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April Lancaster #1
Till Death Do Us Part
The doctor's diagnosis for April Lancaster is not good. April has a brain tumor which cannot be operated on. She's only 18, and her future is uncertain. But when she meets Mark Gianni, a 21-year-old with a passion for car racing, things change.
Mark is handsome and charming--and has cystic fibrosis. Despite herself, April falls completely in love with him. April says yes when Mark asks her to marry him. But a racing accident aggravates Mark's CF, and April must make a decision that will change the course of her life forever.
Mark is handsome and charming--and has cystic fibrosis. Despite herself, April falls completely in love with him. April says yes when Mark asks her to marry him. But a racing accident aggravates Mark's CF, and April must make a decision that will change the course of her life forever.
214 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
About the author
Lurlene McDaniel
124 books2,631 followersLurlene McDaniel (born c. 1948) is an author who has written over 50 young adult books. She is well known for writing about characters struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and organ failure.
Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc
Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 11, 2024
2019
April is living the life of your average American teenager. She's popular at school, she close with her group of friends, she's dating the school's star soccer player. Everything is going her way. Until she faints in class and learns that a brain tumor has taken up residence in her head.
This is a bit of bad luck for our girl, April. But it does allow her to meet Mark. While her soccer star boyfriend couldn't handle her being sick, Mark understands. You see, he has cystic fibrosis, so he's very familiar with hospitals. And the fact that April is sick doesn't put him off for a second.
Mark is book boyfriend material, for sure. He is smart, and sweet, and funny. He flirts like a champ. He encourages April through everything. And he knows exactly what he wants out of life: to live it. He was given a death sentence when he was a child, so he embraces every day to it's fullest.
The ending is a real tearjerker, but well worth the read.
2016
2015
April is living the life of your average American teenager. She's popular at school, she close with her group of friends, she's dating the school's star soccer player. Everything is going her way. Until she faints in class and learns that a brain tumor has taken up residence in her head.
This is a bit of bad luck for our girl, April. But it does allow her to meet Mark. While her soccer star boyfriend couldn't handle her being sick, Mark understands. You see, he has cystic fibrosis, so he's very familiar with hospitals. And the fact that April is sick doesn't put him off for a second.
Mark is book boyfriend material, for sure. He is smart, and sweet, and funny. He flirts like a champ. He encourages April through everything. And he knows exactly what he wants out of life: to live it. He was given a death sentence when he was a child, so he embraces every day to it's fullest.
The ending is a real tearjerker, but well worth the read.
2016
2015
October 22, 2009
Romance/Fatal Illness
So, for those who love cheesy romance novels, McDaniel has produced yet another, perfect cardboard cutout. There's not really much else to say. We meet both of our protagonists, who are dying of terminal illness, but of course they are meant for each other, and insist on marrying despite the odds. What a pity that - with a terminal illness - they are doomed to die. It's a quick read, but you will have to stomach nasty stereotypes, bad prose, and sickening sentimentality. But hey, if you like this type of books, it's the one for you.
So, for those who love cheesy romance novels, McDaniel has produced yet another, perfect cardboard cutout. There's not really much else to say. We meet both of our protagonists, who are dying of terminal illness, but of course they are meant for each other, and insist on marrying despite the odds. What a pity that - with a terminal illness - they are doomed to die. It's a quick read, but you will have to stomach nasty stereotypes, bad prose, and sickening sentimentality. But hey, if you like this type of books, it's the one for you.
June 12, 2010
This Romance novel by Lurlene McDaniel is about two people with physical and mental challenges meeting and falling in love. April Lancaster is 18 years old when she is admitted into the hospital for a growing brain tumor. There she meets Mark Gianni who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Mark likes April but April's boyfriend is still in the picture. April's boyfriend dumps her though when she gets diagnosed and so she and Mark can pursue a relationship. The two get engaged, even though their parents are not excited about it and plan to marry until the accident. There is a sequel to this book called For BEtter, For Worse, Forever, but I don't care to read it. There are some differences with this book than with other YA books. The protagonists are both older. I think that McDaniel had to do this in order to have their love and engagement be believable. THe reader of Romance may enjoy this book because it does add an additional twist on the classic Romance (having both people be sick) but other than that, I don't see a YA audience connecting with the book.
