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Cover of SURVIVING PARIS
4.70

Based on 30 Goodreads ratings

SURVIVING PARIS

by 2020, she was in her fifth apartment. But her biggest challenge was medical. In 2018, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The title Davis chose for her memoir refers to physical as well as emotional survival: nine surgical procedures over five years in a health care system that made her feel unheard, “dragged along without agency over my body, my health,” she writes. After a mastectomy, reconstruction, and removal of lymph nodes, impending chemotherapy and radiation finally incited her to speak up. Fearing that chemotherapy would compromise her fertility, she insisted on freezing her eggs. Davis also writes about dating and forging a sense of community as a Black woman in a new culture. “Living in France,” she notes, “I’d had my fair share of ‘Was this person racist to me or just rude?’—even more than I did in the US.” Still, she has persisted, determined to survive and thrive in a place she has grown to love."

Book Details

Publisher:Paris in
Published:2016-01-01
Pages:256
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780063353

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This gripping young adult novel plunges readers into the chaotic aftermath of a devastating earthquake that levels the City of Light, following a group of international teens who must navigate collap...

Our Review

This gripping young adult novel plunges readers into the chaotic aftermath of a devastating earthquake that levels the City of Light, following a group of international teens who must navigate collapsed landmarks and desperate survivors. The narrative masterfully balances pulse-pounding survival action with the emotional weight of sudden catastrophe, transforming familiar Parisian settings into treacherous landscapes where every decision carries life-or-death consequences. Through ruined museums and flooded Metro tunnels, the story explores both the physical challenges of finding shelter and clean water and the psychological toll of watching a world-famous city crumble.

What sets this disaster novel apart is its authentic portrayal of modern teenagers relying on their wits and limited resources rather than adult intervention, creating a compelling coming-of-age story set against extreme circumstances. Readers who enjoy high-stakes adventure fiction will appreciate the meticulous research evident in the survival techniques and the diverse cast of characters who each contribute unique skills to the group's efforts. The novel ultimately delivers a powerful message about resilience and human connection that will resonate long after the final page, making this an unforgettable addition to the teen survival genre that manages to be both thrilling and thought-provoking.

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