Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness

By Josh Sundquist

Book Overview

Read Josh Sundquist's posts on the Penguin Blog. One moment Josh Sundquist was your typical energetic and inquisitive nine year- old boy. The next, his entire life changed when he was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a particularly virulent cancer strain that would eventually claim Josh's left leg. Told in a wide-eyed, winning, heartbreaking voice, "Just Don't Fall" is the story of the boy Josh was and of the young man he became. His story begins in a small, close-knit Southern town, where his father-an aspiring pastor questioning his faith, and his mother-- homeschooling an ever- growing brood of children-struggle to make ends meet. Josh journeys through a dizzying array of hospitals and eventually lands at a pivotal place: the nearby mountain, where he makes his first attempt to ski. It is on the slopes, and later, on the race course, that Josh's world bursts wide open in a way no one could have ever anticipated. The inspiration to ski, however, and to become a champion, is not all that Josh has to contend with- there is adolescence to navigate, the transition from homeschool to public high school, and girls. There is an increasingly turbulent and difficult home life, with another cancer scare, a wayward brother, and dwindling finances to pay for training. Finally, there is the wild, bumpy road to the Paralympics in Turin, with a misanthropic coach, training in the Rockies, and a timeless friendship with a charismatic, imposing Brooklyn homeboy named Ralph. Through it all, Josh is forced to question his abilities, his sanity, his will, his faith in himself, and his faith in God. Because of, not despite, these myriad obstacles in his path, Josh is able to achieve a genuine grace: the grace to risk failure and to succeed. It is the grace of a young boy becoming a man and of a champion realizing his greatest dream. Josh Sundquist shows us with charm, humility and remarkable strength that even if we fall, this inner grace can lift us up and carry us over the many mountains we all must face.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670021466
• ISBN13: 9780670021468
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.7" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A stunning portrait of perseverence

As Josh's former camp counselor, I've heard some of the stories contained in "Just Don't Fall" many times, but I was blown away by the heart-stopping, sometimes heartbreaking details that he shares in his book. His narrative is so full of "aha" moments, you want to wrap up each one and save it for another day. If "Just Don't Fall" doesn't make you reexamine your priorities and stop pitying yourself, nothing will. Stop reading this review - read this book!

An Amazing Book About a Boy Becoming a Man Who also Happens to Have Lost a Leg to Cancer and Still M

I normally don't like books written in the first person but I found the author's voice in this book critical in sharing the amazing life of Josh Sundquist. Josh was diagnosed with cancer when he was nine and lost his leg as a result when he was ten. There are rare books that everyone should read. This is one of them. I was hooked from the first paragraph. The book opens with Josh getting electrical stimulation in an attempt to help with his foot pain. The physical therapist has it set too high and Josh is hurt. I have had electrical stimulation prior to physical therapy and I know what it like to have the electrical stimulation set too high. Josh explained exactly what it felt like when it happened. The idea that Josh would actually ski in the Turin Paralympics despite all he went through is the reason I picked up this book. I admire people who face tragedy and overcome. I doubt I have the courage Josh showed in doing all he did. Yet, this book is much more than a book about illness. It is a book about a boy who lived a sheltered life, growing up and becoming a man who also happens to have lost a leg due to cancer. Prior to his diagnosis his religious family home schooled Josh. His family did not have that much money and his father wanted to become a minister. His family is very caring in some ways and dysfunctional in others as are all families. His cancer and leg amputation did not change the normal things a boy would experience while becoming a man. Despite his illness he still disagreed with his family at times. He went from having home schooling to going to public school and adapting to that big change. He fell in love with a girl for the first time. He also wanted to become a skier and fell a lot when he was first learning. How Josh did all this is described in an honest first person account. He explains what he is feeling when all these things are happening as if he was writing a diary instead of having his words read by others. The first person account works well because of this. This is the case whether the matter is serious or not so serious. In one example that I remember he explains a decision he made not to have any more chemotherapy because Josh was feeling that being on Chemotherapy was not the same as being alive. In another example he explains what it was like calling Lydia who the first girl he liked only to fumble with his words. Both events were traumatic in their own way despite the fact that one dealt with life and death and the other with a date. But that is the way it is for all of us. Josh writes that cancer (or I assume any illness because cancer is one of the worst) can't erase the glory that awaits each of us on earth. Having struggled with a chronic illness I would have questioned those words if they had come from someone other than Josh. I am glad Josh allowed me to get to know him and his family. I wish him the best.

