Many characters are described to the reader. Of these many characters, one that plays an important part in this novel is Julie Ellis. Julie was a high school student. She has been “looking forward to having fun” (8). She was absolutely in love with her boyfriend, Luke. On her twelfth birthday, Luke came to her front door and gave her a bouquet of flowers. From that moment on she “just melted” (9) when Luke gave her flowers. Her friends say that she is “an outgoing person with high qualities” (24). Luke, the “all-star football quarterback”(23),

loves the game of football. Luke’s mother says that he never gives up and “[he] is always positive about everything” (65). Luke’s mother, Nancy, is the only one Luke has left. She, like most other mothers, “care[s] for [her] son no matter what happens” (74). Luke looks up to Julie’s father, “Coach Bud” (135). Bud Ellis coaches the high school football team. He “look[s] at Luke as [his] own son” (88). All of these characters have no idea what is in store for them in the next year.

Luke has noticed some of the same symptoms as before, but puts off going to the doctor. He just wants to have a good time over the summer. To get his mind off the pain coming back, he starts a conversation with Julie and tells her “that [she] looks like Marilyn Monroe” (63).

The doctor notifies Nancy and asks her to come down to the hospital. Luke is then told that “[he has] Hodgkin’s Lymphoma” (55). He is told by his doctor that he needs to pack a bag and head to St. Paul where he can get better care. Luke needs to be treated as soon as possible because the sooner he is treated; the better the chance the cancer will leave his system. Julie talks him into going to St. Paul. As soon as he gets there, they take him for all these different kinds of test. They decide that he should be put right into chemo therapy.

As you can see, the setting changes a few times. The novel starts in a “small home town” (22). As the novel goes on, the setting changes from the small home town to the hospital in St. Paul. Here they have to stay a while because Luke is ill more than once. “St. Paul is not the place that [he] want[s] to be” (87). The scenes then change from house to house and also to California. “This is awesome”, Julie says (97).

Luke received a letter from his Uncle from California. Steve and Diedra want Luke to come to California and visit them. Luke decides to go, but refuses to go with out Julie. Because they want Luke to come out so badly, they buy Julie a ticket to go. It takes a few days for Julie to talk her parents into letting her go, but her parents decide to let her. Julie “can’t wait to spend the whole summer with the love of [her] life” (109).

Before they small ceremony between Steve and Diedra, Luke tells Julie to be at the church two hours early. Julie is not quite for sure why, but she accepts and shows up. Luke is waiting in a pew towards the front of the c

Some topics in this essay:
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