October 29, 2010
In this novel April Lancaster gets sent back to the hospital to have the tumor in her brain checked. The tumor had been small and dormant ever since she has it taken care of at age nine. now it's back and it is causing her to have to go through radiation. April has a boyfriend named Chris, but at the hopsital a good looking guy named Mark Gianni introduces himself to her, and starts flirting with her. Soon enough, they start hanging out and getting to know each other, and each other's conditions very well. When April's relationship ends, her and Mark become inseperatable. The only problem is that Mark has cystic fibrosis. At the end of the novel Mark asks April to marry him and she accepts. While on his death bed, Mark and April get married and then he passes away.
In my opinion the novel is a great read, and very easy to finish in one sitting. The way McDaniel writes keeps the reader intrigued and makes then want to continue reading. The plot is common, but not too everyone, so readers, like myself, are excited to see the outcome at the end of the novel.
I think the author's purpose in writing this novel is to prove that love should not be based on looks or other traits that we as humans cannot control. Love is a strong connection between two people that is hard to break. In this case even though April knew Mark was going to die, her love for him kept her at his side up until his death. The title of the book is "Till Death Do Us Part" and there is meaning right there in the title.
The theme of the novel is that love can make one do crazy things. In this novel April gives up her friends, and former boyfriend to devote all of her time to Mark. She knows that his CF will kill him and she stays with him, knowing that it will just hurt her in the long run. April met Mark in a hospital and did not like him at all when they first met. Things changed when he would not leave her alone, and they soon fell in love. Each with a problem, only one with a fix.
In my opinion the novel is a great read, and very easy to finish in one sitting. The way McDaniel writes keeps the reader intrigued and makes then want to continue reading. The plot is common, but not too everyone, so readers, like myself, are excited to see the outcome at the end of the novel.
I think the author's purpose in writing this novel is to prove that love should not be based on looks or other traits that we as humans cannot control. Love is a strong connection between two people that is hard to break. In this case even though April knew Mark was going to die, her love for him kept her at his side up until his death. The title of the book is "Till Death Do Us Part" and there is meaning right there in the title.
The theme of the novel is that love can make one do crazy things. In this novel April gives up her friends, and former boyfriend to devote all of her time to Mark. She knows that his CF will kill him and she stays with him, knowing that it will just hurt her in the long run. April met Mark in a hospital and did not like him at all when they first met. Things changed when he would not leave her alone, and they soon fell in love. Each with a problem, only one with a fix.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2016
I really love this book it is about this girl named April Lancaster,she had cancer so she had to go to the hospital when she was there they had told her that she had a brain tumor.While she was in the hospital this random boy went in her room and was flirting with April ,but she turned him down because she had a boyfriend but after a while when they were starting to be friends she started having feelings for him. So she decieded to break up with her boyfriend for the other boy named Mark. When Mark finally told her that he is CF and that he won't live a short life and that he want have any kids .One day he was racing ,because he loves to race sports car .When he was racign his car got out of control and crashed and cought on fire ,it was horrible for april to watch because before that day he had proposed to her and were gonna have a wedding.When he went to the hospital they told them that he wasnt going to make it because he has CF and he has a breathing problem so April wanted to get married right before he died and they did and then he went up to heavenand she needed time away from NY so they went to a trip far away for now.
December 10, 2009
April has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Mark has been suffering from cystic fibrosis since he was born. While they don’t have much in common, they help each other suffer through their pains and sicknesses and find happiness living for love. When the two decide to get married with no support from either family, they learn how hard it is to fight against everything keeping them apart. Mark’s love for racing cars has always been a debate in his home. His mother is against it because of the poor conditions he must put himself in, but he and his father believe that he can’t live a full life if he never experiences things—even if they are dangerous. After Mark’s crash, he and April both realized nothing in life was more important than their love for each other, and they were married just before he took his lasts breaths. The realistic nature of this novel allows readers to feel many emotions while they try deciding for themselves what would be most important to them in a similar situation.
November 21, 2013
I think this was a very heartbreaking true love story. Throughout this whole book Lurlene helps portray the part of how not to judge someone by whats on the outside but rather by what's on the inside. In this book a young girl learns that she has cancer for the second time and while she is at the hospital getting tests she meets a young man who has CF. Upon meeting each other, he tells her that he will marry her some day. As April keeps receiving bad news, she turns toward him for comfort. They soon fall in love and start planing their lives together but after a tragic turn of events Mark is in the hospital and isn't given much time to live. April does everything she can to make his wish to marry her come true. This book was very heartfelt and kept you feeling everything the characters were filling. I recommend this book to anyone who likes love stories and those who need to renew their perspective on things.
