The Last Time We Say Goodbye

Reviewed by: Carla McAllister - New Gloucester Public Library, New Gloucester, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 23, 2015

Review

Grief is a terrible thing and this book handles grief in a way that anyone who has lost a loved one can relate to. Lex's life is split into before and after; before her younger brother Tyler committed suicide and after. Her father has left the family for a woman half is age, Mom has been waiting for him to come to his senses and return, and Tyler has begged his father to come back when the horrific happens. Lex is a senior in high school in their small Nebraska town, handling first love and overwhelming guilt, now, that she missed a chance to save her brother. Her mother is pretty much having a nervous breakdown and Lex feels she must take care of her. She is holding everything in and it is taking its toll on her sanity and her private life. I highly recommend this book for young adult readers and adults alike as it speaks to myriad questions about life and death, guilt and grief about suicide in particular, and the fact that Lex matures by the end of this tale is uplifting and commendable. What more can I say? Read it.

CREAM OF THE CROP POSSIBILITY.

Overall Book Score: excellent