The+Smell+of+Paint

By **Sheryl McFarlane

Booktalk**

Jess loves to run and is thrilled when a high-performance track coach invites her to become part of the city track team. She won't admit, even to her best friends, Jill and Jen, that there is another attraction for her. His name is Brendan. He is one of the cutest guys at school and also a member. She throws herself into training to the dismay of her artist mother who would be much happier if she were to take painting lessons. Her life becomes a whirl of school-work, training, a growing friendship with Brendan and a struggle to keep in touch with the other "J's" who have been best friends since kindergarten. When her mother is diagnosed with cancer and begins a vigorous course of treatments, she doesn't want anyone to know. Partly in denial, she retreats even more from her family and friends, including Brendan, and takes refuge at the track. Although bewildered and sometimes angry with Jess, her friends and family never give up on her and she comes to realize it is their love and support that gets her through one of the hardest times of her life.