Strong As Ev

When a six-year-old’s brain is under attack, hope fights back.

A true story of sudden illness, extraordinary courage, and the love that refused to let go.

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Strong As Ev

At six years old, Evelyn was a happy, energetic little girl. Then, without warning, a rare autoimmune attack began damaging her brain.

Within hours, she could no longer walk, speak, eat, or respond to the people she loved.

Strong As Ev is the true story of one family’s journey through sudden illness, medical uncertainty, intensive care, brain injury, and rehabilitation. It follows Evelyn from the frightening first signs that something was wrong, through months at SickKids and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and into a life forever divided into the Before and the After.

It is a story about a mother learning to advocate when there are no clear answers. About a father and younger sister trying to hold onto normal life while their family is falling apart. About doctors, nurses, therapists, friends, strangers, and an entire community refusing to give up on one little girl.

But more than anything, it is a story about Evelyn.

Her strength. Her determination. Her humour. Her small steps forward, and the extraordinary courage it took to make each one.

Evelyn’s recovery was remarkable, but recovery did not mean returning unchanged. Strong As Ev explores the complicated reality of surviving a childhood brain injury: celebrating the miracle of what has returned while grieving the parts that may never be the same.

It is an honest story of fear, faith, resilience, ambiguous grief, and the hope that carried one family through the darkest season of their lives.

Amanda holding Evelyn close during her hospital stay

Who Is This Book For?

Strong As Ev was written for anyone who has ever loved someone through a medical crisis.

It may especially resonate with:

  • Parents and caregivers of critically ill children
  • Families navigating encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, autoimmune disease, or acquired brain injury
  • Parents adjusting to the emotional and behavioural changes that can follow a brain injury
  • Doctors, nurses, therapists, educators, and rehabilitation professionals
  • Families living with an invisible disability
  • Readers drawn to true stories of survival, faith, community, and resilience
  • Anyone learning how to hold grief and gratitude at the same time

You do not need to have experienced a medical crisis to recognize yourself in this story. At its heart, Strong As Ev is about what happens when life changes without warning—and how love, hope, and community help us keep moving forward.

A Story of Survival—and Everything That Comes After

Evelyn survived.

She relearned how to sit, stand, walk, speak, eat, play, and return to school. Her recovery exceeded what her family once dared to imagine.

But survival was not the end of the story.

The Evelyn who came home was still funny, brave, loving, and unmistakably herself. She was also navigating changes in attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, and processing caused by her brain injury.

Her family had to learn that recovery can be both miraculous and heartbreaking. That it is possible to feel overwhelmingly grateful while still grieving. That a child can look completely recovered to the outside world while continuing to fight battles no one else can see.

Strong As Ev gives a voice to that complicated space—the place between devastation and healing, loss and gratitude, the person someone was before and the person they are becoming.

Amanda gently kissing Evelyn’s forehead in the hospital

About the Author

Amanda Hook, author of Strong As Ev

Amanda Hook is an audiologist, business owner, wife, and mother of two daughters.

When her six-year-old daughter, Evelyn, became critically ill following a sudden post-viral autoimmune attack on her brain, Amanda’s world changed overnight. She spent the following months beside Evelyn at SickKids and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, documenting the fear, uncertainty, heartbreak, and extraordinary moments of progress that shaped their family’s journey.

Amanda wrote Strong As Ev to help other families feel less alone, to honour the people who helped save and rebuild her daughter’s life, and to share a story of resilience, faith, advocacy, and hope.

She lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, Mike, their daughters, Evelyn and Ellie, and their two cats.

Amazon Reviews

Reader reviews from Amazon.ca.

5.0

Based on 10 Amazon.ca reviews

  • Lewis Pyper

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    Fantastic read, a true story of resilience!

    An incredibly moving story of a family's resilience through illness and their search for hope during the darkest of times. Knowing the author personally made it even more special, but the story itself completely drew me in. I started reading in the evening and couldn't put it down, finishing it in one sitting. A beautiful, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful and remarkable story of Ev, her family and their strength, that will stay with me for a long time.

