%20(1).png)
Sidekick Super Review: Heartbreak and Other Organ Failures (2026) by Taylor Hobbs
The Basics
Page Length: 352
Audiobook Length: ~9 hours
Grade Reading Level: 9+
Target Audience Age: 14-18+
Goodreads Score: 4.03 out of 5
Buy it HERE
Setting: Contemporary Idaho and Oregon (near Crater Lake National Park)
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction
Topics: Sisterhood, Family, Disability, Illness, Caregiving, Romance, Road Trips, Humor, Responsibility, Sacrifice, College Plans
Plot: Seventeen year old Kaley loves her big sister, Zoey, and she would do just about anything for her. She's the best at cheering Zoey up, distracting her, and comforting her before dialysis treatments. Zoey's developmental disabilities and kidney failure mean she needs constant supervision. So, when their mom can't be there, Kaley is on the job. It's demanding, but rewarding, and Kaley wouldn't have it any other way.
That being said, she's looking SO forward to moving out next year and heading to college in Oregon, nine hours away. Her serious, longtime boyfriend has already moved there and is patiently waiting for her arrival after graduation. Long distance hasn't been easy, but in just a few short months, senior year will be over, Zoey will have a new kidney, and Kaley will finally get to start a new chapter of her life with a little more freedom and the boy she loves.
But everything changes when the family receives some bad news about Zoey's medical plan. Their mom isn't a match for a kidney transplant, and Kaley can't donate until she turns 18. That leaves only one option: their estranged father, who they haven't heard from in years. They've tried contacting him to see if he's a match, but to no avail. He's completely ghosting them.
So, there's only one option left: a road trip to Oregon, where their dad lives (and where Blake just so happens to be going to college, too!). One trip could solve Zoey's kidney dilemma AND save Kaley's struggling long-distance relationship.
Of course, road trips never go according to plan. Especially when you're road-tripping with your special-needs sister to hunt down your long-lost father, all while plotting a surprise college visit for your long-distance boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong when you're juggling family drama, sister duty, and teenage romance all in one trip? Kaley sets out hoping to fix everyone else's problems and secure the future she's been dreaming of, but she might just discover that life has a different plan for her.
Themes: The invisible weight of caregiving, independence, growing up and autonomy, caring for yourself while caring for others, disability and dignity and autonomy, hope and resilience
You might like this book if you like:
Road-tripping
Hanging with your siblings
Books like: Hurt You, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, The First Thing About You, Every Time You Go Away, Conditions of a Heart
Shows like: Atypical, Never Have I Ever, Life Unexpected, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Ginny and Georgia
Movies like: Little Miss Sunshine, The Fundamentals of Caring (also a book), CODA, The Peanut Butter Falcon, The Edge of Seventeen, The Spectacular Now, The Fault in Our Stars (also a book)
Teaching Heartbreak and Other Organ Failures in Class
Content
Language: A few instances of mild language.
Sex/Romance: The book features a teen romance. One character loses her virginity. The sexual encounter is "closed door," meaning nothing is described in detail. However, the experience and the emotions surrounding it are brought up several times throughout the novel and are an ongoing part of the character's story.
Violence/Scariness: Nothing particularly violent or scary. However, the book does address several heavy emotional topics, including disease, disability, divorce, and caregiving. There is also a brief mention of a parent's suicide attempt.
Drinking/Smoking/Drugs: Teenagers attend parties where alcohol is present and consumed.
Class Novel-ability: I don't think this book is a strong contender for a class novel. The class-wide interest level just isn't quite there. It's very centered on high school romance, family, and relationships, without enough action or plot momentum to get an entire class invested.
That being said, this has been one of my recent favorites. The relatable characters, clever writing style, and heart of the story make it something special. It's one of those books I know I'll remember for a long time, and I think a lot of other students will feel the same way. There's something almost magical about it. It's fun, inspiring, honest, and full of heart. It has the kind of impact that can stay with a reader long after the final page. And ultimately, it's exactly the kind of book that can foster the love of reading we so desperately want to instill in our students.
The Star Qualities
I LOVE the author's use of voice in this novel. This book is filled with SO much personality. It's funny. It's relatable. It's entertaining. Sometimes, when I'm teaching voice, I ask my students, "Would anyone other than your mom actually want to read this? Is your writing boring your peer editor to tears?" If the answer is yes, it's time to spice things up! It's time to add some voice.
This book feels like a masterclass in teaching teenagers what that kind of writing looks like. The author uses clever word choice, jokes, sarcasm, and rhythm to give the narration personality. It's the kind of writing that makes you want to keep reading, not just because of what's happening in the story, but because you genuinely enjoy listening to the narrator. There is so much here for students to notice, appreciate, and experiment with in their own writing.
