Coriell, Shelley. Good Bye, Rebel Blue.

Coriell, Shelley.  Good Bye, Rebel Blue.  Amulet see Abrams.  2013      307p  ISBN 978-1-4197-0930-2  ms/hs  VG-BN      Realistic fiction

Even though Rebel Blue is a misfit, she tries to find herself with such endearing charm and perseverance that she will win over all young-adult readers who are lucky enough to find this book.  It all begins when Rebel is sent to detention where she meets Kennedy Green, a do-gooder who has the conversation of a lifetime with Rebel.  Instructed to write their bucket lists, both girls complete the job but toss their lists into the trash in a rebellious moment.  That night, Kennedy dies when her car spins out of control and falls off a cliff.  Rebel is tortured by the memories of their last conversation, and as fate will have it, she is haunted so much that she reaches out to Kennedy by taking on the responsibility of completing all of the goals on Kennedy’s list.  Along her journey, which is fraught with introspection and self-doubt, she fights with her aunt, uncle and cousin, befriends the disturbed pie-baker/fellow student named Macey, begins a new relationship with the overachieving Nate, and forges ahead to try to fit in.  What she learns along the way is of value for all teenage readers, who will likely make connections with many of the characters and conflicts in the story.  The idea of a bucket list is not unique; however, Shelley Coriell’s take on the concept is refreshingly creative.

Summary: Rebecca Blue has lost her mother and almost loses herself when she takes on the bucket list of a girl she met in detention.  A feel-good book for girls of all personalities and types, this novel has it all: a stellar plot, characters that suffer through the timeless problems of the teenage years with warmth, and a strong voice in orphan Rebel Blue that clearly conveys the novel’s message.                 

Orphans-Fiction, Coming of age-Fiction                      --Martha Squaresky