Description

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"An accessible, informative, insider’s view, this book reminds readers that there is still a long way to go." — Kirkus Reviews

Weaving together her own story with straightforward questions and answers, the author explains the real ways that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted and explores the common experiences and emotions that might be encountered by friends and family members of someone who has the virus. She also discusses why HIV/AIDS is often still kept a secret and the importance of treating this condition like any other. With up-to-date medical information that has been thoroughly vetted by experts, this first-person narrative offers an invaluable look at what it is like to watch someone you know battle HIV/AIDS.

Back matter includes a glossary, a bibliography, resources for further information, and an index.

Praise For…

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Current information about the virus, including origins, communicability, precautions, symptoms and treatments, with a great deal of attention to addressing the myths about how the virus is transmitted. An accessible, informative, insider's view, this book reminds readers that there is still a long way to go.
—Kirkus Reviews

The author’s focus on how the disease affects all people, whether they have contracted HIV/AIDS or not, makes this book a must-have for all teen collections.
—VOYA

Reluctant readers in particular will be drawn by both the easy, nontechnical narrative and the overall mix of short chapters and Q&A sections. A generous annotated list of relevant Web sites gives this sensitive, therapeutic offering added value for assignment use.
—Booklist

As adept at defining medical terms and emphasizing the need to support patients as she
is at describing the emotional impact of Jay’s illness on his whole family.
—School Library Journal

Written in a caring yet passionate tone as a first-person account of what it is like to learn that someone in your family has contracted the disease, the book covers a range of topics like diagnosis, false fears, the stigma of having HIV, the toll on family and friends, and the current medical care and research.
—Earlyword.com

Quicksand is marvelous for children and teens. In clearly written and engaging prose, this informative book educates youth about HIV/AIDS issues. Quicksand is a MUST read in homes, schools, and libraries!
—Dr. John Chittick, executive director of TeenAIDS-PeerCorps