Breathing room

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Where to find it

Information & Library Science Library — Juvenile

Call Number
J Hayles
Status
Available

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Names:

Summary

Evvy Hoffmeister is thirteen years old when her family brings her to Loon Lake Sanatorium to get cured of tuberculosis (TB). Evvy is frightened by her new surroundings; the rules to abide are harsh and the nurses equally rigid. But Evvy soon falls into step with the other girls in her ward. There's Sarah, quiet but thoughtful; Pearl, who adores Hollywood glamour; and Dina, whose harshness conceals a deep strength. Together, the girls brave the difficult daily routines. Set in 1940 at a time of political unrest throughout the U.S. and Europe, this thought-provoking novel sheds light on a much-feared worldwide illness. Hundreds of thousands of people died each year of TB, and many ill children were sent away to sanatoriums to hopefully recover.

Marsha Hayles' Breathing Room is a masterful novel--both eloquent and moving--that gives voice to those who fought hard to overcome the illness.

Contents

  • Chapter 1 Leaving (May 1940) p. 1
  • Chapter 2 Loonless Lake p. 4
  • Chapter 3 Turning into a Patient p. 9
  • Chapter 4 A Gray Picture p. 13
  • Chapter 5 The Others p. 18
  • Chapter 6 The Land of Rules p. 23
  • Chapter 7 Smelly Stuff p. 28
  • Chapter 8 Going Home p. 32
  • Chapter 9 A Different June p. 40
  • Chapter 10 The Routine (June 1940) p. 45
  • Chapter 11 The New Bug p. 50
  • Chapter 12 Blue Nothing p. 54
  • Chapter 13 Blue Something p. 62
  • Chapter 14 The Giant p. 67
  • Chapter 15 Moving Pictures p. 70
  • Chapter 16 Out of Breath p. 76
  • Chapter 17 Flying Away p. 81
  • Chapter 18 A Boost p. 86
  • Chapter 19 Numbers p. 91
  • Chapter 20 Discharged p. 96
  • Chapter 21 Looking Back p. 101
  • Chapter 22 A Brook p. 107
  • Chapter 23 Cold News p. 113
  • Chapter 24 Wind and Weather p. 120
  • Chapter 25 A Ruby p. 127
  • Chapter 26 A Different Current p. 134
  • Chapter 27 Gifts p. 144
  • Chapter 28 More Gifts p. 149
  • Chapter 29 The Plan p. 152
  • Chapter 30 The Lie p. 159
  • Chapter 31 Making Sense p. 163
  • Chapter 32 A Warming p. 166
  • Chapter 33 Finding Her p. 171
  • Chapter 34 Losing Her p. 175
  • Chapter 35 Good-bye p. 181
  • Chapter 36 Letting Go p. 183
  • Chapter 37 Bed Post p. 189
  • Chapter 38 Midnight Journey p. 195
  • Chapter 39 A Different Path p. 205
  • Chapter 40 Last Night (July 8, 1941) p. 209
  • Chapter 41 Going Home p. 215
  • Chapter 42 Blank Pages p. 219
  • Author's Note p. 225
  • Notes on the Images p. 233
  • Acknowledgments p. 241

Sample chapter

Breathing Room CHAPTER 1 Leaving (May 1940) FATHER JERKED THE CAR to the side of the road and stopped. "Are you okay, Evvy?" he asked, turning in his seat to look at me. I pitched my head back, gasping for air between coughs. Breathe! a voice inside me screamed. I dropped the Loon Lake brochure. A blast of heavy, moist air shot up from my lungs and exploded into the handkerchief I'd grabbed and pressed against my lips. But I could breathe again. "I'm okay, Father," I said, though my voice crackled as if it had just been hatched and never used before. "Really I am." He sank back down into his seat and grabbed the steering wheel. "Ya got Francy?" he asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror, worry in his eyes. I lifted my stuffed bear to show him. Thirteen was too old to be holding on to a teddy bear--at least, that's what Mother thought. I was glad Father didn't feel that way. "Then get some rest, Puddlejump," Father said, using the nickname he'd given me when I was a little girl. "And don't worry, we'll be there soon." As if that could make me feel any better. He put the car in gear, and the two of us were off again, driving to Loon Lake--or Loony Lake, as my twin brother, Abe, had already renamed it--a sanatorium where sick and contagious people like me went to get better. At least, that was the hope. When I knew Father wasn't looking, I opened my hand. The damp handkerchief unfolded just enough so I could see the streaks of blood across it. It wasn't the first time I'd coughed up blood. But I'd never told anybody, not even Abe. I was too afraid. Did this blood mean I was going to die? Copyright © 2012 by Marsha Hayles Excerpted from Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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