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
