Whatever Happened to Goodbye?

Title: What Happened to Goodbye

Author: Sarah Dessen

ISBN: 978-0670012947

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Copyright: 2011

 Plot Summary: This story follows Mclean who, after her parents divorce lives with her father, who moves around constantly for his job. She resents her mother for remarry the coach of her father's favorite basketball team. At each new location that Mclean goes to high school she reinvents herself with different stereotypical teenage girl personality, complete with a new variation of her middle name as her first name.  Mclean and her father just moved to Lakeview, where Mclean is trying something new, being herself, and while working at her dad's new restaurant attracts new friends and even a love interest with her own personality. 

Critical Evaluation:  Sarah Dessen writes stories about teenagers that feel real, living in scenarios that they can relate to. Mclean is suffering from an identity crisis due to her parent's divorce and all the moving around she does and the reader can feel the conflicts Mclean feels being herself. Sarah Dessen's plot lines may not be extremely intricate but her character development is fantastic, the reader feels like they know the characters well before the story is over. 

 Reader's Annotation: Mclean Sweet is trying something new at her new school, being herself. Will she come to terms with her parents divorce and her identity crisis to recognize the true friendship and love she has found?

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance

 Author Information: Sarah Dessen has written many young adult books including Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, and The Truth About Forever. To learn more about Sarah Dessen go to her website at http://sarahdessen.com/.

Book talks: Divorce, identity crisis, blended families

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 14-18

Why was this book chosen?:  Sarah Dessen writes relatable characters in story lines teenagers understand.