Painless

March 16, 2015
At 17, David Hart has far outlived his life expectancyâhe has CIPA (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis), which means he is unable to sweat or sense temperature and pain. While David sometimes feels invincible, in reality he's fragile and must closely monitor his body and behavior to avoid injuries or death. Having been abandoned years earlier by his parents, David has been raised by his grandparents, an upbringing that consisted of homeschooling and low-risk activities. After his grandmother is diagnosed with dementia, David's guardian tries to persuade him to move into assisted living, but he's tired of being careful. Encouraged by Luna, his new personal assistant, he makes a bucket list and starts enjoying his life, even though David knows their time togetherâas well as his ownâis limited. Harazin (Blood Brothers) adeptly evokes moments of joy, heartbreak, and introspection, all amplified by David's awareness that he is living on "borrowed time." An ending that dips into melodrama distracts from an otherwise poignant story. Ages 13âup. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency.

May 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-Despite a condition called "CIPA" that leaves him unable to feel pain or regulate his body temperature, David Hart is no stranger to trauma. At 17-already 14 years longer than he was ever expected to live-he's lost his parents, his grandmother is failing fast, and he's on the cusp of losing his freedom. While his guardian tries to convince him that he'd be safest in an assisted-living home, David, along with his new friend and assistant, decides that it's time to create a bucket list and start living his life. The protagonist is well developed with authentic adolescent emotions regarding the difficult hand he's been dealt. Luna, his assistant, is less fleshed-out: readers learn more about her history in the last chapter of the book than in the previous 200 pages. The remaining characters are even sketchier, seemingly having little purpose besides rescuing David or throwing obstacles in his path. Most of the problems that arise are solved with convenient outside intervention. Despite these flaws, however, this novel is a quick and engaging read. Teens will keep turning pages to learn if David completes his bucket list, ends up in a home, or gets the girl. They ultimately will learn, along with David, that a life without pain also means a life without pleasure and that some experiences are worth the risks. VERDICT Recommended for most fiction collections.-Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Summit Pierce County Library, Tacoma, WA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2015
A teen who can't feel physical pain goes through some significant emotional trauma.As one of the few people on the planet with this unusual sensory disorder, David is blessed and cursed with the ability to not feel heat, cold or pain. Of course, the elements still take a toll on his body, and most people with his condition don't live very long. Sooner or later, they all mess up and miss a sign that something's amiss. David's a lucky one. He lives with his ailing grandmother and is on the cusp of adulthood, getting ready to set off on his own with as few personal assistants as he can manage. When his grandmother's dementia gets the best of her, David suddenly finds himself free and rudderless, save for his new friend and nurse, Luna. Harazin effectively combines typical teen angst with actual life-threatening consequences. The heightened emotions David experiences are felt all the more when considering they may be his last. Not so successful is the fleshing-out of the tertiary characters. Everyone is on hand to serve David's emotional and physical journeys, so much so that they feel like toys tucked away in a box whenever the author isn't using them. Coupling this with a fairly cookie-cutter coming-of-age story makes this a book that will certainly have a few fans but no die-hard supporters. A tad predictable but emotionally engaging nonetheless. (Fiction. 12-16)

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February 15, 2015
Grades 8-11 David Hart can't feel hot or cold. He wouldn't know if his leg was broken or even if he had a concussion. His doctors are surprised he has lived as long as he has, because David's medical condition, congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), prevents him from feeling pain, even pain from potentially fatal injuries. But David isn't immune to emotional wounds, and by 17, he has known abandonment, embarrassment, and fear. The world's a scary place for me, but I want a life even if it is short, he thinks. And so he creates a bucket list he hopes will help propel him to experience what he is only now beginning to dream of: get a driver's license; meet a girl; see something spectacular. Though it's occasionally clunky, this story cleverly portrays one extraordinary teen's authenticand yes, painfulstruggle for love, redemption, and independence. In addition to being a writer, Harazin is a registered nurse, and her medical expertise adds a note of straightforward honesty as she describes David's struggle with a rare, but real, disease.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
Eighteen-year-old David has a rare congenital condition that prevents him from feeling pain. The medical side effects are severe, but the required social restrictions are just as devastating. A new friend, Luna, inspires David to seek more independence and find his estranged parents. David's story is built on an interesting premise, but haphazard storytelling and stilted dialogue detract significantly from the book's effectiveness.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)