Brief Description
As Bridge makes her way through seventh grade on Manhattan's Upper West Side with her best friends, curvacious Em, crusader Tab, and a curious new friend--or more than friend--Sherm, she finds the answer she has been seeking since she barely survived an accident at age eight: "What is my purpose?"
Learn More about the Book
Masterly. . . . Sensitively explores togetherness, aloneness, betrayal and love. The New York Times Book Review
2016 Honor Book in Fiction, Boston Globe Horn Book Award
A NYT Editors' Choice and NYT Notable Children's Books of 2015
This brilliant novel by Newbery Medal winner Rebecca Stead explores multiple perspectives on the bonds and limits of friendship.
Bridge is an accident survivor who s wondering why she s still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody s games or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting.Can it get them through seventh grade?
This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl as a friend?
On Valentine s Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?
Each memorable character navigates the challenges of love and change in this captivating novel.
Praise for Goodbye Stranger
Six Starred Reviews
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2015
School Library Journal Best Books of 2015
Booklist Editor s Choice 2015
The Horn Book s Fanfare: Best Books of 2015
The Washington Post Best Books of 2015
The New York Times Notable Children s Books of 2015
This astonishingly profound novel is not your average middle-school friendship tale. The Horn Book, Starred
Stead shows how strongly love of all kinds can smooth the juddering path toward adulthood. Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding. Booklist, Starred
[Stead] captures the stomach-churning moments of a misstep or an unplanned betrayal and reworks these events with grace, humor, and polish into possibilities for kindness and redemption. Superb. Kirkus Reviews, Starred
This memorable story about female friendships, silly bets, different kinds of love, and bad decisions is authentic in detail and emotion. Publishers Weekly, Starred
Filled with humor [and] delightful coincidences. . . . An immensely satisfying addition for Stead s many fans. School Library Journal, Starred
"The author as usual deftly interweaves her plot strands into an organic whole, and between the multifocal plot and the exploration on growth and self-recognition. . .deeply explores mistakes, and forgiveness, and growing away from people as well as toward them." The Bulletin, Starred
This eloquent story of friendship, first love, and identity will resonate powerfully with readers. VOYA, Perfect Ten
"Stead raises questions about whether a relationship can survive change. If someone makes a mistake, can you forgive the person, if not the act? Can two people reconcile, if they are both willing to process what happened? Or is the change more systemic--has one of you become a stranger? . . . It's a question all of the characters ask themselves at some point in Stead's perfectly synchronized novel." Shelf Awareness"
About the Book
Masterly. . . . Sensitively explores togetherness, aloneness, betrayal and love. "The New York Times Book Review"
A NYT Editors' Choice and NYT Notable Children's Books of 2015
This brilliant novel by Newbery Medal winner Rebecca Stead explores multiple perspectives on the bonds and limits of friendship.
Bridge is an accident survivor who s wondering why she s still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody s games or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting.Can it get them through seventh grade?
This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl as a friend?
On Valentine s Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?
Each memorable character navigates the challenges of love and change in this captivating novel.
Praise for "Goodbye Stranger
"
Six Starred Reviews"
Publishers Weekly" Best Books of 2015
"School Library Journal "Best Books of 2015
"Booklist" Editor s Choice 2015
"The Horn Book" s Fanfare: Best Books of 2015
""The Washington Post" "Best Books of 2015"
The New York Times" Notable Children s Books of 2015
This astonishingly profound novel is not your average middle-school friendship tale. "The Horn Book," Starred
Stead shows how strongly love of all kinds can smooth the juddering path toward adulthood. Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding. "Booklist," Starred
Stead] captures the stomach-churning moments of a misstep or an unplanned betrayal and reworks these events with grace, humor, and polish into possibilities for kindness and redemption. Superb. "Kirkus Reviews," Starred
This memorable story about female friendships, silly bets, different kinds of love, and bad decisions is authentic in detail and emotion. "Publishers Weekly," Starred
Filled with humor and] delightful coincidences. . . . An immensely satisfying addition for Stead s many fans. "School Library Journal, " Starred
"The author as usual deftly interweaves her plot strands into an organic whole, and between the multifocal plot and the exploration on growth and self-recognition. . .deeply explores mistakes, and forgiveness, and growing away from people as well as toward them." "The Bulletin, " Starred
This eloquent story of friendship, first love, and identity will resonate powerfully with readers. "VOYA," Perfect Ten
"Stead raises questions about whether a relationship can survive change. If someone makes a mistake, can you forgive the person, if not the act? Can two people reconcile, if they are both willing to process what happened? Or is the change more systemic--has one of you become a stranger? . . . It's a question all of the characters ask themselves at some point in Stead's perfectly synchronized novel." "Shelf Awareness""
Review Quotes
1. "Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding."