I LOVE the representation in this novel. It's an honest portrayal of disability, disease, teenagehood, caregivers, and so much more. My world was opened up a little after reading this book, and I learned so much from the narrator's experiences and point of view. I think other readers will, too.
This is one of those books that serves as a powerful window into the lives of its characters, but it can also be an even more powerful mirror for readers who personally connect with and relate to their experiences. I imagine reading this book as a mirror could be incredibly moving, healing, and even funny. More than anything, I think it has the potential to make a lot of people feel seen. And if one of your students is one of those readers, this could be the kind of book they remember forever.
This book is told from the perspective of a high school senior, which puts the narrator in a very relatable position for so many students. She's trying to figure out how to balance her own needs, desires, and hopes for the future with the needs and expectations of her family. She's navigating what a high school relationship might look like as she moves into the next chapter of her life. She's searching for a sense of certainty and confidence in her decisions, even though that kind of certainty doesn't really exist. I'd imagine a lot of students reading this book are navigating these same questions and struggles. They're thinking about their futures, their relationships, their families, and what it means to start making decisions for themselves. I think there's a lot here for teenagers to connect with, relate to, and think about.
Book Talk Read Aloud Section
If you have the physical book, read pages 1-mid page 5 (through paragraph 5 "I wonder if she doesn't have one.")
If you don't, read the same pages in the reading sample here.
"Reading Like a Writer" Mentor Texts
I love how this passage uses formatting to show internal dialogue and conflict. The fragmented sentences and ellipses make the thoughts feel disjointed, almost like phrases floating around in the narrator's mind. The italics set them apart, while the sharp cutaway to the next paragraph changes the rhythm and adds drama. I especially love the dismissive interjection "Psh" to communicate attitude and personality. It's a great example of how formatting, punctuation, and sentence structure can bring a character's internal struggle to life.
I love how this passage captures stream of consciousness. The one-sentence paragraph is funky and fun, and the repeated em dashes create a fast-paced rhythm that makes the thoughts tumble together. I also love the contrast between the serious thoughts and the funny, everyday ones. It makes the narrator's thought process feel real and relatable! The abrupt interruption at the end is another great touch. It cuts off the narrator's thoughts and pulls us back into the present moment.
I love how this passage captures the narrator's personality and voice throughout the novel. She's witty, humorous, and full of quippy observations. The wordplay, double meanings, cultural references, and exaggeration all work together to create an entertaining voice. It's a great example for students to see that writing can be playful, funny, and full of personality. It does NOT have to be boring!
Sentences for Combining and Imitation
Sentence sets for combining:
"Instead of accidentally ramming straight into the dialysis machine, the phone ends up plopping to the ground about a foot from my chair, bouncing only one so the screen lies facedown on the pristine white tile floor." (Heartbreak and Other Organ Failures, p. 1)
The phone does not accidentally ram straight into the dialysis machine.
Instead, the phone ends up plopping to the ground.
It's about a foot from my chair.
It bounces only once.
The screen lies facedown on the floor.
The floor is pristine.
The floor is white tile.
"Lately it’s just been me at home, waiting by the phone like some pathetic . . . I slap the pocket of my zip-up jacket and realize I forgot my phone." (p. 13)
Lately it's just been me at home.
I've been waiting by the phone like some pathetic . . .
I slap the pocket of my jacket.
My jacket is zip up.
I realize I forgot something.
I forgot my phone.
"Her swallow is so loud I hear it from across the room, followed by a whisper that barely reaches my ears." (p. 179)
Her swallow is loud.
It's so loud, I hear it from across the room.
It's followed by a whisper.
The whisper barely reaches my ears.
Sentences for Imitation:
This author does a fantastic job of writing with voice! She uses interjections, italics, and funny, clever word choices to give the narrator a distinct personality. These are just a few examples of the sentences throughout the book that showcase her style and craft.
"We could–gasp!–leave town if we wanted to." (p. 3)
"She was special, and she brought me along with her, which made me special." (p. 8
"This afternoon had really and truly sucked." (p. 27)
"Who would have guessed my knight in shining armor isn’t the guy who, you know, rides actual horses and is instead a man-child on a Razor scooter?" (p. 150)
"Today is a spectacular failure." (p. 150)
Used this book in your classroom? Tell us how in the comments!
Want to be updated when our next book review comes out? Subscribe here for weekly posts featuring fresh book reviews with brand-new sentences and passages. Your inbox’s new favorite destination for new YA reading and writing inspiration!
Comments