Thursday, December 17, 2009

HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford


If you are looking for something a little different for your next reading experience, pick up a copy of HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford.

Bea is used to moving around. Her father, a college professor, is always on the lookout for new challenges so they have moved from one college town to another over the years. This move is a bit more unsettling since it's Bea's senior year, and for some unknown reason, her mother is acting strange.

After basically deciding to just coast through this final year of high school and just bid her time until she can head off to college on her own, Bea is pleasantly surprised when she actually makes a few friends. One of the most interesting people is someone everyone calls Ghost Boy. His name is Jonah, but since elementary school his quiet manner and pale complexion have made him the target of ridicule.

A friendship begins to develop between Bea and Jonah when he leaves her a note suggesting that she tune in to a late night radio talk show called Night Lights. As Bea listens to the odd characters who call in every night, she imagines Jonah in his darkened room listening, too. They find they have more and more in common and both feel comfortable when they are together.

As they grow closer, Jonah confides in Bea and tells her about his twin brother killed years before in a car accident along with their mother. He is convinced that Matthew is really still alive and asks Bea's help in the search to find him.

There are many unique twists and turns to keep readers interested. Both Bea and Jonah have parent issues. Bea's mother's behavior is increasingly bizarre which both annoys and worries Bea. Jonah has lived with his unemotional father all these years, but now emotions are running on high as Jonah questions the truth about his long lost twin. Scattered through the narrative are glimpses into the Night Lights radio program in the form of dialogue sections highlighting the callers comments and questions.

Overall HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT is a captivating book just unique enough to make it stand apart from the usual adventure, drinking/sex party, vampire romance books that seem to be filling the YA shelves of late. This book is a worthy addition to any library, classroom, or personal collection.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

i loved this book soooooo much! u ppl shud read it! i fell in love with this book and i bet u guys will too :). it made me cry in the end...