A Rose for Melinda

by Lurlene McDaniel

Book Overview

Letters, journal entries, e-mails, doctors' reports, and instant messages weave this heartbreaking story of an aspiring ballet dancer battling leukemia and the effect it has on her family and friends. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553570900
• ISBN13: 9780553570908
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.5" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

And You Think You Got It Bad..

And You Think You Got It Bad.. In this book, Melinda is a sweet young girl with a passion for ballet. She has a best friend named Jesse who she met in 1st grade and his parents got divorced so he moved to California with his mom. Melinda has lots of dreams, one especially is to be a professional ballet dancer one day, but little did she know she was diagnosed with leukemia at age 14, and so this book shares Melinda's thoughts, feelings and life events writing in letters, emails and diary entries. I really enjoyed this book because it taught be that life is alway s worth living for even though there are some bad but some good always believe in yourself and never give up especially on your dreams.Reviewed by Jennifer Yu, 6th Grader

Good, but flaky.

I love Lurlene McDaniel's books, I've read almost all of them, and I was definately not upset with the book "A Rose for Melinda." It's a very good story, very touching, and very sad. I really like the format it's written in - all letters, journals, and memos.A Rose for Melinda starts off with Jesse Rose and Melinda Skye in first grade. Jesse and Melinda have a great friendship, and always look out for each other. The friendship stays strong and great throughout 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. grades. Jesse moves away when his parents get divorced, but Melinda and Jesse are still best friends.Then, when Melinda is living her dream (taking professional dance classes in Washington D.c.), she faints. So, Melinda goes to the hospital, has some tests, etc. But, when the test results come back, the Skye family is shocked: Melinda has lukemia.Melinda's friends Bailey and Jesse are there for her all the way, and both Bailey and Jesse become friends too (with each other). In the end, will Melinda survive? Or will she need a bone marrow transplant? And if she does get a bone marrow transplant...will her body reject the marrow?This story is really good, but it's a lot like a Lifetime movie. I reccommend it, but this is one of McDaniel's flakiest books. Hopefully, her next one will be better.Overall grade: A-

Heart-warming story about a ballerina w/ hopes and dreams

A Rose for Melinda is one of the best books i've ever read!! being a dancer myself, it made me realize how lucky i am that i have the oppertunity to fullfill my dream as a professional dancer one day. Melinda had a great family, a friend, Bailey, and her best friend from 1st grade, Jesse Rose. When Jesse's parents get divorced, Jesse and his mom move to California. when Jesse find out that Melinda is sick w/ leukemia, he sells his skateboards and all of his baseball cards, trying to raise enough money to come visit her. (is that sweet, or what?) when he gets down there, Melinda and Jesse realize they are more than just good friends. once they realize their true love for each other, Melinda finds out that she has stopped responding to treatments. Jesse flys down to be w/ her during his summer break, and tells her he will never let her be alone through all of this. it is such a sweet book, i never wanted to put it down. picturing Jesse and Melinda's love for one another made me realize how much i truely love and value that one special person in my life. everything Jesse would do for Melinda would make me feel so...i dont even know how to describe it...but it made me feel wonderful inside. this is by far one of the best books out there. a must-read for any dancer, or anyone who loves a good heart-warming story. make sure you have a tisse box handy though, i made that mistake, and my pillow still has tear stains.

A truly Touching story

Books that are happy yet sad and are loaded with all kinds of emotions are the best type of books to me. Are they to you? Lurlene McDaniel's "A Rose for Melinda" is a definitely that tyoe of book.This book is amazing a total WOW! "A Rose for Melinda" is the best book I have read all school year. It is so full of very strong emotions. This book may be sort of small but it tellsthe story of Melinda Skye's struggle against a deadly disease called leukimia perfectly.In the book Melinda meets this boy named Jesse. Jesse is vey protective of Melinda.They share their hopes and dreams with one another.When Jesse's parents get a divorce Jesse moves to California with his mother.Both he and Melinda are heartbroken.the summer before melinda goes into the sixth grade she meets this girl named Bailey Taylor.they become best friends.Melinda has always had a dream of becomeing a Ballerina.One summer when Melinda is in a ballet class in Washingtin D.C.Melinda collapses.She then get diagnosed with a terrible disease.Bailey and Jesse are melinda's best friends so they try to cheer her up. Melinda does everything in her power to overcome this treacherous disease. I love to read and I have read so many good books in this school year alone.i found one of Lurlene McDaniel's books and after i read one, I continuously searched for more books by her.When i found "A Rose for Melinda" I didn't think I would like it, but I do I love this book. It has so many emotions in the frist few chapters that i was pulled into it. I read this book in not even two days. This book is great, no not great,amazing totally amazing!!! This book is definitely a five star book!

Any dancer's dream book

I finished this book in three hours. It sort of captivated me because the thought of something taking dance away brings tears to my eyes. It was a very inspiring book, and I would recommend it to anyone who has dreams in their hearts.