Fighting Back

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Photojournalist Kuklin spent nine months following the lives and deaths of Gay Men's Health Crisis volunteers and their clients (the word victim is not used) with AIDS. The result is exactly what the title impliesa realistic, yet moving discussion of PWAs (people with AIDS) trying to live with the disease, and the cross-section of helpers who provide household help and emotional comfort. The strength of the book lies in its real peopleboth volunteers and PWAs hail from across the spectrumgay and straight, men and women, teens. Their backgrounds and feelings are clearly expressed in these pagesa PWA who had led a degrading life of addiction, now rehabilitated; AIDS dementia; a marriage of friendship between a gay and a straight person; volunteers who burn out, drop out of the program (and sometimes return); the prejudice of the AIDS issue, from family and friends. AIDS transmission and prevention are gracefully folded into narrative and dialogue; this is an excellent, com passionate addition to the growing AIDS library that may inspire more people to volunteer. Further, in view of Kuklin's own body of work, this comes across as her strongest, most skillfully wrought project yet. Photos not seen by PW. Ages 13-up. (Jan.)

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up Kuklin adds to the growing body of AIDS-related literature with this moving documentation of a group of people who volunteer to help people with AIDS by providing support for them and doing their daily chores. The volunteers, a team of ``buddies'' for New York City's Gay Men's Health Crisis, are a diverse group of men and women, straight and gay, who have chosen to make a difference in the fight against AIDS. The portraits of the volunteers and their clients show the physical and emotional strain that can come of dealing with a debilitating illness daily, while they also reveal depths of courage and strength. Kuklin includes much information regarding the transmission of the HIV virus, antibody testing, orthodox and alternative treatments, and aspects of day-to-day living with the disease. Powerful black-and-white photos of the people mentioned in the book make the stories all the more personal. The book humanizes a serious disease about which many are prejudiced, and it encourages understanding. Certainly this book should be shared widely among people whose lives have been affected by AIDS. The level of commitment shown by the team of buddies and the spirit of the PWAs will speak to everyone, and Fighting Back may encourage more people to join the fight. David Gale, ``School Library Journal''