"Booklist"starred review
Stead s writing [is] filled with humor, delightful coincidences An immensely satisfying addition for Stead s many fans.
"School Library Journal"starred review
..". [Stead]captures the stomach-churning moments of a misstep or an unplanned betrayal and reworks these events with grace, humor, and polish into possibilities for kindness and redemption. Superb. "Kirkus Reviews"starred review
This memorable story about female friendships, silly bets, different kinds of love, and bad decisions is authentic in detail and emotion another Stead hallmark.
"Publishers Weekly"starred review
The handing-down of advice and wisdom from older girls and women is a welcome theme throughout the book and far too rare in female coming-of-age stories; it s just one of many reasons this astonishingly profound novel is not your average middle-school friendship tale.
"The Horn Book"starred review
"
2. PRAISE FOR "GOODBYE STRANGER"
"Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding." "Booklist, "Starred
Stead s writing [is] filled with humor, delightful coincidences An immensely satisfying addition for Stead s many fans. "School Library Journal, "Starred
..". [Stead]captures the stomach-churning moments of a misstep or an unplanned betrayal and reworks these events with grace, humor, and polish into possibilities for kindness and redemption. Superb. "Kirkus Reviews, "Starred
This memorable story about female friendships, silly bets, different kinds of love, and bad decisions is authentic in detail and emotion another Stead hallmark. "Publishers Weekly, "Starred
The handing-down of advice and wisdom from older girls and women is a welcome theme throughout the book and far too rare in female coming-of-age stories; it s just one of many reasons this astonishingly profound novel is not your average middle-school friendship tale. "The Horn Book, "Starred
The author as usual deftly interweaves her plot strands into an organic whole, and between the multifocal plot and the exploration on growth and self-recognition "Bulletin," Starred
Stead can brilliantly summon what it feels like to be a young adolescent ...["Goodbye Stranger"] is full of fun and generosity, and ... it is beautifully balanced. "Wall Street Journal"
This novel not only sensitively explores togetherness, aloneness, betrayal and love, it also acknowledges something crucial to the business of growing up: how anyone s personal we of me might look different a little while from now, and later still, different again. "Meg Wolitzer for New York Times Book Review"
Absolutely relatable and full of heart. "Bustle.com"
""
Beautifully written and perfectly paced ... Stead doesn t talk down to her intended audience (ages 10 and up) or even to adult readers long past seventh grade who may well be surprised by the flood of real-life memories her fictional world dislodges ..."Goodbye Stranger "will remind you of who you are. "Houston Chronicle"
""
A moving blend of present-day and historic, romantic love and familial love, deep questions and just-for-fun pursuits. "BookPage"
""
[Stead] can see into the souls of young people as they begin to grow conscious of how others view them from the outside and how they feel on the inside, and she has the skill to illuminate how they grapple with these gaps and overlaps in perception. "Shelf-Awareness"
[A]s authentic as it gets ... This is a landmark in literature on the friendships of young women ..."Goodbye Stranger"packs a wallop of emotion that s a true pleasure to be leveled by. "The Brooklyn Rail"
Stead manages to infuse her book with a timeless quality, particularly in the way she so accurately taps into universal feelings of trying to nail down exactly who one is supposed to be. Stead s humble story is one that is deeply felt, and perhaps one of the strongest children s novels of 2015 so far. "National Post"
""
This marvelous, life-affirming novel, told from three perspectives, explores the unsettling, pivotal changes of adolescence as three best friends start seventh grade. "Buffalo News"
A school story of substance and literary finesse. "The Toronto Star"
PRAISE FOR "LIAR & SPY"
Winner of the "Guardian" Prize for Children's Fiction
Four Starred Reviews
"As close to perfect as middle-grade novels come." "Publishers Weekly, " Starred