November 13, 2009
This book was about a girl named April and she was 18. Because of her health problems, her future is uncertain. She has brain tumor and could not be operated on. She meet Mark who loves car racing and they both fell in love with each other. Mark proposed to her and she said yes. However, Mark got into an accident and his cystic fibrosis worsened. April is struggling to make a decision.
I think that this book is inspiring and really relates to readers because people would face different challenge each day and sometimes they have to make an important decision in their life. Making an important decision is hard, making a right important decision is even hard. Because making a decision can affect someone's life, when we make decision, we don't want regrets, but life is not the way we planned.
I think that this book is inspiring and really relates to readers because people would face different challenge each day and sometimes they have to make an important decision in their life. Making an important decision is hard, making a right important decision is even hard. Because making a decision can affect someone's life, when we make decision, we don't want regrets, but life is not the way we planned.
October 13, 2008
Death is a very serious matter, and so is love. Will you still let yourself love someone is you knew that they'd be gone very soon? April Lancaster can. This book reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, where they can love each other to DEATH.
April Lancaster had everything. Her parents handled her with care, her friends adored her, and life carefree. But it changed after she met Mark Gianni. They met in the hospital, and Mark is awaiting death. The young man fell for April, and after many conversations, their love sparked. April and Mark were like paper and glue, inseparable.
I liked this book a lot because it's so touching. The denouement made me cry, I've never seen love so strong!
I recommend this to those who want to read a sad love story,containing a bitter sweet love.
April Lancaster had everything. Her parents handled her with care, her friends adored her, and life carefree. But it changed after she met Mark Gianni. They met in the hospital, and Mark is awaiting death. The young man fell for April, and after many conversations, their love sparked. April and Mark were like paper and glue, inseparable.
I liked this book a lot because it's so touching. The denouement made me cry, I've never seen love so strong!
I recommend this to those who want to read a sad love story,containing a bitter sweet love.
May 9, 2011
This book was the best one I think I have read by Lurlene McDaniel. April is diagnosed with a tumor that she thought she got rid of when she was 5 but its back. The can't do surgery to remove it because its too big and it could kill if they tried. April meets a boy Mark who has Cystic fibrosis. Mark really likes April but she is dating another boy. April and him break up after he finds out about her tumor. Then Mark and April start to hang out. They begin to date. Mark also proposes to her. Then when Mark was racing his car crashes and he is rushed to the hospital. Unfortunely he does't make and dies but not before April and him get married at the hospital. This book was really sad. I give it five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2011
The book "Till Death do Us Apart" is about a girl named April Lancaster how was a brain tumor. She got a fortune cooke that read "be prepared". Because of her tumor she htought she would never be the same. One day she meet this handsome man named Mark, which has cystic fibrosis. Mark, helps her deal with her illness and they seem to fall in love. However, everyone is against them being together. Even when he proposes to her they are still against the marriage. Howvere, kinda of like Romeo and Juliet, they have a stornge passion for one another and know that together they will survive anything, even if its death.
October 26, 2012
Lurlene McDaniel is famous for her young adult novels about death, sickness and coming to terms with them. In this book, April has a recurrance of her child hood brain tumor, leading her to meet a young man with cystic fibrosis. After being dumped by her boyfriend, she begins hanging out with him and they eventually fall in love due to their shared health problems. As a teen, I found Lurlene's books very compelling...as an adult, I found April to be very naive and somewhat bratty and unrealistic. Rushing in to marriage with a dying man who sometimes came across as too possessive bothered me. I am a parent myself and her actions made me cringe. I just couldn't "feel" this book.
October 31, 2014
This book is so good. It's a romantic,and sad book but it's really good. My favorite part about it is when Mark first saw April he fell in love with her. And stopped by her hospital room and introduced himself. He told her that they should get to know each other, sense she was the girl that he intend to marry. This author is so amazing at writing these books. There so good and I in joy reading them. I'm ready to read another book of hers. But I don't know witch one yet there's so many to pick from. But so far my favorite book from this author is Don't Die My Love. Can't wait to read another book of hers.
