Rare cancers are grossly underfunded, and according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), all childhood cancers fall into this category. Author Christopher Guhl knows this reality all too well—his son was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just two years old. While facing every parent’s worst nightmare, Guhl found a creative way to encourage his son to keep fighting: he wrote a fantasy novella inspired by his son’s cancer journey—one of the most compelling novellas I’ve ever read.

The book follows Liam, a young boy who finds himself in a mysterious cave, struggling to escape the ever-growing shadows that threaten to overtake him. Along the way, he befriends Georgie, a small green dragon who helps him realize his inner strength. At first, Liam doesn’t understand his own power, nor does he know why he has been thrust into this fight against darkness—or why it has to be him. But with the help of imaginative allies—including a forgetful troll, a light-wielding faerie, and a wise dwarf who teaches him how to craft a special dagger—Liam begins to understand why he was chosen: because he is the only one who can defeat the Shadows.

The story reads like an incredible Dungeons & Dragons one-shot, making it a fantastic adventure for kids and adults alike! My 9-year-old niece has been eager to learn D&D so she can join in when Jakob and I play with her teenage brother. I plan on giving her my copy of this book when I see her this weekend as an introduction to some of the game’s core storytelling concepts. Since it’s a quick read, maybe I’ll even read it along with her!

I can’t emphasize enough what a beautiful and meaningful idea this book is. Guhl’s son will grow up knowing that his father wrote this epic tale with him in mind, and with all the rich symbolism throughout, it’s sure to inspire and encourage many other children battling cancer. It’s both a heartfelt gift from a father to his son and a powerful story for any family facing a similar journey.

As I mentioned in an earlier review this week, my family has a deep history with rare cancers, and we participate in the Cycle for Survival fundraiser each year to support cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. If you’d like to help us reach our fundraising goal, you can donate using my link [here] *donations made Feb 6, 2025, will be matched. Additionally, I’m including a link to Christopher Guhl’s website [here] so you can learn more about this book and his other work! Go grab a copy of this one!