"Original and winning." "Kirkus Reviews, " Starred
"A small masterpiece." "The Christian Science Monitor"
PRAISE FOR "WHEN YOU REACH ME"
Winner of the Newbery Medal
Five Starred Reviews
"Smart and mesmerizing." "The New York Times Book Review
"
"A superb and intricate tale." "The Wall Street Journal
"
"Complex. . . . It's easy to imagine readers . . . spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises." "Publishers Weekly, " Starred
"
3. PRAISE FOR GOODBYE STRANGER
"Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding." Booklist, Starred
Stead s writing [is] filled with humor, delightful coincidences An immensely satisfying addition for Stead s many fans. School Library Journal, Starred
..". [Stead]captures the stomach-churning moments of a misstep or an unplanned betrayal and reworks these events with grace, humor, and polish into possibilities for kindness and redemption. Superb. Kirkus Reviews, Starred
This memorable story about female friendships, silly bets, different kinds of love, and bad decisions is authentic in detail and emotion another Stead hallmark. Publishers Weekly, Starred
The handing-down of advice and wisdom from older girls and women is a welcome theme throughout the book and far too rare in female coming-of-age stories; it s just one of many reasons this astonishingly profound novel is not your average middle-school friendship tale. The Horn Book, Starred
The author as usual deftly interweaves her plot strands into an organic whole, and between the multifocal plot and the exploration on growth and self-recognition Bulletin, Starred
Stead can brilliantly summon what it feels like to be a young adolescent ...[Goodbye Stranger] is full of fun and generosity, and ... it is beautifully balanced. Wall Street Journal
This novel not only sensitively explores togetherness, aloneness, betrayal and love, it also acknowledges something crucial to the business of growing up: how anyone s personal we of me might look different a little while from now, and later still, different again. Meg Wolitzer for New York Times Book Review
Absolutely relatable and full of heart. Bustle.com
Beautifully written and perfectly paced ... Stead doesn t talk down to her intended audience (ages 10 and up) or even to adult readers long past seventh grade who may well be surprised by the flood of real-life memories her fictional world dislodges ...Goodbye Stranger will remind you of who you are. Houston Chronicle
A moving blend of present-day and historic, romantic love and familial love, deep questions and just-for-fun pursuits. BookPage
[Stead] can see into the souls of young people as they begin to grow conscious of how others view them from the outside and how they feel on the inside, and she has the skill to illuminate how they grapple with these gaps and overlaps in perception. Shelf-Awareness
[A]s authentic as it gets ... This is a landmark in literature on the friendships of young women ...Goodbye Strangerpacks a wallop of emotion that s a true pleasure to be leveled by. The Brooklyn Rail
Stead manages to infuse her book with a timeless quality, particularly in the way she so accurately taps into universal feelings of trying to nail down exactly who one is supposed to be. Stead s humble story is one that is deeply felt, and perhaps one of the strongest children s novels of 2015 so far. National Post
This marvelous, life-affirming novel, told from three perspectives, explores the unsettling, pivotal changes of adolescence as three best friends start seventh grade. Buffalo News
A school story of substance and literary finesse. The Toronto Star
PRAISE FOR LIAR & SPY
Winner of the Guardian Prize for Children's Fiction
Four Starred Reviews
"As close to perfect as middle-grade novels come." Publishers Weekly, Starred
"Original and winning." Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"A small masterpiece." The Christian Science Monitor
PRAISE FOR WHEN YOU REACH ME
Winner of the Newbery Medal
Five Starred Reviews
"Smart and mesmerizing." The New York Times Book Review
"A superb and intricate tale." The Wall Street Journal
"Complex. . . . It's easy to imagine readers . . . spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises." Publishers Weekly, Starred
"
