CW: Organ donation after death of young girl ( )

This is the complex, but upli ing story of a 15-year-old transplant recipient and the network of people impacted by this process, including the family of a young gymnast who donated her heart

Dani has been limited her entire life, thanks to a heart that grew on the wrong side of her chest and could never pump properly. She's rolled with most of the limitations, but can't help but wonder whether she'll die with a bucket list of 'nevers'.
Amanda is an accomplished and focused fourteen year old gymnast. They've never met, but their lives are about to intersect after Amanda misses part of a routine and suffers a serious brain injury.
When Amanda's parents and her older brother have to face the choice of removing life support and deciding whether to donate her organs, it's very painful. Each one deals with their pain in a different way. Tyler, her brother discovers a secret folder on his sister's computer that opens up an entirely new way of understanding her.
While Dani is waiting for a new heart because hers has weakened too much, she meets other kids who are waiting for transplants. There's nine year old Wendy, a ball of sassy fire who needs a kidney and Milo who looks hot even if he's sort of yellow because his first donor liver is dying because he got angry and stopped taking care of himself. The last thing Dani expected while wondering if she's going to die or get a new heart is a boyfriend, but that's what happens when she and Milo start talking.
There are multiple story lines in this wonderful book. The girl whose mistake cost her life, but allowed several other kids to have a new lease on theirs, the grieving brother who starts to see the world in a totally different way as he reads letters from the kids who received his sister's organs and the bit players like the nurses, organ transporter and the parents.
This is a beautiful book about a reality that many juveniles will face either personally or when a family member or friend needs a transplant. Jill Wolfson has done a superb job of weaving the realities of transplants into a quirky teen love story. ( )

When I stumbled across Cold Hands, Warm Heart, I was shocked to see it was a recent title. I mean, I spend a LOT of time researching new books and there aren’t many YA books that miss my notice. Not only that, but NONE of my Goodreads friends has read it. Clearly, this book didn’t get enough marketing. Anyway, though it’s not quite my usual thing, I’m glad I decided to give this totally unfamiliar audiobook a shot.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions. ( )

Fifteen-year-old Dani was born with a really bad heart. An accident to a world-class gymnast is about to result in a transplant for Dani and a shot at living a more normal life. Populated with interesting characters and details, Cold Hands, Warm Heart does a good job of giving readers a gripping view of the physical and emotional rollercoaster that is the world of organ donation for the people involved, including donors, recipients and the professionals who work with them.
Highly Recommended. ( )