Graphic Reads

Mom's Cancer tells the story of how three adult children help their mother, known throughout the book as "Mom", deal with her aggressive lung cancer. Written and illustrated by Brian Fies, this book is an excellent example of a graphic novel written by and for adults and dealing with adult topics and frustrations. Originally published by Fies as a web diary, and winner of the Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic, Mom's Cancer has been bound into a compact graphic novel. Included in the text are an Afterword by Mom herself, as well as an epilogue by Fies and sources for more information on cancer.

Fies takes readers through this journey from Mom's diagnosis with cancer through to her treatments and then on to her eventual remission. Alongside "Kid Sis", who lives with and cares for Mom, and "Nurse Sis", who aggressively advocates for Mom in hospitals and clinics, Fies experiences what happens when children suddenly have to take care of their parents. Written in chapters, with threads of dark and sardonic humor throughout, Mom's Cancer lets readers in on the decisions, frustrations, setbacks, and successes of the Fies family. By the end, readers are rooting for Mom and sympathizing with the Fies children who struggle to help Mom understand the seriousness of her condition, even while pushing for treatments and medications that will help her recover. Anyone who has experienced the bewildering array of information on cancer treatments and options will understand the frustration that Fies feels; as he learns more about lung cancer and its treatments, he become more and more confused, yet more determined to attack Mom's situation with the cool detachment of a scientist. Of course, this is not possible, because even as Mom needs her children's help, they still need "Mom" in various ways. Despite the harrowing treatments, the arguments and misunderstandings between the three Fies children over what is best for Mom, and the dilemma of what to tell "Dad", who is divorced from Mom and living in another state, the family manages to celebrate accomplishments big and small together. At the end, Fies reflects on the ways in which writing and illustrating Mom's Cancer surprised him, "when I started, I thought that my story was about death. It turned out to be about hope. That story is just as good. Even better." Readers will agree.