Love, Ish

Love, Ish introduces Mischa 'Ish' Love, a bright and quirky twelve-year-old whose deep fascination with Mars serves as both an escape and a focus for her future. She believes she's destined for the red planet, a place where her unique perspective will be understood. However, her world is turned upside down when she receives a serious medical diagnosis. This poignant novel explores Ish's journey as she grapples with fear, uncertainty, and the need to connect with her family and friends, all while holding onto her dreams. It's a story about resilience, finding bravery in the face of adversity, and discovering that belonging can be found right here on Earth. Ideal for children aged 8-11, it offers a sensitive yet hopeful look at coping with illness.

My name is Mischa “Ish” Love, and I am twelve years old. I know quite a lot about Mars. Mars is where I belong. Do you know how sometimes you just know a thing? My mom says that falling in love is like that, that the first time she saw Dad, she just knew. That’s how I feel about Mars: I just know. I’m smart and interesting and focused, and I’m working on getting along better with people. I’ll learn some jokes. A sense of humor is going to be important. It always is. That’s what my dad always says. Maybe jokes will be the things that will help us all to survive. Not just me, because there’s no “me” in “team,” right? This is about all of us. Together. What makes me a survivor? Mars is going to make me a survivor. You’ll see. * In Karen Rivers’s riveting new novel, Ish’s dreams for a future on Mars go heartbreakingly awry when an unexpected diagnosis threatens to rewrite her whole future.