Zac and MIA

by A J Betts

[Leah]

When I got an email from Netgalley, telling me that because I had loved Eleanor & Park, they were offering me the chance to read Zac & Mia, I was quite pleased. I’ve never received an email like that before, and I thought Zac & Mia sounded super interesting. And I did love Eleanor & Park, so I was excited to read something similar. I couldn’t wait to get stuck in, and it is a similar sort of novel to Eleanor & Park, and also The Fault In Our Stars (which I haven’t read – yet).

Zac is a 17 year old boy, being treated for leukaemia and he knows everyone on the ward – so when a new girl arrives, a girl who blasts Lady Gaga at ear-splitting volume and doesn’t seem to have many visitors, Zac is entranced. He finds out her name is Mia, and when she friends him on Facebook they start chatting at 3am, when neither of then can sleep, but Mia is afraid of what’s happening to her, and she just wants to be normal again, and the two end up not seeing each other for a while, until Mia rocks up at Zac’s home one night…

I was a bit afraid Zac & Mia would be your typical cancer storyline – the two make friends, fall for each other, and one of them dies, just to be cruel. It happens, a lot, and as Zac points out, 1 in 5 people with cancer don’t make it. (Which is depressing. That’s an awful, awful statistic, right up there with 1 in 2 people get cancer in the first place.) But I was surprised by Zac & Mia, I won’t say what does happen, but it worked for me… Which is always a plus.

I was entranced by the novel from the start. Zac has such an awesome voice, whether he’s reciting statistics or being all chill about his situation, Zac is the dream cancer patient, let’s be honest and I loved his refreshing honesty. I loved his compassion, that saw him try and help Mia again, and again, even though she resisted and resisted. It takes a special kind of person to put aside their own problems and help someone else, but that was Zac all over. He barely knew Mia but he wanted to make sure she was okay. It was so, so sweet. On the other hand, I struggled to warm to Mia, she’s cold and prickly, and rails against the world. And it took a very long time for me to trust her. I understood her frustration, but she could have been a bit kinder to those around her, instead of treating them like the enemy.

Zac & Mia is such a wonderful, uplifting novel. The rapport between Zac & Mia is second to none, and when Mia let Zac in, the sparks were there, the chemistry was there. I just wish she was less pricklier. You never knew what kind of mood she would be in. But Zac – where can I get me a one of him? Eternally optimistic, loves statistics, happy to help anyone in need… *swoons* Even at his worst he still had that snarky way with words and I loved it. It’s just such a delightful novel, with two fabulous narrators, and a must read for all contemporary YA fans.