Im Not Her Analysis

In the book I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler, the character Kristina finds out that she has cancer in her knee and her volleyball career is coming to an end. Her sister, Tess, is forced to keep the cancer a secret from everyone at school including Kristina's best friends. Meanwhile Kristina’s family is being faced with the most unexpected news to ever come their way. They have a very hard time coping with this situation and tend to become controlling on all the decisions that are to be made about Kristina's knee. Through Tess’ eyes, author Janet Gurtler explores how each member of Kristina’s family deals with the adversity created by her diagnosis. Gurtler does a great job of sharing how Kristina’s family members, friends and even Kristina herself face her diagnosis. Each of Kristina’s family members has a hard time coping with the news of her cancer. The author shows this through a series of upset moments and events. “The look on Dad’s face mirrors my own. Bewilderment. I can …show more content…
She doesn't know how to feel any differently than sad, mad, angry, upset,hurt and most of all disappointed. Gurtler shows these emotions in a very heart-wrenching way.
“ Kristina sobs louder. Her eyes are frantic, not seeing anything. Kristina pushes my Mom away but Mom holds on tighter. Kristina whines and cries and fights her off, but Mom holds on, wrapping her arms around her. Eventually Kristina falls against her, her face buried in Mom’s shirt,” (Gurtler 119-120)
Kristina, knowing that her tumor has grown and that her leg will need to be amputated, caused her to become very depressed. She knows that she will never be able to play volleyball again like she can now. Gurtler shows how much this adversity has changed Kristina’s life. This depressing situation among Kristina, her family and friends, causes them to go through a lot of adversity shown by the way Gurtler wrote this