Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted

Genre: Memoir

This is the true story of Suleika Jaouad, who at 22 years old is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Jaouad, a recent graduate of Princeton University and newly relocated to Paris, with a new beau, begins to feel so weak and depleted that by the time her Parisian doctors finally diagnose her, she is very ill and must return to the States to begin her treatment. And so begins a very long journey of unimaginable disease (and body) destroying chemotherapy drugs, their effects on her dwindling body, her relationship with her boyfriend and family and what all of this does to her ambitious, high achieving life. Jaouad describes her life before, her life during and her life after her illness (living between two kingdoms of healthy and sick) with compassion and clarity that will resonate with those who are or were ill, and those who are well. Ultimately, she is saved, yes, by the medicine, but also by the friendships and connections she forms with other cancer patients (some of whom will not survive their illnesses) and by her writing. This is a beautifully written story of survival and hope.

If you are a school librarian and are not listening to the podcast, School Librarians United with Amy Hermon, you should be. There are some amazing episodes in there that will inform your practice, but also will help you navigate this often isolated profession. I recently was listening to an episode where one of the librarians interviewed said she was speaking to another librarian in her district who said he only reads nonfiction books. Her response was, "How do you learn compassion and understanding?" I wholeheartedly agree. But, hope this librarian will agree that memoirs, too, teach us compassion and understanding. Jaouad's story will move you if you are well, and might lessen your loneliness and offer hope, if you are ill. This is not a light read, but will very much leave its mark on you, and that is the best kind of reading experience.