How It Feels to Fight for Your Life

Children face-to-face with severe body damage and potential death just when they have begun to live are Krementz's focus in her latest book of profiles, illustrated with her black-and-white photographs. The 14 children, ranging in age from seven to 16, are working hard, with their families and doctors, to achieve triumphs large and small over what has befallen them. Some have cancer, kidney, respiratory or heart ailments. Others have been in accidents and are burned or paralyzed. Krementz has succeeded admirably in getting the kids to ``tell it like it is.'' Elizabeth is hurt by her father's lack of knowledge about her cancer treatment; she comfortably poses for the camera bald. For many in the book, the future is uncertain. But these children try to go to school, keep and make friends, be as normal as possible while valuing each day with a maturity beyond their years. Marycely,sp is OK who has lupus, even competes in the Miss Hispanic contest. The stories, not easy, are like the children: stunningly honest and often sad, yet filled with hope and triumph. Ages 11-up. (Oct.)