Fifteen-year-old Wali Khan, affectionately called “Vali the Vomiter” by his older twin sisters, has always chalked up his throwing up to a delicate stomach. And the headaches in ninth grade? Worrying about grades. But waking up in the hospital in the second week of tenth grade, he is shocked to hear the cause: acoustic neuroma, a golf-ball-sized tumor pressing on his ear canal.
The good news: it’s most likely benign. The bad news: surgery in four months, with probable hearing loss as a result.
Starting a new year in high school with a looming life-altering surgery date forces Wali, a passionate film buff, to look inward, at his family, friends and even himself. Why is this happening to him?
His Muslim father and Christian mother are supportive, yet sometimes a bit clueless when it comes to their children. His twin sisters are a mix of loving and teasing, and he bounces between spying on them and keeping their secrets. As for the new girl, Ruby Lai-Mirza, he’s just not sure he has time for a new friend.
Wali may fear the end, but he’s still got a lot of living to do. It’s not over yet.
YA SH3LF SHORT REVIEW:
It’s Not Over Yet is a heartfelt and beautifully balanced coming-of-age story that tackles a frightening diagnosis without ever losing its warmth or sense of humor. Wali is an instantly engaging protagonist-funny, frustrated, vulnerable, and completely believable as he tries to navigate family, friendship, first feelings, and an uncertain future. Salma Hussain handles difficult themes with remarkable sensitivity, allowing moments of fear and anger to exist alongside tenderness and hope. Moving without becoming overly sentimental, this is ultimately a life-affirming story about accepting help, finding courage, and realizing just how much living can fit into an uncertain tomorrow.