May 14, 2015
18-year-old April Lancaster, the child of Janice and Hugh Lancaster, enters the hospital for testing as she has been suffering from headaches, blackouts, and eventually passed out in English class. Her boyfriend Chris gets distant when her worst fears were confirmed.. Her brain tumor has came back from when she was a child. During this time, April becomes close with Mark Gianni, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, and has been in and out of the hospital since he was born. Mark is very interested in April, and even tells her that he intends to marry her, but she declines his offer to go out, as she already has a boyfriend, Chris.
November 14, 2007
This story breaks my heart everytime I read it. I started reading Lurlene McDaniel in middle school and fell in love with her stories and characters. I realized that the characters, such as April Lancaster, were people that I really couldn't connect with in a good way. April has a brain tumor and falls in love with a Cystic Fibrosis man named Mark. There's no way that I could identify with either of the characters and how much fear or pain they went through but McDaniel makes every character engaging. You fall in love with April and Mark's love in this story.
Read
May 16, 2012Occasionally the writing in this book got a bit annoying, but I could look past that a bit just because of how much I adored the plot. This was one heart breaking novel, and it only gets more depressing when you read the sequel. I absolutely loved Mark. He was so cute and dorky, and I found the way the two of them met to be unbelievably cute. The book was maybe a little too absorbed in the romance factor, but was a bit evened out with April's worsening sickness and Mark's cystic fibrosis. Overall, It was a pretty good book, depressing and romantic-two of my favorite things.
September 23, 2011
It was ok... I thought that it was just a little bit sappy and predicatable, but I am not a huge sappy romance book reader. I thought that McDanile created interesting and vibrant characters that were engaging. As a story line? Didn't like it so much. I found that it was a very predictable plot that I could have guess five pages in. I don't really like those books, I like to be kept guessing (same thing with movies). I thought that the end was touching where she showed up in her wedding dress, but other then that I was just feeling more pity for Mark.
October 19, 2010
This book was AMAZING!! The main character April Lancaster has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor that holds cancer. It is in a spot where they just can't go in and remove it. It is also too big to. She is in the hostpital when she meets a young man named Mark. Mark has Cystic Fibrosis and he is going to die from it and he knows that. April and Mark end up getting married right before he dies, but he doesn't die from CF. You'll have to read the book to figure out how he dies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2011
This book is definitely worth reading. It is a romantic young adult novel that takes the reader through the normal trials of teenage romance. True to her style, author Lurlene McDaniel adds in a tale of woe that leaves readers sobbing by the end of the book. It is this aspect that gives depth to the story and succeeds in readers begging for more. This book is a must read! As a future English teacher, I would suggest this book for students age twelve to fifteen.
August 4, 2016
As always Lurlene weaves a beautiful tale of tragic young love. Prepare to cry as yet another young person is diagnosed with a horrible disease and must struggle to over come. But April not only must overcome her own illness, but that of the boy she loves.
I cry every time I read one of her books. They are short reads but full of feeling. Emotional roller coasters all the way.
I cry every time I read one of her books. They are short reads but full of feeling. Emotional roller coasters all the way.
March 4, 2014
I love this book! I went to a small school and we didn't have many good books but I seen this so checked it out. I was so addicted to this book my mom had to take it away so I would sleep. Ever since then I've almost read all of Lurlene McDaniel's books.
April 9, 2014
This book was so touching. I kind of wish I knew more about what happens with April and her condition, but there is a very powerful lesson in this book. Love is a very powerful thing, and I loved reading about these characters stories.
April 17, 2015
This book wasn't the best I've ever read. it had a highly predictable plot from beginning to end. Two young people with fatal illnesses have a death bed wedding, then the guy dies. It pulled on your heart strings, but you knew exactly what was going to happen from Chapter 1.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2015
I normally don't like love stories but I started this one and couldn't put it down. As so as I had read it cover to cover I have to run to the store to buy the next one. I love it I could read it over and over.
April 7, 2016
This was a great book. I loved reading it. I loved the plot and characters of the story. By the end of this book I was in tears. I can not wait to read the next book.
February 26, 2014
It was good, but I felt that the story was way too rushed. There was a lot of telling instead of showing. Definitely not my favorite Lurlene McDaniel book.
July 27, 2014
One of my favorites
March 24, 2015
This is super good book, if you're into sad love books! You need to read this!
November 9, 2015
I love this book and the following 2 books in the story. One of my all time favorites, even as a young adult/teen.
August 8, 2022
I loved it. It was absolutely amazing to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews