Goodbye Days
By (Author) Jeff Zentner
Andersen Press Ltd
Andersen Press Ltd
6th April 2017
United Kingdom
Young Adult
Fiction
813.6
Nominated for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2018 (UK)
Paperback
416
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 25mm
332g
'Gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately life-affirming' Nicola Yoon
'Hold on to your heart- this book will wreck you, fix you, and most definitely change you' Becky Albertalli
Can a text message destroy your life
Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. Now Carver can't stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, there could be a criminal investigation into the deaths.
Then Blake's grandmother asks Carver to remember her grandson with a 'goodbye day' together. Carver has his misgivings, but he starts to help the families of his lost friends grieve with their own memorial days, along with Eli's bereaved girlfriend Jesmyn. But not everyone is willing to forgive. Carver's own despair and guilt threatens to pull him under into panic and anxiety as he faces punishment for his terrible mistake. Can the goodbye days really help
"One of the most stunningly heartfelt, lump-in-your-throat novels Ive ever had the pleasure of reading. Hold on to your heart: this book will wreck you, fix you, and most definitely change you" * Becky Albertalli *
"Written in his lyrical and clear-eyed style, Jeff Zentner's Goodbye Days is a gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately life-affirming meditation on grief and forgiveness" * Nicola Yoon *
"Heartbreaking and life-affirming" * Teen Vogue *
"Haunting, complex, heartbreaking" -- Imogen Russell Williams * Metro *
"A fantastic novel with vividly realised characters - a story about friendship, loss and the importance of letting people see who you really are" * INIS *
"From the opening line, Zentner expertly channels Carvers distinctive voice as a 17-year-old writer turned funeral expert" * Publishers Weekly *
"An absorbing effort with emotional and psychological integrity" * Booklist, starred review *
"I cried, I gasped, and I laughed throughout this book. You feel yourself break and heal alongside Carver. This is one that will stick with you long after you read it." * Layla, Waterstones Bromley bookseller *
"Zentner skillfully depicts his protagonists inner turmoil and the beginnings of his recovery in an organic, frequently raw narrative." * Horn Book *
"The characterisation is masterful ... Jeff Zentner is the real deal" * LoveReading *
Jeff Zentner was a singer-songwriter and guitarist who released five albums and appeared on recordings with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He is now an appellate attorney for the State of Tennessee and lives in Nashville with his wife and son. He wrote his debut novel The Serpent King in a month, writing on his mobile phone on his commute and at night, weekends and lunchtimes between court cases.