Goodbye Tomorrow [Hardcover]

Gloria Miklowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1987

A high school junior who has received two blood transfusions finds out he has the AIDS virus, though not the disease, and finds all his relationships changing--with his friends, his girlfriend, and even his family.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Miklowitz (Secrets Not Meant to Be Kept, etc.) continues to write novels with stories right out of the headlines. Here her subject is AIDS, and she tells a compelling story while presenting the facts about the fatal illness. High school junior Alex has everything going for him: he's on the swim team, a good student, handsome and has a loving girlfriend, Shannon. Following a car crash, his life was saved by blood transfusions; ironically, those transfusions have given him AIDS-Related Complex. And suddenly, every aspect of his life changes: he and Shannon break up, he's temporarily suspended from school, his friends shun him, and even his sister doesn't want to touch his dinner dishes. Alex feels like a time bomb and doesn't know what plans to make for his futureor whether he even has one. This riveting book well deserves to be put on students' required reading lists. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up Like many of Miklowitz' teen-problem novels, this one is right out of the headlines. Alex, popular athlete and the lover of beautiful blonde Shannon, begins to have problems with his immune system a year after he had blood transfusions following a car crash. He tests positive for antibodies to the AIDS virus and is diagnosed as having AIDS-related complex. His life begins to fall apart as the community's fear of the disease forces him to quit his pizza parlor job; stand up to the other members of the swim team, who want him to quit; and face ostracization by his schoolmates. Many of the stereotyped social attitudes about AIDS are touched on. His loving family and stalwart friends stand by him, but the big questions are whether or not Shannon will leave him out of fear and whether or not she will contract the disease herself. Characterization is slim, although school life and language ring true. The story takes place in Pasadena beginning in January, and details about parade floats are worked in. As research continues and public knowledge spreads, this book will seem dated and far-fetched. For now, it is a factually accurate, average medical romance suitable especially for fans of Miklowitz' previous books, but not as good as The Love Bombers (Delacorte, 1980) .Anne Osborn, Riverside Public Library, Calif.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 150 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (April 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385295626
• ISBN-13: 978-0385295628
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,921,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars AIDS and Teens, July 1, 2001

By 

Ken Karpinski (USA: Anywhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodbye Tomorrow (Hardcover)

Almost similar to real-life Ryan White's case, this novel deals with a teenaged suburban boy who caught AIDS infection from a blood transfusion received as a result of an auto accident just months before testing blood supplies became available(and mandatory) in March,1985. The controversy that happens after the fictional character's positive HIV status becomes known is just as real as that of real-life AIDS carries in the 1980's, especially since FDA blood screening became available.