Title: A Wig for Ally
Author: Taylor Grey
Publisher: Createspace
ISBN: 1451532210
Pages: 38, Paperback
Genre: Children’s Books/Young Adult
Reviewed by: Nicole Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Meet Ally, an exceptional little girl who is battling a horrendous disease, Leukemia. Ally is fighting this disease in the hospital where she has her medical treatments. Her hospital experience consists of taking yucky medications that make her sick to her stomach and leaves an awful taste in her mouth. Chemotherapy, which makes Ally lose her hair, gives her the chills, and a general overwhelming feeling of fatigue. That said Ally is a courageous girl who has an unyielding determination to get well again. Ally wants to be brave for her family, and her peers at the hospital who also are sick.Ally comes from a loving, strong family who has been very supportive and has made sure their daughter feels she is not alone in this battle. For example, when Ally started to lose her hair and became bald because of the side effects of the chemotherapy, her entire family shaved their hair as an acknowledgement of the enormous commitment they have for their daughter. Ally was both grateful and thankful that her family was so supportive of her on so many levels.
Ally’s parents felt it would be a wise decision to take her to Miss Harriet’s House of Hair so she could choose a wig for herself. The owner of the store was very kind and generous to Ally and gave her several wigs as long as she would get better and once better, Miss Harriet wanted Ally to help someone else. Ally agreed, and received four wigs, each wig unique and taking on a personality of its own. This allowed Ally to escape into a world of creative fantasy where she could pretend to be a different person. These wigs empowered Ally and gave her the inner strength to fight these nasty leukemia cells in a world where imagination and make-believe comes to life. Each wig represented her alter ego whereby Ally would take on a different role, such as; Ally the super girl, Ally the adventurer, Ally the spy, and Ally the magician. This would enable Ally to accomplish her goal of remission, and cure herself with inner strength.
Ally now lives at home with her parents and is able to live a normal life. With the help of her mother, Ally would bake cookies, cakes and make hot chocolate and bring them to the stand to sell. She would sell baked goods for the entire winter season. To her parents amazement Ally didn’t want the money for her birthday, but rather she wanted to fulfill her promise that she made with Miss Harriet. Ally wanted to help the children at the hospital. She brought the children many beautiful gifts and made sure every child was taken care of. Ally is not only a princess but a hero.
Children will learn these lessons, as Ally did, but will also come to see that everyone is important in some way and being different isn’t a bad thing. Back home Ally is reminded of the most important job of all – being part of a loving family.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, young and old, who is dealing with cancer or knows someone who has been affected by it. The text is well written, friendly and captivating. The characters are interesting. Ally is extremely lovable, and the illustrations are sweet and inviting. The message of the book is appropriate and important for all children to learn.
