Rules for 50/50 Chances

Rose Levenson is a seventeen-year-old ballet dancer whose mother has Huntington's disease, a fatal genetic condition with a 50% chance of being inherited. As she watches her mother's decline, Rose grapples with whether to take the genetic test that will reveal if she carries the gene. Her life becomes more complicated when she meets Caleb, a mixed-race boy whose sister has sickle cell disease. Their connection grows as they navigate the challenges of caring for family members with serious illnesses while trying to plan their own futures. Rose must decide between embracing uncertainty or facing a truth that could change everything. Her relationships with her parents, her best friend, and Caleb influence her journey toward this life-altering choice. The novel explores themes of fate versus free will, and how people make decisions when faced with difficult odds. Through Rose's story, the narrative examines what it means to live fully in the present while carrying the weight of an uncertain future.

Readers found this YA novel dealt thoughtfully with Huntington's disease and its impact on families. Many noted the authentic portrayal of a teen facing genetic testing decisions, with one reader calling it "refreshingly honest about the realities of caring for someone with a degenerative illness." Readers appreciated: - Complex family dynamics - Diverse characters and interracial relationship - Balance of heavy themes with lighter romantic elements - Medical accuracy in depicting HD Common criticisms: - Main character Rose described as self-absorbed and unlikeable - Romance felt forced to some readers - Pacing issues in middle section - Some found the ending unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4/5 (30+ reviews) Several teen readers with HD in their families specifically praised the book's representation, with one noting "Finally a book that gets what it's like to live with this fear."

The Memory Book by Lara Avery A teen with a rare genetic condition that causes memory loss documents her life in a journal while falling in love and pursuing her dreams of college.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon A girl with a rare immune disorder falls in love with the boy next door while grappling with the limitations of her medical condition.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Two teens with cancer navigate their relationship while facing the realities of terminal illness and mortality.

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes A girl who believes she brings bad luck to those around her works through her trauma in therapy and meets a boy who helps her challenge her beliefs.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman A comatose teen must decide whether to live or die after a car accident kills her family and forces her to confront loss and life-changing choices.

🧬 The book tackles Huntington's disease, a genetic condition that has a 50% chance of being inherited if a parent has it, which is central to the main character Rose's story. 📚 Author Kate McGovern drew inspiration from her work with teenagers facing serious medical conditions and their families while working at Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. 🚂 The cross-country train journey featured in the novel was based on McGovern's own experiences riding Amtrak trains across America. 💕 The interracial romance between Rose and Caleb thoughtfully explores racial identity and privilege, drawing from McGovern's background in education and social justice. 🎭 The protagonist's passion for ballet serves as both a metaphor for control and an authentic reflection of McGovern's own dance background, as she studied ballet throughout her childhood.