Scan barcode
kerameia's review against another edition
5.0
Rebecca Stead's books (the ones I've read thus far) leave me with a good feeling - warmth, hope, the feeling of a story well-ended but not completely finished. That is a quality that I highly value in a book, especially in children's and YA fiction. "Goodbye Stranger" does not disappoint.
I think that it's a great story for older kids, middle schoolers, and those on the cusp of high school (really, it's a great read for adults, too!). The author touches on some mature themes, such as cyber bullying (uploads of semi-naked pictures and the social consequences), evolving friendships, first crushes, in a realistic but gentle way. Rather than depicting friendships breaking up because of in-school drama, Stead illustrations how true friends can get through the hard times together.
I also like how she balances the relationships in her book, giving us insight into family relationships (Sherm and his family, Bridge and her brother, Tab and Celeste), friendships (Tab, Em, and Bridge, Bridge and Sherm, Adrienne), and adult-child relationships (Mr. P/Mr. Partridge and his students). On that last note, I appreciate the fact that Stead includes solid adult characters in an otherwise child/teenager-dominated story. Rather than portraying adults as one-dimensional, incompetent and/or oblivious, as many YA stories seem to do, the adults in "Goodbye Stranger" are caring and well-developed characters with interests and their own backstories (Tab's parents and their love, Mr. P/Mr. Partridge and his out-of-pocket treats, Bridge's mother, Sherm's father as the "child of a divorce").
All in all, "Goodbye Stranger" has MUCH to offer and is a wonderful read. And last but not least, what would a good Stead novel be without a little mystery? (There is one, and it's good :) ). I highly recommend!
I think that it's a great story for older kids, middle schoolers, and those on the cusp of high school (really, it's a great read for adults, too!). The author touches on some mature themes, such as cyber bullying (uploads of semi-naked pictures and the social consequences), evolving friendships, first crushes, in a realistic but gentle way. Rather than depicting friendships breaking up because of in-school drama, Stead illustrations how true friends can get through the hard times together.
I also like how she balances the relationships in her book, giving us insight into family relationships (Sherm and his family, Bridge and her brother, Tab and Celeste), friendships (Tab, Em, and Bridge, Bridge and Sherm, Adrienne), and adult-child relationships (Mr. P/Mr. Partridge and his students). On that last note, I appreciate the fact that Stead includes solid adult characters in an otherwise child/teenager-dominated story. Rather than portraying adults as one-dimensional, incompetent and/or oblivious, as many YA stories seem to do, the adults in "Goodbye Stranger" are caring and well-developed characters with interests and their own backstories (Tab's parents and their love, Mr. P/Mr. Partridge and his out-of-pocket treats, Bridge's mother, Sherm's father as the "child of a divorce").
All in all, "Goodbye Stranger" has MUCH to offer and is a wonderful read. And last but not least, what would a good Stead novel be without a little mystery? (There is one, and it's good :) ). I highly recommend!
jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book most when it focused on the friendship between Bridge, Tab, ad Emily. This book does a very good job of showing the complexity of friendship as the girls begin to develop different interests and grow apart as they struggle to hold on to what connects them.
I wish Stead had focused the entire book on them rather than flipping back and forth between them and the mysterious person facing a crisis on Valentine's Day (I won't say anything specific about this thread in the story because I don't want to give anything away, though I didn't find the "big reveal" particularly surprising). That part of the story wasn't developed nearly as well, so when you figure out who the person is and why she is having such a terrible day it doesn't pack the punch it should. This person's story would make a good book on it's own, and I'd rather have that than have the outline of her story treated as a supplement to Bridge, Tab and Emily's story. In the context of this book I ended up resenting this thread for pulling me out of the main story.
I wish Stead had focused the entire book on them rather than flipping back and forth between them and the mysterious person facing a crisis on Valentine's Day (I won't say anything specific about this thread in the story because I don't want to give anything away, though I didn't find the "big reveal" particularly surprising). That part of the story wasn't developed nearly as well, so when you figure out who the person is and why she is having such a terrible day it doesn't pack the punch it should. This person's story would make a good book on it's own, and I'd rather have that than have the outline of her story treated as a supplement to Bridge, Tab and Emily's story. In the context of this book I ended up resenting this thread for pulling me out of the main story.
karrama's review against another edition
4.0
The story weaves between the three friends, letters to an estranged family member, and "you," who made a choice that may change friendships. One mistake and your reputation is ruined. That's nothing new, but growing up in the digital age has challenges and social norms never seen before. Three friends promise to stay together and to keep from fighting, but as they grow up, they make choices their younger selves could never have foreseen. And really, another point of view in the book asks, do we know who we will become or what we might do in the future? Is the us who never guessed these changes would happen the stranger or is the person who we became that made those decisions the stranger?
reader4evr's review against another edition
3.0
Well this was interesting...I'm not sure if it was a great choice to add to the Caudills list (student readers choice award in IL) but hey, who asked me? I'm still thinking about this book but I don't know if I would go out and recommend this book.
