Goodbye Days

Starred review from January 9, 2017
Carver Briggs already feels responsible when his three best friends are killed in a car accident after he sent a “Where are you guys?” text message to the driver. Now it seems as though the whole town wants him to be prosecuted, and he’s having debilitating panic attacks. When one friend’s grandmother suggests they pay tribute to the deceased by spending a “goodbye day” swapping stories and doing what he loved, Carver finds a cathartic way to atone for his perceived sins. From the opening line, Zentner (The Serpent King) expertly channels Carver’s distinctive voice as a 17-year-old writer turned “funeral expert” who argues with himself about girls and retains glimmers of easy wit despite the weight of his grief and guilt. Flashbacks and daydreams capture the jovial spirit of the four members of the so-called Sauce Crew, glimpses of sophomore shenanigans interspersed with poignant admissions only best friends would share. Racial tensions, spoiled reputations, and broken homes all play roles in an often raw meditation on grief and the futility of entertaining what-ifs when faced with awful, irreversible events. Ages 14–up. Agent: Charlie Olsen, Inkwell Management.

Narrator Michael Crouch's tonal changes are crucial to the story of Carver, a 17-year-old whose texting has contributed to the death of his three best friends. Crouch expresses Carver's regret and grief. Fear adds to this uncomfortable mix when a judge, one of the boys' fathers, demands a criminal investigation. Crouch relieves Carver's anguish with glints of humor that are fully realized in the flashbacks of his adventures with his friends. Crouch equally succeeds with the secondary characters. There is wisdom from his therapist and solace in his family--and from Jesmyn, the girlfriend of one of his friends. As Carver spends three "goodbye days" with his friends' families, there are heartbreaking contrasts of anger and forgiveness. Crouch's shifting tones highlight the many aspects of grief and the power of connection. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine