ONE is based on the true story of the author Tan Ter Cheah, who lost her right leg to a rare form of cancer when she was 6 years old. The story starts with how Tessie felt a pain in her leg one day, and went from being “normal” to having her leg amputated in relatively short amount of time. Tessie shares what people said to her and how she felt in response, and the reader gets some insight into what it feels like to have lost a body part, go for chemotherapy, and then have to live with crutches (and later, a prosthesis). It is ultimately an uplifting story of overcoming difficult situations in life.
When I told her I had drips every month and they would poke needles into my hand, she was horrified. She then said simply, “Tell me about it.” She did not say I was a “poor thing”. It made me feel better.
-from “one”, page 38
I was glad to find a book that speaks so directly about the experience of a child going through cancer and amputation, and also the struggle of finding a “new normal”. As Tessie describes her experiences, there is a layer of humour in the way she observes the world around her, with thoughts and behaviours that most of us can relate to.
ONE explains what resilience and grit is, in a way that is easy to understand. It shows what it means to be realistic yet optimistic. I would get this book for a tween or a teen- it’s a valuable perspective of what it means to stand up after you fall, as well as how to be more helpful to differently-abled friends. It may also be encouraging to a parent whose child has to face something similar. My kids sometimes ask me about the experience of kids with cancer or a disability, and now I have one more resource to share with them. ONE has also been translated to Thai.
I knew then that I couldn’t be a champion at everything I did, or even do everything that other people could, but I could be good in some things. I just needed to keep finding out what they were.
-from “one”, page 77
The author Ter Cheah also has some really good advice to share with (young and old) readers at the end of the book about facing challenges in life and how to better understand our relationships.
ONE is written by Tan Ter Cheah and illustrated in lovely watercolors by Nuo. Book design by the talented Serene See.
Also on this blog, from Bubbly Books, The Lonely Boy and His Dog (if you want to order more than one book from them!)
Other posts:
- TravelSG: Time to stop and See the Roses at Gardens By the Bay, Rose Romance 2022, ending June 12
- TravelSG: Brickman®️ Wonders Of The World – LEGO®️ Brick Exhibition Singapore
- Mamma Mah’s
- Mushroom Buddies: A Social Enterprise providing Employment for People with Special Needs- Growing Community One Urban Farm at a Time
- Amazing Artistry and Engineering with PAPERSYNTHESIS – Paper Art Cut Out for Your Spaces
