A Beginner's Guide to Goodbye

A Beginner's Guide to Goodbye by Melanie Mosher is aimed at a middle grade demographic, but its universal themes of friendship, loss, grief and guilt will certainly resonate with readers of all ages. I was initially drawn to this title by its utterly charming cover, and when I realized that it was set in Nova Scotia, a place that is near and dear to my heart, I knew that this was a must read. I am so glad that I did.

Laney's family has returned to their summer cottage on the northern shores of Nova Scotia but, tragically, it is without their youngest member, Jenny. Laney tries to evoke happy memories from summers past, but her mother will not even speak Jenny's name, and her father would rather spend his time travelling back and forth to work than he would engaging with his family. It is only when Laney strikes up an unlikely friendship with Miss Lucy, an elderly neighbour, that she begins to see a way to acknowledge the guilt that she has been carrying over Jenny's death, and to help heal her fractured family.

This is a lovely, heartbreaking read about forgiving yourself, and finding the strength to move forward. Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed 'A Beginner's Guide to Goodbye' by Melanie Mosher. I think that many middle graders will like this book but I also feel it has themes that many can relate to. Our characters experience themes of friendship, loss, grief and guilt which can resonate over the ages. I recently lost my father and that was one of the reason's this book appealed to me.

Laney is dealing with so much guilt over the loss of Jenny and her family won't open up and really help her through it. Her family has returned to their summer cottage on the northern shores of Nova Scotia and Laney is trying to evoke happy memories from summers past, but her mother will not even speak Jenny's name, and her father would rather spend his time travelling back and forth to work than he would engaging with his family. Then Laney strikes up an unlikely friendship with Miss Lucy, an elderly neighbor. And through her help she begins to see a way to acknowledge the guilt that she has been carrying over Jenny's death, and to help heal her fractured family.

This is a lovely, heartbreaking read about forgiving yourself, and finding the strength to move forward.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for this ARC!

A Beginner's Guide to Goodbye is a thoughtful look at a family after unimaginable loss. Ten year old Laney feels guilt and sadness over her little sister's death. Was it all her fault? No one ever talks about Jenny; there is just a deep aura of sadness over the family as they go to their annual summer cottage. This is a wonderful book that doesn't preach, rather shows how you stumble through loss, the best way that you can.

A beginner’s guide to goodbye by Melanie Mosher

Ten-year-old Lacey is heading with her family to the cottage they spend each summer. It won’t be the same this year without her sister Jenny, who died last year. Laney finds it difficult to talk about her sister’s death with her family and blames herself for what happened to Jenny. The friendships Laney makes help her to finally come to terms with her grief and open up with her family how she really feels. Only then, can she learn how to say goodbye to Jenny.

I thought that Laney’s character portrayed a realistic and relatable depiction of a young girls reaction to grief. I liked the friendships Laney makes in the story, especially with Miss Lucy who is dealing with her own grief. She provides her with safe place for Laney to talk about her sister. As well as the emotional letters in to her sister were another outlet for her grief. Overcoming fears was important and positive theme in the book. Laney’s voice seemed older and wiser than her years, for that reason I recommend this book for ages 11/12+.
Overall, I thought this book dealt with some important issues while retaining the fun and free element of childhood in the summer holidays. With thanks to Nimbus Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful story about overcoming grief and loss after the many tragedies life gives us. Perfect for all ages! I really felt with the characters and also learned the importance of working through feelings that we might not be comfortable expressing. My favorite quote was this, “It seemed like everyone was afraid of something. She wondered what it would be like if they weren’t. I guess that’s what bravery is, she thought. Getting through the moments of fear to the other side.

Death and dying in children's literature is a whole section. You wouldn't think it would be, but death is a big thing, and it is hard to handle, especially when no one else around you is handling it well, either, as it is in this story, where Laney, who feels responsible for her little sister's, Jenny's, death, can't get anyone else to talk about her.

Her mother, her siblings all act as if they don't mention her, that perhaps it will all go away.

The problem is, as is often the case, the Summer cottage that they go to, has memories of Jenny, and not even her Summer friends want to bring her up.

So they all go about their lives with the elephant in the room.

I do like how it was resolved in the end, and was in tears. Memories are important, and it is good to talk about those who have passed on.

I agree with some of the other reviewers that it was a little slow, but I believe it happened at the speed of life.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book, especially thinking of all the trauma and loss my students endure. The perspective of Laney is raw, relatable, and completely accurate to the feeling of loss. The author did a great job of conveying those feelings of guilt for moving on, those random moments when grief overtakes one in everyday situations, and how powerful it is to talk about one's loss. It is so important for our youth to understand that while loss hurts, there is healing beyond pain. I loved how the themes of being brave and overcoming fears are deeply embedded throughout the book. This book could be an absolutely powerful tool for any child dealing with grief.

A Beginner's Guide to Goodbye tells the story of a family struggling to manage their grief after a tragic accident upends their lives. Laney, our 10 year old protagonist who seems wise beyond her years, makes new friends that show her how to be brave and help bring her family back together on a path towards healing.

This was an emotional novel about dealing with loss and grief. While it dealt with accidental death, which is obviously extremely traumatic and may be triggering for some children, it dealt with it in a way that I feel most 4th graders (and above) would be able to handle. There needs to be more books out there that discuss grief, loss, and even the feeling of guilt. I'm glad I read this one.