When You Never Said Goodbye

February 13, 2017
Eighteen-year-old Liz McLane transferred to New York University to pursue her dreams of becoming a poet and discovering her birth mother’s identity. She quickly bonds with her roommate and finds inspiration in her classes, but her investigation into her mother causes tension in her relationships with her family and boyfriend. She’s also drawn to a guitar player in Washington Square Park—could this woman be connected to Liz’s search? Through journal entries and varied styles of poems, Kearney sensitively conveys Liz’s journey of discovery; the answer she’s been seeking, though unexpected, brings her peace of mind. This isn’t the first book Kearney has written about Liz (who also appeared in The Secret of Me and The Girl in the Mirror), and while knowledge of those books isn’t required, readers unfamiliar with them may find it difficult to feel much connection to anyone in Liz’s orbit, other than her new classmates. Back matter includes the story behind the novel (partly inspired by the author’s adoption), notes about the poems and music within, and the lyrics to the title song, which Kearney wrote. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elaine Markson, Elaine Markson Literary.

December 15, 2016
A college-age adoptee searches for her birth mother. In the final novel-in-verse installment of her identity-probing trilogy (The Girl in the Mirror, 2012, etc.), Kearney's scrappy protagonist, Liz McLane, heads to the Big Apple in search of answers. Ostensibly there to study poetry at NYU, Liz is also in search of her birth mother, who gave her up for adoption there when she was an infant. Liz is more conscious than many a white girl of being "white as paper. Church-white / with monk-brown curls." One of the strengths of Kearney's first-person tale is the normalized diversity of friends and loved ones Liz draws around her on her quest, dating a boy with "half- / Mexican skin" and hanging with friends of differing racial and ethnic backgrounds, who may be gay, or--like Liz--also dealing with the loss of a parent. Another highlight is how Liz's study of writing affords Kearney the opportunity to experiment with poetic form and include useful tips for budding poets like Liz, such as "When the subject / feels dangerous, form is your friend." Legal and historical hurdles Liz encounters throughout her search only spur her to dig even deeper into her past, propelling the narrative to a surprising conclusion. Thoughtful and brimming with justified teen angst, Kearney's fast-paced tale offers illuminating insights into the perils and rewards of self-discovery. (Verse fiction. 12-18)

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April 1, 2017

Gr 10 Up-In this introspective conclusion to the trilogy that began with The Secret of Me and continued in The Girl in the Mirror, 18-year-old Liz McClane chronicles her first semester at NYU and her quest to find her birth mother. Written in the form of soul-searching poems and journal entries, this novel is not plot driven-it will appeal most to those who would appreciate a young woman's meditative reflections on her relationships and identity. An author's note reveals that although this book is not autobiographical, much of it was inspired by Kearney's experiences of her father's death and her attempts to locate her birth mother. VERDICT Readers who love contemplative poetry and want a simple story of self-discovery will appreciate this title. A good selection where the previous volumes are popular.-Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2017
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In this final installment to the trilogy that began with The Secret of Me (2007), poet Kearney draws 18-year-old Liz McLane's years-long search for her birth mother to a close. Though a recent registry to three major adoptee reunion sites has yet to generate a match, Liz, newly transferred to NYUand living in the city she last saw her first mother remains resolute. But as social stresses, a mounting workload, and an eerily familiar face in Washington Square Park mingle with her increasingly confounding quest, Liz must confront thorny questions of family, faith, and the indelible influence of the pastand how each may frame her future. Partially inspired by Kearney's own experience as an adoptee, Liz's first-person account unfolds in a series of sincere and succinct (often no longer than a page) journal entries, haikus, villanelles, letters, and more. While the search itself no doubt fuels the narrative, Liz's flourishing friendships, depictions of an ever-bustling Big Apple, and dogged devotion to her craft of poetry add considerable depth to the already gripping journey. Appended suggested reading, including guides to poetics as well as adoption registries, clinch this one's status as both an enlightening resource and an all-around sparkling story of self-discovery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)