The story was super realistic with the whole cyberbullying instance in it. I didn't even know going into the story that it was about cyberbullying because it doesn't mention at all in the summary or in a subject tag in the MARC record. I don't like how the whole situtation kind of was dropped and even though I'm glad parents/teachers got involved in it, it just kind of fizzled out. I think this book had too much drama and I think I would rather watch tv shows like this but not sure about a book.
I did enjoy the audio for this book (good narrator) and the format of the book with Sherman's letters to his grandfather and the annoymous character that you follow throughout the book on Valentine's Day (side note- I read a review and it said that you never find out who they are but you do!).
I enjoyed When you hear me better.
The story was super realistic with the whole cyberbullying instance in it. I didn't even know going into the story that it was about cyberbullying because it doesn't mention at all in the summary or in a subject tag in the MARC record. I don't like how the whole situtation kind of was dropped and even though I'm glad parents/teachers got involved in it, it just kind of fizzled out. I think this book had too much drama and I think I would rather watch tv shows like this but not sure about a book.
I did enjoy the audio for this book (good narrator) and the format of the book with Sherman's letters to his grandfather and the annoymous character that you follow throughout the book on Valentine's Day (side note- I read a review and it said that you never find out who they are but you do!).
I enjoyed When you hear me better.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
Nicely-written, enjoyable story that touches on a lot of hot-button issues in a very authentic, believable, and non-preachy way. So much is packed into this book that it could have failed epically in the hands of a less capable author, but I think Stead does a great job of capturing how this point in life feels. When you think about it, part of what makes it so confusing is all of the new understanding that begins to dawn as a person leaves childhood behind. I really liked the strong core story of female friendship.
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
4.0
I've only read one other of Rebecca Stead's books and I loved it, so I knew straight away that I would love this book too.
I read about 20 pages one day and then on my next day off I sat and read the rest of the book. Stead has a beautiful way of writing real characters and weaving an intriguing story that keeps you turning those pages.
The book is written in alternating perspectives; a mystery person's told over one day, our three main characters, and Sherm's through letters to his grandfather.
This was a clever way to slowly reveal all those secrets, give you a little bit but then move on to another character's story so you were always kept guessing.
This is a story about friendship at it's core. How they can be tested, strengthened and about making new ones. It's also about forgiveness, love and identity. There's so much to love about this book, I highly recommend this book to people of all ages.
I read about 20 pages one day and then on my next day off I sat and read the rest of the book. Stead has a beautiful way of writing real characters and weaving an intriguing story that keeps you turning those pages.
The book is written in alternating perspectives; a mystery person's told over one day, our three main characters, and Sherm's through letters to his grandfather.
This was a clever way to slowly reveal all those secrets, give you a little bit but then move on to another character's story so you were always kept guessing.
This is a story about friendship at it's core. How they can be tested, strengthened and about making new ones. It's also about forgiveness, love and identity. There's so much to love about this book, I highly recommend this book to people of all ages.
tansummer's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
prodigalstudent's review against another edition
4.0
There's just something about Rebecca Stead's books. She just writes so beautifully and manages to capture childhood, and adolescence and those teenage years in a way many authors cannot. I think, what I love the most, is the innocence in the writing - you feel like you're truly in the shoes of a young adult, because the way they think is so free of cynicism, and full of curiosity and wonder for the world. I mean, consider this quote:
Love is when you like someone so much that you can't just call it "like", so you have to call it "love".
or even the story about Hermey the elf who wanted to be a dentist so that both Rudolph, the red-nose reindeer and Hermey could be independent together.
This book follows that trend. I do not want to divulge any details of the plot, because in my opinion, it's mostly irrelevant. This reads more like a slice-of-life novel with a few tiny twists and turns. I also need to give the author kudos for the secondary almost anonymous narrative arc she plants in the book. However, I do question whether young adults reading this book would be able to follow along the non-traditional book format. Nevertheless, it's a great novel.
My one criticism is with the epilogue. My issue is not with the scene, but its placement. I just felt that with the themes explored in this novel, it was kind of traditional and disappointing to end it with a romantic scene. Nevertheless, this is still a great book, and I'm glad I read it.
Love is when you like someone so much that you can't just call it "like", so you have to call it "love".
or even the story about Hermey the elf who wanted to be a dentist so that both Rudolph, the red-nose reindeer and Hermey could be independent together.
This book follows that trend. I do not want to divulge any details of the plot, because in my opinion, it's mostly irrelevant. This reads more like a slice-of-life novel with a few tiny twists and turns. I also need to give the author kudos for the secondary almost anonymous narrative arc she plants in the book. However, I do question whether young adults reading this book would be able to follow along the non-traditional book format. Nevertheless, it's a great novel.
My one criticism is with the epilogue
Spoiler
with the kiss between Bridge and Shermprotoman21's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure why I didn't connect with this book the way others seem to have. I don't know if it is because I'm a 37 year old man, and the book is more suited for teenage girls, but I struggled to keep the girls apart and that really weakened the story for me. I read this a few months ago and honestly I can't remember many details from the book at all.