Empowering TEN Stars

Working with disabled athletes and especially skiers here in the California Sierras I loved this book. Its not a pity party book but a realistic look at what it takes to become what you want to be, after becoming disabled. The ups and downs of dealing with family and friends who are concerned but also can want to hold you back. The author writes realistically about overcoming his own fears and set backs and how he never ever gave up. Interesting to read what it takes to make a team, and how even amongst the disabled there is a healthy, invigorating sense of competition. As well as the issue of re injuring oneself and regrouping. Athletes of all types should like this book.

The Voice Is Found

What a refreshing story to read. I found Josh Sundquist to be very honest, full of courage, and what a great role model for boys of any age. This will be one book I save for both my boys to read when they get alittle older. As a mom I am always interested in trying to figure out how men and boys think. What I loved most about Josh is his motatvation to "just do it" and "go for it". For most of his life he seemed to set his sights and heart on certain "goals", or dreams maybe, and then he would just go after it. It never seemed to occur to him that maybe making it on the 2006 Paralympic team might be to far out of his reach. I hope my kids are like that, and show the spit it takes to go for their dreams. I hope my kids have high dreams and the opportunity to go after them. Young Josh does seem alittle naive (and I love that), but so enduring to me. How wonderful that he would try motivational speaking. What young kid does that on his own?? Great! Young Josh though does seem to be older for his age even before he comes down with cancer. I am not sure if this is wisdom from his parents, faith, personality, but I really enjoyed the mix of being naive and wise beyound his young age. For example...reading self help books to learn about girls and then hoping to win Lydias heart through motivational speaking, yet he ends up potentially saving a students life by encouraging them in his speech. I am very saddened to see his family go through not only his cancer but his mothers cancer. It is hard to see people suffer. For most families they break just under simple soci pressures, and this life seems to take pleasure in breaking the very faithul. This life can't break them without sickness, cancer, or even death. That is hard to watch, and it is very meaningful to me to watch Josh and his family go through it the best way they can. It is very interesting to watch how Josh goes through his life learning how to be at peace with self, and learning how to be at peace living the simple life. I think this one of the hardest lessons for people to learn to live. It was also interesting watching how Josh went through this and his brother Matthew. I think Josh internized this process and his brother Matthew wore this process like a heart on his sleave. Matthew seems to violently fight this fight on the outside disobeying his parents and society itself, but he does seem to find peace in college making it to Harvard. This author found his voice, and I believe he really stayed true to himself in this book. I highly recommend this book. There aren't many good role models out there for young boys, and thanks to Josh there is one more great inspirational voice out there.

Beautiful Story

A truly beautiful, inspirational story about a little boy with a barrel load of "spunk" who fights back against nearly overwhelming adversity. This story grabbed me right from the start because it reminded me of my own son who was in hospitals many times when he was the author's age. I remember my son being absolutely terrified of being put to sleep because he was afraid that he might never wake up again. The author writes so well through the eyes of the child (that he was at the time) of this very same situation, that it gives me shivers thinking of how terrified my own son actually was. I can not even begin to imagine the fear of the author and the pain of his parents when they had to take him in to have his leg amputated. But this is not a sad story of loss, but an inspiring story of courage. And it is not just about the changes in the life of a boy, but also the transformation of the boy's family. Alternately heartbreaking, thought-provoking and even hilarious (such as thought process of a boy reasoning as to why Jesus never got married), this is a wonderful story of a boy who won't give up, becoming a man who won't give up. The only problem I found with this book was that it was so absorbing and well-written that I read it thorough non-stop and so had nothing to read the next day. This is not just a great story, but also a great telling of a story.