toby didn't hear a response of the cow, but did see it blink. Then Toby knew that the Blossom spoke with body gestures. Cows had their own language he thought. "Is Blossom dying?" Toby asked. "Ssssshhhhhh!!! She can here you," Pearl said, "Instead of saying that spell it out." So that's what Toby did. After a few of minutes, Blossom kicked the bucket. Toby and Pearl were really sad, and they went inside. "Blossom old me that you are going to write a hundred more poems," Toby lied. The next day, they buried Blossom, and said prayers for her to rest in peace. Toby visited the farm every summer until he turned 17. On the morning of Pearls hundredth birthday, she died peacefully in her sleep.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 stars.

This was a good, if short, book. In just over 100 pages, the author developed the theme of...well, freedom.

Toby is eleven years old. He has cancer. They thought it was gone, so he went on vacation...only to find the lump on his side. He decides to keep it a secret.

On his vacation he meets a cow named Blossom and then her owner, a famous retired poet named Pearl. An odd friendship follows. Pearl helps Toby make a decision and Blossom the cow teaches them both about the meaning of life.

Overall it was a sweet little story. Here's my favorite part from it:

"Mostly she [Blossom] talked about clover. Things like that."

"What's there to say about clover?"

Pearl chuckled. "Blossom fancied herself a poet. Clover was a kind of poet's shorthand, a metaphor for all the things she loved. She loved life a great deal, you know."

"Even when the bad things happened?"

"Even then."

...

"Smell the clover?" said Pearl.

Toby took a deep sniff. It was the best thing he'd ever smelled in his life. He breathed it in until he was light-headed.

"While you were sleeping, Blossom and I had a good long talk, Toby," Pearl said. "She talked about her going, abut its being her time to go. Even though she wanted very much to stay here with us, she was ready."

"I wish I'd known her longer," said Toby.

"She could be a real grouch, you know."

"She could?"

"Oh, yes. She had her moods."

They were nearing the house, all its windows dark. Toby listened with ears he never knew he had, saw things as if he had super night vision. He tried to breathe in enough clover to take back with him to the city.

When they got to the door, Pearl put her hand on the knob. Then she turned suddenly to Toby, fixing him with a milky stare, almost as if she were angry. "Blossom said it wasn't your time to go, Toby."

Toby looked at Pearl, at the little old white-haired lady, the famous poet, the crazy witch. "Pearl?"

"Yes, Toby."

"Blossom is...Blossom was just a cow. I mean, she was a really cool cow. But she was just a cow. How could you believe in a cow?"

Pearl smiled, a tired little smile. She reached up and laid a hand on Toby's shoulder. "I believe in you, Toby."

"Pearl?"

"Yes, Toby?"

"Blossom told me something, too, about you. The other day when, um, when I was milking her!"

"She did, did she?"

"Yup. She said that you were going to write a hundred more poems."

"Hmmmph," said Pearl.

--

So there you have it. The meaning of life according to a cow. :)

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short and sweet little young adult novel about a boy with a stubborn cancer that just keeps coming back. Toby finally decides that he's tired of fighting and of how bad the chemo makes him feel, and tries to hide his latest relapse from his parents while they spend the summer in the country. The novel doesn't really go too deep with this idea, but instead spends most of its time focusing on his growing friendship with an elderly neighbor and her cow. Their sweet conversations touch on defiance, appreciation of life, acceptance of death, and responsible choices, without being too heavy-handed. Kids will identify with Toby's feelings of irritation at his mother's overprotectiveness, but will hopefully also see the love that shines through as well.

It's a bit on the light side for adult tastes, but is probably appropriate for kids who don't have a lot of patience for longer novels. I think the author sells kids a bit short, though. I have read plenty of young adult novels that deal with themes like death, serious illness, and family tension, and do so with the depth of many "grown-up" novels. It almost seemed like the author didn't think kids could handle it if it got too sad, so she even tacked on a ridiculous "afterword" where she reassures the reader that all the characters end up okay. The book is probably about right for a 4th to 6th grader, who likes having everything wrapped up, but teens who read a lot might prefer something with a little more substance.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this 2005 title while we were weeding our fiction collection, and although this is only 116 pages long, there's a lot here. Toby has been treated for cancer, and he is desperate to live like a normal kid. He and his mom are spending the summer in a cabin; his dad comes up for some weekends. Toby's mom is (understandably, I thought, as a parent) super-protective: helmet, sunblock. Toby has found another lump, but he's stalling telling his parents, because he dreads the long course of treatment and the disruption of his life it would all be. While riding his bike, he comes across a cow that he thinks doesn't look good, so he finds the owner, an old, nearly blind woman, Pearl, who turns out to be a "retired" poet. Her daughters, thinking she's too old to live alone, want to get her to move out of her house. Toby starts helping her with the farm chores, and the two bond over their "defiance": their determined efforts to make their own choices and hold onto their independence as much and long as possible.

