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Just Don't Fall
Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Tr uth, and Olympic Greatness | Josh Sundquist
3 posts | 3 read | 3 to read
Read Josh Sundquist's posts on the Penguin Blog. One moment Josh Sundquist was your typical energetic and inquisitive nine year- old boy. The next, his entire life changed when he was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a particularly virulent cancer strain that would eventually claim Josh's left leg. Told in a wide-eyed, winning, heartbreaking voice, Just Don't Fall is the story of the boy Josh was and of the young man he became. His story begins in a small, close-knit Southern town, where his father-an aspiring pastor questioning his faith, and his mother-- homeschooling an ever- growing brood of children-struggle to make ends meet. Josh journeys through a dizzying array of hospitals and eventually lands at a pivotal place: the nearby mountain, where he makes his first attempt to ski. It is on the slopes, and later, on the race course, that Josh's world bursts wide open in a way no one could have ever anticipated. The inspiration to ski, however, and to become a champion, is not all that Josh has to contend with- there is adolescence to navigate, the transition from homeschool to public high school, and girls. There is an increasingly turbulent and difficult home life, with another cancer scare, a wayward brother, and dwindling finances to pay for training. Finally, there is the wild, bumpy road to the Paralympics in Turin, with a misanthropic coach, training in the Rockies, and a timeless friendship with a charismatic, imposing Brooklyn homeboy named Ralph. Through it all, Josh is forced to question his abilities, his sanity, his will, his faith in himself, and his faith in God. Because of, not despite, these myriad obstacles in his path, Josh is able to achieve a genuine grace: the grace to risk failure and to succeed. It is the grace of a young boy becoming a man and of a champion realizing his greatest dream. Josh Sundquist shows us with charm, humility and remarkable strength that even if we fall, this inner grace can lift us up and carry us over the many mountains we all must face.
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Chelseabillups30
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just finished this one this afternoon.
And WOW.
Josh and his family have been THROUGH IT.
As an avid adaptive skier, this one made me miss the slopes and put a lot of life into perspective.
I‘m actually both mad and happy at the same time that I found it on the “free books” cart @ my college.
I would‘ve taken all the copies!!
Read it if you‘re into adaptive skiing or adaptive sports at all.
If family and faith are important to you.

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Chelseabillups30

People who stop laughing are always the ones who get hurt.

review
Victoriahoperose
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I seriously loved this book. It was my first prompt for the litsy seasonal challenge to read a book featuring an Olympic sport. This was so much more than just a competitive sports story. I don‘t love sports in general and wasn‘t looking forward to this prompt, but I read this book and it ended up being one of my new favorites. Loved it!! #booked2018

Cinfhen Woohoo 🙌🏻 🎉 congrats on completing a prompt you were dreading and for finding a book you loved❤️ 7y
Victoriahoperose @Cinfhen thanks! This is the best part of the challenge - finding books I like that I wouldn‘t have picked up otherwise! 7y
Cinfhen I agree!! Although occasionally u get a dud 😖 7y
alisiakae Isn‘t it a wonderful feeling when we read outside our comfort zone/preferences...and enjoy it!!😍😍 7y
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