The Last Time We Say Goodbye

December 8, 2014
Hand (the Unearthly trilogy) shifts to realistic fiction with the story of Lexie, a math star and unashamed nerd whose biggest problems are the aftereffects of her parents’ divorce and wondering whether she’ll get into MIT. Then her younger brother, Ty, commits suicide. When the book opens, seven weeks after Ty’s death, Lexie’s grades have slipped, she has broken up with her boyfriend, and she feels like she might be going crazy. During the two-month span over which the novel is set, Lexie sees a therapist (reluctantly), reunites with an old friend, withstands another suicide in her Nebraska high school, and learns more about what Ty was thinking. Hand’s writing can be stiff, and Lexie’s ex-boyfriend, Steven, is a too-perfect cipher, but she persuasively conveys the aftermath of suicide and the ways those left behind struggle with grief, anger, and guilt. Although Lexie’s movement from paralysis to possibility is a little quick, her range of emotions is believable, and Hand is effective at showing how guilt can impede one’s ability to move through tragedy. Ages 13–up. Agent: Katherine Fausset, Curtis Brown.

Starred review from February 1, 2015
Grades 8-11 *Starred Review* In the wake of her younger brother Tyler's suicide, Lex feels utterly alone. Her friends look at her in a way she can't stand, her mother has withdrawn, her dad and his new wife are distant, and she has pushed her decent, kind, and perfectly matched boyfriend (now ex) as far away as possible. She needs to make sense of this loss and piece together Tyler's last days and moments, and her struggle to do so becomes almost all consuming. But she still finds connectionswith Tyler's friends, with a neighbor girl from whom she had grown distant, and with Tyler, who seems to still linger in their home, leading her to clues. This is a quietly powerful, emotionally complex novel that will echo with readers long after it is finished. Lex's personal journey through grief and into a new life feels achingly real. Her decisions, while not always rational, are infinitely relatable. Even if her actions make her unlikable at times, it's impossible not to sympathize with her. Fans of Hand's paranormal romances may be surprised by the solid realism here, but readers will be eager to see what comes next after this novel, which is both shatteringly painful and bright with life and hope. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hand's Unearthly series was a best-seller, and though this is a departure from her usual fantasy fare, her many fans will likely be eager to get their hands on this one, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-For Lex, since her brother committed suicide, questions about their last goodbye have haunted her. Filled with regret, she ponders their last words and not being able to show him how much she loved him while he was still alive. The narrative unravels in perfect pacing, drawing readers into this emotional story. With a rocky home life in a small town in Nebraska, Lex begins pulling away from her friends, breaks up with her boyfriend, and struggles with life in general. When her therapist, Dave, assigns her the task of writing down her thoughts in a journal, flashbacks of the siblings' relationship and the protagonist's interactions with their parents fill in the gaps. Readers will be drawn in by the even pacing, the heavy moments never overwhelming the teen's story. Raw, emotional, and gripping, this book is Hand's first realistic fiction title, and fans of her popular "Unearthly" series (HarperCollins) will follow her genre change willingly. Libraries should jump at having this book, not only because of the author's previous work, but because it is an excellent and thoughtful exploration of grief.-Stephanie Charlefour, Wixom Public Library, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2014
After her younger brother's suicide, ordinarily rational Alexis starts seeing her younger brother's ghost.Seven weeks after Ty shot himself with a hunting rifle, Alexis' mom announces she's seen him in the house. Alexis, a math student with aspirations of attending MIT, is skeptical but soon sees visions of her own. Alexis watches Ty die in recurring dreams, reluctantly relives firsts and lasts in a journal suggested by her therapist, and tries to stay strong for her mom, who is drinking to cope and certain that her own life is over. Alexis herself hasn't cried since her brother's death. Instead, moments of intense emotion open what Alexis powerfully describes as a "hole in my chest." The hauntings here are more emotional than paranormal, and Alexis' journey primarily entails reconnecting with estranged friends and family and slowly moving on. The characters involved are many-a childhood friend-turned-occultist stoner, Alexis' emotionally absent father and Ty's last girlfriend, to name a few-but each storyline is distinctly important and carefully woven in. Details of Ty's last days, Alexis' sense of guilt and the incident itself are revealed slowly and are often unexpected but always believable. Evocative and insightful. (Fiction. 14-18)

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