I liked how Hobbs wove poetry into this story, and the way the relationship between the two unlikely friends unfolds. You could have a great discussion about how much independence parents should give their kids, and under what circumstances. There's also some subtle stuff about Toby's parents and their relationship: they seem distant, but Toby sees them come together in trouble. How do families deal with stress?

For kids who like drama; rich, but not long.

[KidsFiction Teton County Library]

TCL call number: J Hobbs

not rated

Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on his vacation; race his bike down hills and fish out of a lake. The last thing he wants is to return to the hospital for more cancer treatment. The chemotherapy he endured was painful enough the first time; and no matter what happens, Toby is determined never to go back. That's why he hides a growth from his parents, knowing that will mean the end of his break, and the end of his new friendship with his 94-year-old neighbor, Pearl, a strong-willed and spunky woman with a past as a famous poet as Toby comes to find out. Pearl makes Toby read poetry to her although he doesn't really understand most of it. She can't read it herself as she's nearly blind, a reassuring quality for Toby, as he doesn't want to be treated as "the sick kid" -- easily identified by his shining bald head as a result of his chemotherapy.

Read this heart-warming tale to see what happens to Pearl after her children insist that she move out of her home, to Pearl's beloved cow, Blossom, and to Toby after his secret lump is revealed to his parents.

Some readers may be disappointed in the sappy ending, while others will revel in both Toby's and Pearl's personal growths as a result of their unusual friendship.

[Kantorfan96 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me and I instantly felt compelled to read it. Toby is a boy who just wants a normal life away from cancer. When life just about gets a push in the right direction Toby discovers a "lump" (tumor) on his arm. Throughout the book Toby strives to keep this secret away from his parents. Along the way he meets an old lady named Rose, who through poetry, teaches Toby a different side of life.
Valerie Hobbs exceeds the skill of elaborating or describing the scenery, every description leaves a clear pictures in mind while at the same time keeps you thinking. She also successfully keeps suspense VERY interesting while at the same time makes the book unpredictable. She makes sure that the reader has time to put into perspective of their own life, to think, and to imagine the scenery while behind this you still ponder on the ending. Yet the only downfall on Valerie Hobbs is her poor ability to add characters of any sort, she focuses on 2 main characters, and a couple other characters. This isn't exactly how you picture a professional author.




(P.S. Mr. Kantor is awesome)

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toby is an 11 year-old boy who just wants to be normal. For example, not have people staring at his bald head and pretend that they didn’t. He goes on vacation with his parents out to the country-side where they rent a cabin to live in to celebrate the completion of his cancer treatment. When Toby realizes he has a new lump on his side, he keeps it a secret, in hopes of never having to go back to the children’s hospital. Toby comes across a farm and meets Pearl and her cow, Blossom. While he spends more time with them, he might’ve just discovered the true meaning of life.

I picked this book because the words on the back cover of this book really stood out to me. “Whoever steals my freedom takes my life.” Also, after reading the description on the back cover, it made me want to know if he really did discover the true meaning of life.

If finished this book because I wouldn’t be able to stand not knowing what happened to Toby or if he really did discover the true meaning of life.

I think Leah would like to read this book because the genre of this book is realistic-fiction and I think she likes reading realistic-fiction.

[The Full Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Full Bookshelf Reviews

"Rage, rage, rage, against the dying of the light."

This is a cancer awareness book, but very different from The Fault In Our Stars. Although it has the same heartbreaking factors, it also has a bittersweet ending with a little bit more sweet than bitter. It took me two days to read it.

Toby won't tell his parents that, shortly after his cancer treatment comes to an end, his health may be in danger again. So he ends up with a heavy secret when he goes on the vacation that introduces him to Pearl, an eccentric elderly poet, and her beloved old pet cow, Blossom, who just may teach Toby a few lessons about life and death.

While this book was sad, it was also humorous and light hearted at times, which is what a middle grade novel should be. It was filled with Toby's emails to the friend he met at the hospital, 'Popeye', whom, though we never really get to meet her, other than the emails, ended up being one of my favorite characters. (Bonus point:she and Toby bonded over Harry Potter!) And, though I'm not going to give anything away, all's well that ends well.

Defiance is a four star book.

☆☆☆☆

[Maureen Milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up as a possibility for my Intermediate readers who want accessible realistic fiction with a few tears at the end and "Defiance" proved to be just that. It opens with 11-year-old Toby, who has undergone treatment for cancer, meeting a neighboring cow. He is away on vacation with his mother, while his dad comes in on the weekends from work.

