Early Departures

August 1, 2020
Estranged friends are given a chance to patch up their differences before one of them dies--again. Seventeen-year-old Jamal Anderson has not had a meaningful conversation with his former best friend, Quincy Barrantes, in almost two years. They were almost inseparable: always at each other's homes, even developing a comedy show on social media together. But two years ago, Jamal lost his parents, and he blames Quincy for the accident. His grief over their deaths permeates every relationship as well as his ability to focus in school. Despite his sister's efforts and the love of his girlfriend, Autumn, he is drifting until the night Quincy dies trying to save someone's life. When a mysterious man offers Quincy's mother a chance to bring him back through experimental technology, it seems far-fetched. But Mrs. Barrantes and Jamal now have the opportunity for a few more weeks with Quincy. Like everything else in Jamal's life, this circumstance offers more questions than answers and forces him to confront why he allowed the breach in their relationship to continue. This is a page-turning narrative with a cast of fully realized characters and realistic dialogue. The skillful use of flashbacks and social media content fully engages readers. Despite the seriousness of the story, humor and moments of pathos will elicit empathy and connection. Jamal and Autumn are cued as Black and Quincy as Latinx. This thoroughly satisfying novel of love, loss, and reconciliation is not to be missed. (Fiction. 14-18)

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Starred review from September 1, 2020
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* If you could reanimate a loved one who died tragically, unexpectedly, would you? Reynolds (Opposite of Always, 2019) raises a host of ethical questions while confronting loss and heartbreak head-on in this exceptionally engaging friendship story. Jamal and Quincy were best friends for seven years. Growing up in Ohio, the two Black boys bonded over a love of comedy. Then Jamal's beloved parents died in a car accident when he was 14 and Jamal blamed Q. Q was experiencing his own devastating loss when Jamal abandoned him. Two years later, in the present, they have a blowout argument after which Q drowns?and the novel takes quite a turn. At the hospital, a representative of The Center intercedes and offers to reanimate Q, for a short time, taking him back to his pre-accident self. Q's mother accepts the shocking proposal, but will not allow anyone to tell Q that he died or that his days are limited. The story moves back and forth in time, mostly narrated by Jamal, but Q gets his turn. The vivid, energetic writing reflects two protagonists who enjoy playing with words and enlivens a group of people trying to make Q's final days special, especially Jamal's girlfriend, Autumn, and older sister, Whit, who are supportive but also call out Jamal on his mistakes. This sophomore novel is a virtuoso performance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from October 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-Jamal has a secret and it is a matter of life and death. Recently orphaned and living with his sister, Jamal is still grappling with his grief and the loss of a great friendship with his comedic partner in crime, Quincy. Jamal and Q were best friends until a tragic event tore them apart. During a chance encounter on the beach, their past misunderstandings and miscommunications resurface. Then, Jamal dies and has a chance to be brought back to life, and Quincy realizes that he has a second chance to reclaim their friendship and right old wrongs. He has to decide whether to keep holding on to the past, skipping school, and blaming others, or to forgive and enjoy life to the fullest. Although this book is about death, Jauncy (Quincy and Jamal) will have readers dying with laughter as Reynolds miraculously finds a way to couple tragedy and comedy. Q is brown-skinned with a Spanish surname and Jamal's race isn't explicitly stated. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone who is searching for light at the end of the tunnel.-Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek H.S., Norcross, GA

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October 26, 2020
Though they were once the closest of friends, it’s been awhile since teens Jamal and Quincy have spoken—following his parents’ accidental death two years ago, Jamal cut ties without explaining why. After the two have a fight at a beach party one evening, Quincy drowns while trying to save another. Carrying the guilt of the argument and the friends’ past, Jamal accompanies Quincy’s mother to a facility that can bring him back temporarily from the dead. Seeing this as a chance to make amends and revive the friendship, Jamal wrestles with the pain of his parents’ death and seeks to get Quincy to forgive him before his reanimation ends. In this gratifying contemporary novel, Reynolds (Opposite of Always) tenderly explores the complexities of decision-making while grieving, the limited life spans of close relationships, and the painful unpredictability of death. Jamal and Quincy’s casually comedic dynamic adds a lifeline of hope to an otherwise heartbreaking narrative that reminds readers to make the most of the time they are given. Ages 14–up. Agent: Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker Literary.