WaPo (Gift Article): A boy with cancer hoped to see monsters. Hundreds of strangers showed up in costume. Sometimes terrible stories can remind us how much goodness there is in the world.

+ Cancer-killing virus shows promise in patients. (And, there’s something good about Herpes.)

+ MIT researchers invented cooling tech that doesn’t need electricity.

+ Taliban releases US engineer Mark Frerichs in prisoner swap.

+ US installs record solar capacity as prices keep falling.

+ And if you really want to feel good on this Friday, follow along with Robbi and Matthew on the Busload of Books Tour. It’s off to an amazing start. It’s truly incredible to me that no major news outlet is covering this trip yet. It’s a fantastic American story.