Persist

Marianne used to go shopping with her friends, listen to music, go to school and argue with her brother, just like any 14 year old girl. Now she is lying in a hospital bed. Her family visit her every day but she hasn't moved or spoken for a long time. Her parents have made a difficult decision and Marianne's 15^th birthday celebrations could end in sorrow for her family.

Melvin Burgess allows us to experience the highs and lows of a family who are going through a very difficult time in their lives. Alternate chapters show Marianne's thoughts and the feelings of the other people in her life. Will Marianne hold on or will her family need to say goodbye? Will the doctors be proved correct or can things for Marianne change for the better?

This book is written in a dyslexia friendly format making it accessible to a wider range of readers.