Toby develops a fondness for Blossom the cow, and eventually gains a job as her milker and as a house-helper to Blossom's aged, infirm owner, Pearl, a poet with failing eyesight who refuses to relinquish her independence and her farm. You can envision the trajectory of the story with the overprotective parents, the children who want to institutionalize their ailing mother, Toby's secrets to protect both himself & Pearl from loss of freedom, and (spoiler!) the eventual demise of Blossom. Pearl lives to be 100 & Toby lives on to become a doctor.

It delivered what I had hoped and I already have a list of readers lined up with the tissue box.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Toby isn't telling his parents about the lump that has reappeared on his side. No way, no how. He's been through surgery, chemo, and hospital stays and he's done. He wants to enjoy his summer vacation out in the country. He wants to ride his bike. And he wants to hang out with his new friend Pearl. Pearl is an unlikely friend for an elevn-year-old boy. She's old, practically blind, and she rages against her daughters who want her to abandon her old farmhouse and move in with one of them. But as Toby and Pearl spend more time together and take care of Pearl's sick cow, Toby realizes that they have more in common than he would have thought. And perhaps they both have something to fight for.

A tiny gem of a book, the story is short but it tackles big ideas. It plunks you down in the middle of things, but not in a way that makes you feel lost. And, for a cancer book, it wasn't nearly as depressing as I'd feared it would be.

[Mr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toby Steiner is eleven years old and he is going through cancer. Toby's one wish is to be able to do normal activities like other children and not go back to the Children's Hospital where he just recently had his cancer treatment. Toby has made a friend on a nearby farm named Pearl and he also talks to Pearl's cow, Blossom. Another reason why Toby fears going back to the Children's Hospital is because he has a lump on the side of his leg and he doesn't want to tell his parents because he wants to go back to the way things were when he didn't have cancer. Pearl and Blossom almost help Toby become or FEEL normal and they help him get through his hard times such as now. Being with Blossom and Pearl has helped Toby's relationship with others and it has also helped him open up to others and learn a lot about poetry. ~Serena Collins
128 pages

[83breaking_heart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Defiance is about a boy named Toby who has had cancer all his life. Apparently he is cured now and goes on vacation to rest. He wants to do everything a normal 11-year-old boy would want to do but cant. He meets an old lady and a cow that show him a new way to look at life. A couple days in he notices a symptom that has proven he still has cancer. But he decides not to tell his parents and hang out with his new, VERY old , poetic friend.

This book was very uninteresting. I think that the author could've put a lot more into it. It is a book that would look completely flat on a diagram. I think it was kind of good and he sort of learned something from Pearl, and that was DEFIANCE. I dont think that is a good trait to have. He was very rude and only really thought of what he wanted. All in all I wouldnt recommend the book UNLESS you like reading very mellow books.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read three (of 15 total) of the books for this years elementary SSYRA, but I suspect this book will be one of the best of the bunch. It is the story of an 11 year old boy named Toby living with cancer. His parents take him on an extended vacation in the country that he never wants to end. So much so, he has chosen not to tell his parents about the telltale lump that nearly certainly signals that his remission is over. He meets Pearl, an elderly former poet, and begins helping her around her home. His favorite job to do for her is to milk and care for her old cow, Blossom. Soon, his parents discover his lump and Toby must face leaving Pearl and Blossom behind to return to the children's hospital. This book is beautiful, with a tear inducing but cathartic ending. This book is highly recommended for readers of all ages.

[Rania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy I came across this book, it's just one of those that feels like an old friend the second you start reading. I know a lot of people are marking it as a book for children with light themes, but I completely disagree. I think Defiance serves as an excellent example of how children's literature often covers huge themes and ideas that are too complex and difficult to convey properly in heavy adult novels. Topics like illness, death, fear of the unknown, friendships, losing loved ones, and facing fears and consequences all appear throughout this book, and those aren't easy things to think about. Hobbes does a wonderful job incorporating all these themes through a beautifully written and charming narrative woven through with gentle reminders of the quiet loveliness in the simple things in life.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son was assigned this book for 7th grade English. He has some learning disabilities so we've learned that he does better having someone read to him when he has questions to answer and I got to work with him on it and was very glad too. This was a beautiful story of courage, friendship and family. My son talked about the freedom that this boy felt during this summer and that he could understand how he felt about his cancer since my son has several food allergies. We were able to talk about the value of unexpected friendships and how sometimes it hardest to really talk to the people closest to you. And I almost cried at the end. This could have easily been written as a lot longer novel but it works just the way it is. I think I just enjoyed the characters so much I wished I could spend more time with them.

