Love, Ish

My name is Mischa Ish Love, and I am twelve years old. I know quite a lot about Mars. Mars is where I belong. Do you know how sometimes you just know a thing? My mom says that falling in love is like that, that the first time she saw Dad, she just knew. Thats how I feel about Mars: I just know. Im smart and interesting and focused, and Im working on getting along better with people. Ill learn some jokes. A sense of humor is going to be important. It always is. Thats what my dad always says. Maybe jokes will be the things that will help us all to survive. Not just me, because theres no me in team, right? This is about all of us. Together. What makes me a survivor? Mars is going to make me a survivor. Youll see. * In Karen Riverss riveting new novel, Ishs dreams for a future on Mars go heartbreakingly awry when an unexpected diagnosis threatens to rewrite her whole future.