Told in verse, One Day Soon by CRISTY BURNE is a story of how, ultimately, a few special moments can matter most. Read on for an extract.
ABOUT THE BOOK
What if one day soon never comes?
When Alex’s parents receive a message that brings shocking news, his whole world is turned upside-down: Alex’s uncle has been diagnosed with a genetic form of Motor Neurone Disease. The ripple effect is immediate – it means his dad has a fifty per cent chance of carrying the fatal gene. And if Dad has the gene, Alex has a fifty per cent chance of carrying it, too.
But even as Alex grapples with mortality, he discovers the unexpected joy, deep love and impromptu dance parties that come from living closer to death.
Told in verse, One Day Soon is a story of how, ultimately, a few special moments can matter most.
**********
EXTRACT
The news
Archie and me pour home
juggling battered schoolbags
chatting and walking
and planning our weekend
I’m going to invent a door-opener I say
So I can close my door
without getting out of bed
That’s a door-closer says Archie
Whatever
When we bust inside
hot and sweaty
Dad is home early
opening the door
Hi boys
which isn’t right
and Mum has made popcorn
which is all kinds of right
except not right right now
because now we have to sit
at the table
and
We heard from Uncle Rohan’s doctor
says Dad
and his voice doesn’t
sound like his own
I connect the dots
I know it’s bad
cancer
or infection
or irritable bowel
(worse even than the flu)
But I trust in inventors and doctors and tech
so I know it can be cleared up
whatever it is
it can be
cut out
scared away
made to stop
On the grained wood of our table
Dad squeezes Mum’s hand
like he’s squeezing out the life
and then he says
Motor Neurone Disease
and somehow those three words mean
Uncle Rohan isn’t just sick
The hospital has sent him home
Those three words mean
there’s nothing we can clear up
or cut out
or scare away
that will make it stop
Some time
Dad phones and texts and leaves messages
for days
Maybe he just needs time
Mum says to Dad
and nights
He probably just needs time
Dad says to Nonnie
until finally
He just needs time
Dad tells himself
and I can tell
he wants to believe it
he gives up
Motor
motor …
motorhomes for sale
motorbike
motorsport
motor neurone disease
motor neurone disease …
motor neurone disease symptoms
motor neurone disease life expectancy
motor neurone disease clinical manifestations
People also ask:
What is the longest someone has lived with motor neurone disease?
What are the first signs of motor neurone disease?
How does MND cause death?
The beast
Prognosis
is a word I learn
from the internet
So is
Neurological
Progressive
Untreatable
Fatal
Motor Neurone Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Progressive Bulbar Palsy
The beast with many names
None of them change Uncle Rohan’s prognosis
I don’t spend too long
looking things up
But it’s long enough to find out …
No one knows what causes MND
No one knows how to make it go away
Ms McDonald always says
learning should be fun
but that night
I learn too much
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cristy Burne grew up climbing trees, jumping drains, chasing cows and inventing stories. She has a passion for learning through doing, and loves to inspire creativity, daring and resilience in her readers. Cristy is a children’s author and science writer with degrees in Biotechnology and Science Communication. She has also worked as a science circus performer, garbage analyst, Santa’s pixie and atom-smashing reporter.
Cristy Burne’s children’s fiction book, Off the Track, was shortlisted for the 2022 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award (WAYRBA). Her other titles with Fremantle Press – Into the Blue, Beneath the Trees, and To the Lighthouse – have all been popular with young readers.
You can read our Q&A with Cristy on Beneath the Trees here.
Follow Christy Burne on Instagram
Visit Fremantle Press’s website
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