I loved this book. ( )

I loved this book. ( )

I met Josh Sundquist at the first VidCon in 2010 where he showed us his one-legged rap video and presented one of his motivational speeches. It was amazing! So, when I found out he had written a book about his experiences, it immediately went on my to-read list. Now, it would take me another few years, and a few VidCons for me to actually acquire the book, but I finally did, and it was such a good read.

From finding out he had cancer at the age of nine, to losing his leg to that cancer, to trying to reinvent himself as a motivational speaker, to discovering his love of skiing and setting his sights on the Paralympic ski team; Josh has put his all into everything he's done. His story is truly inspiring. Also, he is completely honest in his account, including his moments of questioning both his religion and his own convictions in life. He also is frank in his admission to himself of his own depression and his efforts to deal with that.

Having met Josh after everything that happened in this book, it is interesting to see the person he has become after all he has dealt with.

Definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading truly uplifting memoirs. ( )

I really did not expect to love this book, but Sundquist strikes the perfect note, keeping the sentimentality, religious reflection (which I understand some people enjoy but is SO not my thing), and hand-wringing to a minimum and balancing the dark moments with wonderful levity that will make Just Don’t Fall appealing to a much wider readership. I’m giving Just Don’t Fall an enthusiastic 4.75 out of 5, and I don’t think I’ll soon forget this story, the first one that ever made me find a motivational speaker endearing.

Read my full review at The Book Lady's Blog. ( )

Josh Sundquist was only nine years old when he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare type of cancer which typically attacks the bone. In Josh’s case, he was given only a 50% chance of survival. He underwent a year of chemotherapy, spending most of that time in a hospital, and eventually lost his left leg to the disease. But he survived.

Just Don’t Fall is Josh’s story beginning shortly before his cancer diagnosis up to the 2006 Olympics. It is an inspirational story – not because Josh survived cancer and a leg amputation, but because of who he is as a person and how he got there. Raised in a conservative, Christian home and home schooled until his freshman year of high school, Josh Sundquist was surrounded by parents and siblings who loved him and a community who stepped up and gave their support when the Sundquist family needed it. Even still, the challenges were huge – financial, emotional, and physical. Josh’s mother, Linda, later was diagnosed with an incurable form of Lymphoma and his brother Matt struggled to find his own place in the world after growing up in the shadow of Josh’s cancer. Josh struggled to feel accepted by his peers as he grew from small boy into young man. Despite these challenges, Josh Sundquist had a dream. He had always imagined himself as a well known athlete, and becoming a ski racer on the Paralympic Team was the goal he set his sights on. In 2006 he skied for the United States Paralympic Team in Turino, Italy – an amazing accomplishment and a testament to courage, heart and perseverance.

I read Just Don’t Fall over a few short days and found myself completely charmed by the honest, heartfelt prose of a kid who overcame the odds to follow his dream. Josh Sundquist is funny, endearing, and genuine. In his memoir, he captures the innocent voice of his childhood which then evolves into the awkwardness of adolescence and finally into the insight of a mature young man. Just Don’t Fall is not only a story about how an individual overcame obstacles to become an accomplished athlete…it is about a family and a community, and the impact on them all with the devastating diagnosis of cancer. It is also a story of faith and doubt, and how one comes to terms with the fears and traumas of life while still believing in a larger purpose.

Josh Sundquist writes from the heart, and in doing so he pulls his readers deeply into his life. You will find yourself laughing, crying and eventually celebrating his accomplishments.

Recommended reading for those who enjoy well-written, touching memoirs with a message. ( )