Wink book cover
6 - 8

Wink

By Rob Harrell

A hilarious and heartwrenching story about surviving middle school–and an unthinkable diagnosis–while embracing life’s weirdness.

Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn’t want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don’t know what to say to “the cancer kid.” But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table.

Based on Rob Harrell’s real life experience, and packed with comic panels and spot art, this incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life’s weirdness.

State Awards

Recommended reading lists from your state's teacher or librarian associations!
  • Colorado
    • Colorado Children's Book Award
  • Connecticut
    • Nutmeg Book Award
  • Georgia
    • Georgia Children's Book Award
  • Illinois
    • Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award
  • Indiana
    • Young Hoosier Book Award
    • Indiana Read Alouds
    • Indiana Author Awards
  • Iowa
    • Iowa Children's Choice Award
  • Kentucky
    • Bluegrass Book Award
  • Maine
    • Maine Student Book Award
  • Maryland
    • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
  • Missouri
    • Mark Twain Readers Book Award
  • Nebraska
    • Golden Sower Book Award
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
  • Texas
    • Lone Star Reading List
  • Utah
    • Beehive Book Award
  • Vermont
    • Golden Dome Book Award
  • Washington D.C.
    • Capitol Choices
    • Three Star Book Award
  • South Dakota
    • South Dakota Children's Book Award
  • Arizona
    • Grand Canyon Readers Award
  • Louisiana
    • Louisiana Readers' Choice Award
  • Oregon
    • Oregon Readers Choice Award
  • More Awards
    • Pacific Northwest Young Readers Book Award

Subscribe to our newsletter

Enter your email and date of birth

Month
Day
Year

By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive news and updates from Penguin Random House about Michelle Obama. I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Sorry, but we are unable to process your request at this time.

Thanks for subscribing!