  • Luke G.

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    Incredibly heartfelt memoir, highly recommend!

    Strong as Ev is a memoir that will capture your heart and remind you just how fragile life can be. It is a story of strength, resilience, and faith in the face of the unthinkable — a sudden, unexplained, and life-threatening illness that struck sweet Evelyn, a healthy six-year-old girl. While Evelyn's story is particularly close to my heart, readers from all walks of life can appreciate the incredible strength and determination that Evelyn and her family were forced to summon during the hardest experience of their lives. While the subject matter is heartbreaking at times, Evelyn's story is ultimately one of hope. It reminds us to appreciate every moment, to never give up, and that sometimes, even the impossible is possible. I can't recommend this book enough. It is a beautiful and powerful story of courage, faith, and the strength of the human spirit, and I look forward to seeing just how far Evelyn's story reaches!

  • Amazon Customer

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    Amazing and powerful read

    This book is a story of true strength and shear willpower! Strong as Ev is beautifully written and reminds us life is fragile but the human body, brain and spirit are unbelievably strong and powerful! Read it! It will empower you to believe in yourself even on your hardest days

  • Laurie

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    PAGE TURNING EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER

    "Strong As Ev" makes you want to read as fast as you can, as this true story draws you into a mother's deepest fear of losing her daughter and the incredible recovery that follows. This story will tug at your heartstrings, but it will also make you smile as tiny steps forward become monumental achievements. It's a story about the power of community, the kindness of complete strangers, and finding faith while searching for hope. An emotional, inspiring story of resilience, love and the strength of a little girl and her family. A MUST READ!!!!

  • Dan

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    A touchingly true story

    I was surprised at how much this book affected me given that I knew most of the story as it was unfolding. Amanda's ability to open up and tell us her doubts and private thoughts must have been very difficult for her. The way she describes Evelyn's strength and determination with her recovery is very touching. A very touching book.

  • Meghan & Malcolm

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    Inspirational.

    I had followed Ev's journey closely the entire way. Amanda being a colleague of mine made me completely invested, I found myself always waiting for the next update. These pages hold something so much deeper than any Instagram post, a window directly to the mind of Amanda. The heartbreak I felt turning these pages is completely outweighed by the absolute joy I feel being able to see where they are now! 🖤

  • matthew

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    A Truly Remarkable Story

    I finished the book in only a couple of hours, it was so well written, I just couldn't put it down! I cannot imagine what you have all been through. What a story and what an incredibly strong girl Evelyn is. The book and your story are truly remarkable!

  • Holly

    Verified purchase

    Strong As Ev

    Strong as Ev is such a heartfelt and beautifully written story. From the very beginning, I felt completely captured by Ev's journey. The way her story is told made me feel like I was right there beside her, experiencing the uncertainty, challenges, strength, and victories along the way. What really stood out to me was how honestly the book portrays the reality of going through this medical situation. It's a story of courage, grief, pride, love, and strength that stays with you even after you finish reading. I think this book would be incredibly meaningful for families who are navigating a similar journey, but it's also a beautiful reminder to anyone who reads it of just how strong and resilient children can be. A truly touching story that I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read. ❤️

  • Erica

    Verified purchase

    Your Next Read

    A story about a girl and her family navigating a sudden neurological event and their journey through Sick Kids Hospital, Holland Bloorview Rehab and home. This book described the challenges of navigating diagnosis through recovery, documenting the heartfelt before and after of a girl's neurological journey. A great read for parents, future healthcare providers and seasoned healthcare providers to truly appreciate the impact your work has on your patients and their families.

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Small Steps Forward Are Still Steps in the Right Direction

Strong As Ev is a reminder that strength does not always look fearless.

Sometimes strength is opening your eyes.

Squeezing a hand.

Saying a single word.

Taking one uncertain step.

And sometimes, strength is simply choosing to believe that the story is not over yet.

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