At Risk: A Novel

Alice Hoffman

Sept 2014 · Open Road Media

About this eBook

A New York Times bestseller from the author of The Rules of Magic: In 1980s America, a family copes with their daughter’s terrifying diagnosis.

In a lovely old house near the coast of Massachusetts, the Farrells go through the routines of a typical August morning. Eight-year-old Charlie, a junior biologist and dinosaur expert, tries to collect one of his insect specimens. His sister, Amanda, a talented gymnast who at eleven years old is already saving her money to try out for the Olympics, prepares for her last meet of the summer. Ivan, their absent-minded father, is involved with his work as an astronomer. Out in the garden, his wife, Polly, wonders how she can trick her children into eating more zucchini.  
 
They are a family as unique and ordinary as any other, but their world will soon be shattered when Amanda is diagnosed with the disease that has been making headlines lately: AIDS. The new and still-mysterious ailment scares them—and their friends and neighbors as well. In an instant, everything that gave their lives meaning is ripped away, and the intimacy that once came so naturally vanishes. Too overcome with grief to turn to each other, Ivan and Polly seek solace elsewhere. Charlie is abandoned by his best friend and, for long stretches at a time, forgotten by his parents. Amanda, who holds on to her dreams so tightly, must somehow find a way to let go.  
 
Torn apart by the prospect of their loss, Polly, Ivan, and Charlie must find the courage to come back together again—for Amanda’s sake and for their own. At Risk is an exquisite book about true sorrow and even truer devotion.

Ratings and reviews

Read this book when I was 15 years-old and loved it! I will ALWAYS remember it as I was scared 2 death when I was suddenly diagnosed with a rare blood disease, called Aplastic Anemia, 2 months b4 my 18th birthday n May '98 n the doctor I'd seen the day b4 n had to demand he give me a blood test, called the next day, on a Sat. morning n told my mother that the results of my blood test came back n I needed 2 get to the ER. I needed a blood transfusion IMMEDIATELY! My blood levels were dangerously low! I was petrified 2 have 2get a blood transfusion, after having read this book 2 yrs prior. I'm considering writing a book about my story and diagnosis. I just don't know how/where to begin. But, 26 yrs after being diagnosed and having had 100's+ blood transfusions later, I can say they test donated blood very well these days, cuz I haven't gotten HIV/AIDS from any of the blood transfusions I've had and the Aplastic Anemia has been in remission and I haven't had to have 1 since 2001.

I just finished this book, and I have to admit I'm crying. Beautifully written. In depth characters. There r probably alot of stories out there like Amandas. This book tells them all with love and humanity.

Had to put everything I should be doing aside until I finished this book. Beautiful story.

About the author

Alice Hoffman was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. She wrote her first novel, Property Of, while studying creative writing at Stanford University, and since then has published more than thirty books for readers of all ages, including the recent New York Times bestsellers The Museum of Extraordinary Things and The Dovekeepers. Two of her novels, Practical Magic and Aquamarine, have been made into films, and Here on Earth was an Oprah’s Book Club choice. Hoffman’s work has been published in more than twenty languages and one hundred foreign editions. She lives outside of Boston.