Reading up a storm

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

Published October 2009 by Scholastic Press. Review copy provided by publisher.

The pink cover is deceiving. There are some girls who will really like this book that won’t pick it up because of the pink cover.

This is the story of Bea and Jonah. They become friends when they are seated next to each other at their school’s morning assembly where they are seated alphabetically. Everyone calls Jonah “Ghost Boy” because he acts a bit standoffish and strange. His twin brother died when they were in third grade.

Bea is the new girl in school and finds Jonah interesting despite how standoffish he seems. Then he leaves a note on Bea’s locker about a late-night radio call-in show. That night when she listens that night and hears a call from “Ghost Boy” she thinks they could be friends.

This is a good story with Bea and Jonah meeting some odd and interesting adult characters that add some flair to the story that isn’t essential.

Bea is a very likable character because she has the opportunity to be popular but decides to hang out with Jonah instead. She has a lot of internal conflict but doesn’t come off as whiny. After moving around a lot as a kid, she’s string to connect with someone who understands her but I think she’s afraid to get too close and is pleasantly surprised that she connects with Jonah.