by Regine Stokke
5 Stars: Incredible
Publication: October 23, 2012
Pages: 336
Publisher: Zest Books
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Regine’s blog about living with Leukemia gained a huge following, and eventually became this book. She writes openly about emotional and physical aspects of her 15-month struggle to recover, and explains how her disease impacts her life. In the course of her illness, Regine has photography exhibits, goes to concerts, enjoys her friends & family, and advocates for registering as a blood and bone marrow donor. She was a typical teenager with an amazing will to live; and the lessons she learned have relevance for all of us.
Regine Stokke began her blog after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia in 2008. Her goal was to paint a realistic picture of what it’s like battling a life-threatening illness—and to share her experience with the world. During the 15 months that Regine was sick, and to her death, she transformed from an average teenage girl, upset that she didn’t have a private hospital room, to a grateful and humble young woman with a deep appreciation for the beauty all around her.
Regine’s Book: A Teen Girl’s Last Words is Regine’s personal story as it was written on her blog and features her own photography and artwork, as well as comments from blog readers and entries from those who loved her most. The book deals with every facet of living with cancer, from the good days to the bad and everything in between. At an age when Regine’s biggest concern should have been what dress she was going to wear to prom, she was worrying about whether or not the wig she wears looks natural and about all the things she may soon be leaving behind. “The fear of no longer existing never goes away,” Regine confesses only a few months before her death. “I’m afraid to leave the world and I don’t want to do it. I think about my family, and about my friends. I have to fight for them. I can’t leave them behind with that sorrow. I have to try everything I can, despite how bleak everything looks.”
According to the American Cancer Society:
- Half of all men and one third of all women in the U.S. will develop cancer during their lifetimes
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children under 14 years of age
- 1,638,910 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2012
- Nearly 50,000 new leukemia cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2012
Most teens likely know someone affected by cancer, but don’t know the details of what it’s like to live day to day with the disease. Regine’s Book tells the intimate story of one teen living with cancer—putting a face on this terrible epidemic and illuminating the importance of becoming a bone marrow donor.
Zest Books will make a donation to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training in Regine’s honor upon publication of the book.
To check out the society and other places to help cancer patients:
- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Be the Match: National Bone Marrow Donor Program
- DKMS: Register to become a bone marrow donor
- Gift of Life: Bone Marrow Foundation
Regine Stokke was a lover of life—a poet, photographer, blogger, and leukemia patient, who blogged about her devastating struggle with the illness and shared her story with a world of strangers. Originally published in her homeland of Norway, Regine’s Book is being considered by the Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA) foundation for a translation grant. Regine was a very gifted photographer whose photos were exhibited at both the 2009 and 2010 Nordic Light photography festivals.
Read an excerpt from her blog at the Huffington Post.
Enter to win a copy of Regine’s Book and other wonderful books published by Zest Books.
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Erin L. Schneider says
Hi, Kris! I'm a fellow blog tour stop for Regine's Book (my post goes up on Friday)!
I thought Regine's raw honesty – while overwhelming at times – helped to put so many things into perspective. It was definitely tough for me, due to personal experiences with cancer, but it's well worth taking the time to read and share with others.
I'm a big advocate for raising money for cancer and also just started a team on StandUp2Cancer.org – StandUp4Ohana is my team name, Ohana meaning family in Hawaiian (FYI, 100% of all donations goes straight to the cause through this organization). This year for Christmas, I donated money for all of my siblings in memory of our Mom and bought them t-shirts through the site. Such a good cause and money well spent!