Customer Reviews

What is Goodbye?

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I have mixed feelings about this book. Grimes certainly does a wonderful job of showing how adults often sugar coat death for the sake of children. Death is a part of life so it is important to be realistic about that with them; however the book is also slightly on the somber side and for a book that is targeted specifically to children ages 4-8. On the other hand, my creative writing teacher once told me that the any subject can be discussed in a children's book if it is done correctly. Therefore I must say Grimes done an admirable job overall.

I really didn't enjoy reading this book. It dealt with a dead in the family. It might prove a good way for children to learn and come to accept that death is apart of life, but I really didn't enjoy it. I found the book depressing, but the prose was without fault. The book itself is very good but I think the subject matter is one that children might have a hard time wrapping their heads around. The book is comprised of poems told from the point of view of Jerilyn and Jesse, a brother and sister who are realizing that their brother is gone and they will never be a whole family again until they can start to heal.

I found this book the other day and wished it had been around ten years ago when I lost my older brother. The emotions are very real, as are the reactions; I found similarities with both siblings' methods of dealing with a huge loss.
I would recommend this book more for a someone dealing with a loss than for just pleasure reading, but either way, it is a great insight.