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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Not my favorite. It's a good enough story about self discovery, but not much character development except for the main character.
I love everything Lois Lowry writes, so it wasn't a surprise that I completely enjoyed this, her second novel. The book takes place in 1977, 2 years before I was born and the story follows a young woman during her summer after high school. She is on a quest to find someone and it was a great experience to be taken back to a time when all we had to find people was the phone book, calls to information, and old newspapers. The pace of the story was soothing and the settings were beautifully described. I feel high school girls could still connect to this book today, even though their world has changed so much.
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Let me start by saying that Lois Lowry is a master of her craft, and in no way am I discounting that when I say that I didn't enjoy this particular novel as much as I wanted. Still, the story of a young woman who sets out to find her birth mother after living her entire life as an adopted child was a sweet foray into the risks that can arise when a person in a complicated situation delves into their personal history. Lowry in no way discourages her protagonist Natalie's search to make contact with her parentage, but rather presents a practical glimpse at what can happen, inviting the reader to acknowledge alongside Natalie that delicate and complicated situations must be handled gently.
Simple but poignant, Lois Lowry's second novel published in 1978, Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye, is a young adult fiction about an adopted teenage girl searching for her biological mother.
Natalie Armstrong had a loving family, an understanding boyfriend, great friends, and a bright future. What could be better? She stood out because of her good looks and intelligence; still and all, she doubted whether she's lucky or not. Something was missing in her life, something that scared her. But she must find it, face it, and know the truth once and for all. In the summer before going to college, she put considerable effort into finding the answers to the questions she had posed. Who was she? Why did her mother give her up? Who was her real family?
Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye is a light and wholesome read. Natalie’s journey in searching for her mother is logical and easily done but the surprising turnaround of the events added zest to the well-written storyline.
Natalie Armstrong had a loving family, an understanding boyfriend, great friends, and a bright future. What could be better? She stood out because of her good looks and intelligence; still and all, she doubted whether she's lucky or not. Something was missing in her life, something that scared her. But she must find it, face it, and know the truth once and for all. In the summer before going to college, she put considerable effort into finding the answers to the questions she had posed. Who was she? Why did her mother give her up? Who was her real family?
Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye is a light and wholesome read. Natalie’s journey in searching for her mother is logical and easily done but the surprising turnaround of the events added zest to the well-written storyline.
The main character is so sensible, loved, and knows what she wants/needs at such a young age. She’s really a heart warming and inspiring character.
Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye by Lois Lowry is for a younger reader. My Libby app had it as an audiobook suggestion with no wait so I gave it a listen since I've always liked Lois Lowry.
Natalie Armstrong is about to graduate from high school and start college in her quest to be a doctor like her father. Natalie has always had some serious questions about her life and family since she was adopted as a baby. Her parents are upset but understanding, and as long as she continues her job at her fathers' doctors office she can use her summer to search for whatever answers she needs about her birth parents.
Her journey starts with a letter from the lawyer who set up the adoption, but it's been 18 years and now he's dead. Thankfully, it's a very small town and Natalie gets put on the right track.
Spoiler Alert/Trigger Warning:
*
There is an inappropriate age gap between Natalie's birth parents. Also there is the death of a parent/grandparent.
Natalie Armstrong is about to graduate from high school and start college in her quest to be a doctor like her father. Natalie has always had some serious questions about her life and family since she was adopted as a baby. Her parents are upset but understanding, and as long as she continues her job at her fathers' doctors office she can use her summer to search for whatever answers she needs about her birth parents.
Her journey starts with a letter from the lawyer who set up the adoption, but it's been 18 years and now he's dead. Thankfully, it's a very small town and Natalie gets put on the right track.
Spoiler Alert/Trigger Warning:
*
There is an inappropriate age gap between Natalie's birth parents. Also there is the death of a parent/grandparent.
I really liked the periphery characters in this one much more than the protagonist. The story feels very much of its era--that is, it's really pithy, not much deep delving into the characters.
In the Kindle edition I had, for some reason reason most of the book was IN ALL CAPS. IMAGINE READING TENDER MOMENTS WRITTEN LIKE THIS! Yeah, I think this little technical glitch might have taken away more from the reading experience than it should have. But hey, I did persist and finish because I'd hoped this story would be as moving as Summer to Die, my most favorite of all Lowry's books. It's not really in the same league, sadly.
An okay, but somewhat forgettable book about an adoptee who wants to find her birth parents. Does so without too much difficulty despite being pre-Internet, and then...well, it wasn't quite as earth shaking as you'd hope.
In the Kindle edition I had, for some reason reason most of the book was IN ALL CAPS. IMAGINE READING TENDER MOMENTS WRITTEN LIKE THIS! Yeah, I think this little technical glitch might have taken away more from the reading experience than it should have. But hey, I did persist and finish because I'd hoped this story would be as moving as Summer to Die, my most favorite of all Lowry's books. It's not really in the same league, sadly.
An okay, but somewhat forgettable book about an adoptee who wants to find her birth parents. Does so without too much difficulty despite being pre-Internet, and then...well, it wasn't quite as earth shaking as you'd hope.
I did not realize this was a coming of age story when I initially picked up the book.
I saw an author I've enjoyed before and assumed this was for an older audience.
While the book is definitely written about a graduating high school senior, the style lends itself to any older teen reader.
This can easily be read in one sitting. Lowry does a good job creating the world. As a reader, I wanted Natalie to find everything she was searching for so she could go on to school with nothing holding her back.
Lowry also does a great job building in the options of what could happen - so as not to make the situation seem too unreal.
Overall I ranked it 3/5 just because it doesn't stand out, but it's not bad.
I saw an author I've enjoyed before and assumed this was for an older audience.
While the book is definitely written about a graduating high school senior, the style lends itself to any older teen reader.
This can easily be read in one sitting. Lowry does a good job creating the world. As a reader, I wanted Natalie to find everything she was searching for so she could go on to school with nothing holding her back.
Lowry also does a great job building in the options of what could happen - so as not to make the situation seem too unreal.
Overall I ranked it 3/5 just because it doesn't stand out, but it's not bad.
The more I think about it the more I liked everything about this book. It’s very sweet and fun and wise.