[Salsabrarian]

Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner is spending vacation with his mom in a summer cabin. It's a break at last from his hospital stays, surgeries and medications for cancer. He enjoys riding his bike and exploring the country but his mother's protective ways drive him crazy. It's partly why he hasn't yet told anyone about the new lump in his side. While exploring the area, he befriends Pearl, a no-nonsense elder woman who owns a farm with a cow and was once an esteemed poet. Her daughters argue over whether to place her in a home. Toby and Pearl are kindred spirits in that they both are sure of where the belong no matter what family says. Yet each pushes the other to stretch beyond their personal boundaries.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effective - in part because it's short, in part because there's a leavening of humor in it. Would make a terrific read-aloud for a 5th-grade teacher, maybe especially because of the language and the references to other literature. For example, consider Pearl's twin daughters. Miranda is from The Tempest and Cassandra from King Lear, iirc; the students could check on that.

I, personally, did not care for the afterword, nor do I understand why it was not called epilogue. It made it seem like the novel is actually true. Well, there are lots of Tobias Steiners out on google, but the other Pearl Rhodes Richardson was from N.C. and apparently a homemaker & matriarch.

Anyway, good book, could even say enjoyable, recommended.

[Kim B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? I wish it were longer. I loved getting to know Toby and Pearl (their friendship reminded me of a platonic version of "Harold and Maude," just slightly), and I didn't think their story deserved to be wrapped up in only 115 pages or so, with a three paragraph afterword. Then again, if it had gone on longer it may have lost its appeal to me... no, no way. This was such a good story, with such good writing. It deserved at least fifty more pages to flesh everything out just a bit more to make it perfect. A short read, but by no means insubstantial. Most books three times its length have less meaning.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this older book in our collection that I have NO idea why it just called to me on the shelf! It's about 11 year old Toby who is in remission from cancer and his (WAY over protective) mom and (workaholic) dad take him to a cabin to vacation for the summer. Toby discovers that he just wants to be a normal kid and when he discovers that the lump in his side has returned he chooses to not tell his mom and ride his bike without a helmet; lay in the field with Blossom, a rescued cow; and visit Pearl a famous poet hiding from the world, too...sweet, sweet book.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defiance is about a boy named Toby who has cancer. He's on vacation but he can't do a lot because of his over protective mom. One day he's riding his bike and meets an old lady named Pearl and a cow named Blossom. Pearl is nearly blind but teaches Toby many things and teaches him about the love of poetry. But Toby finds a bump on his leg. He doesn't want to tell his mom and return to the hospital.

I loved Defiance. It was a great book. It's a great book for kids in 4th-7th grade and even some adults. Especially if you love cows. You'll love it.

[Jennifer Hanneken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because it is a young Hoosier nominee this year. It was excellent! It had many references to "classical" poetry, and it really brought it down to the understanding level of an upper elementary or middle school student. I can see this being used to "spring-board" or "tie-together" a unit on poetry. It was also particularly moving for me as the child deals with a life-threatening illness and the idea of death--it made me think of my own "sicky" kid, Harry.

[Morgan]

Defiance is a great book that explains and gives an inside look at the emotional rollercoasters of cancer. This book is one of my favorites. I would most deffinately reccomend this book to anybody, especially people who need an escape from their own problems. I absolutely LOVED this book. Once i picked it up i couldnt put it down because i just had to know what would happen next. Kudos to Valerie Hobbs.

[Houston Miller]

1/9/13
This has been very good so far, its about a young boy named Toby that has cancer and his mom doesn't think he can do everything a normal kid can. But Toby proves he can, he goes on bike rides and milks pearls cow blossom almost everyday. and now his mother makes him wear a mask when he goes to pearls because she saw how messy the place was, she is just worried that Toby will become sick again.

[Bmack · Rating 3 out of 5]

2007 Rebecca Caudill nominee. This is a story about an eleven year old boy named Toby who is vacation and befriends an older lady. Toby struggles because he has cancer and wants to be able to do things other kids take for granted like riding a bike. Pearl because she needs Toby as much as he needs her but for different reasons. It is a very touching book with an uplifting ending. The book helps you think about what children with cancer go through.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a feeling for the country from this book. The smell of clover, flies buzzing around a cow's head. Great description and interaction between characters. A quick read... perhaps low on the excitement arc. A sick boy makes a choice about his life, after hanging out with an old, eccentric, independent woman. 22,040 words,

[Leiya]

This book made me cry I felt so badly for the little boy. He had cancer and was staying at his lake house with his mom. he rode his bike down the rode one monring and met an old woman. He latter became good friends with her. He spent every day at her house and worked for her. when he went back to the hospitle he called her every day, untell the day he died.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small little story about being able to make your own choices about your life. Toby is 11 and doesn't want to continue with his cancer treatments. Pearl is 90 and wants to live on her own, without interference from her daughters. Together, with an amazing cow, Blossom, they are able to give each other the strength to find their paths.

A YA novel.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The touching story of Toby, a boy dealing with cancer, and his very special friendship with an elderly poet. They are just what each other needs, and both are courageous and strong. I really appreciated getting the young cancer patient's views on what treatment was like for him, not just his parents' point of view.