Mango Days

I had the honor of meeting Patty's parents Kit and Margie Smith while living in Hawaii. Kit was my running mentor for the Honolulu Marathon through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training. They provided me a copy of the book and it so inspired me, that I organized the MANGO DAYS 5K to honor Patty, her writing and to elevate awareness of the need for a cure for cancer. The race is now in it's fifth year under new leadership and Patty will live on through her continued inspiration of others. Buy the book, read it and pass it on to others. -Neil Voje

This series of journal entries spans the last 16 months of Patty's life and introduces us to the interior world of a girl realizing that being young does not mean she's immortal. I'm overwhelmed by how strong Patty was during this time. The writing also reveals her fears, sibling rivalry, desire to follow in her father's footsteps, spiritual convictions, craving for father figures, and the need to leave something meaningful behind. MANGO DAYS is Patty's gift to us and I thank her for it.

I met Patty and Mango Days through her father, Kit, a fellow Scot and runner for the Leukemia Foundation during the l997 Alaskan Marathon. Mango Days was a most welcome gift received in Hawaii after a visit with Kit and Margie in August of that same year. I enjoyed Patty's message so much that I have obtained several copies on two occasions for gifts to friends and their relatives who faced similar battles with cancer. A remarkable well written message. Thanks for listening.

Patty Smith was an intelligent, witty teenager who left behind a very insightful journal. If she were still here and writing I would buy all of her books. The one thing that disappointed me about this novel was the amount of forewards and introductions and everything else thought of to make the book thicker. It was pointless information by people with less talent than Patty. I almost didn't read the book after reading the introduction because I thought Patty's writing was going to be as longwinded and boring. It wasn't. This is officially one of the best books I have ever read and it has helped motivate me to try to overcome my illness. Wherever Patty is now I would like to thank and congratulate her on such a wonderful accomplishment.