Parents' Guide to

Goodbye Stranger

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

Book Rebecca Stead Friendship 2015
Goodbye Stranger Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

nonoh
nonoh Adult
October 17, 2019
age 10+

great book

I thought this book was amazing

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Zoethustra
Zoethustra Parent of 1 and 11-year-old
January 23, 2018
age 14+

Meh

This book is marketed as a book for 10+ year olds, but there is sexting and cursing in it. Not appropriate for that age group. Considering that the book is about high school students I find it strange that they would try to sell it to elementary age children. 14 (mayyyybe 13) and up would be better.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Best friends Bridge, Tabitha, and Emily once swore upon a Twinkie that they'd never fight -- but seventh grade is testing that vow. Em's maturing figure is drawing attention, particularly from a cute older boy sending flirty text messages. Tab has started viewing everything through a social justice prism. And Bridge still wonders why she survived an awful accident in third grade. As they try to figure out whether their friendship can survive middle school, Sherm is trying to make sense of his new connection with Bridge. He's bitter following his grandparents' separation after 50 years of marriage. Finally, an unidentified girl takes a mental health day off from school to ponder friendship and betrayal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (12):

Out of the everyday dramas of middle school -- flirting, pettiness, new ideas, dangerous friends -- Rebecca Stead weaves a tender meditation on love and the ways it can both strengthen and weaken us. GOODBYE STRANGER uses three distinct narrative perspectives to examine every facet of love and friendship, from newly blossoming relationships to withered, dead ones.

Stead, a Newbery Medal winner for When You Reach Me, is finely attuned to the thrills and heartaches that mark the middle school years, and readers of any age will recognize themselves in her sensitively told story. Timely plot hooks -- from dealing with "frenemies" to navigating social media -- give tweens plenty to ponder but never seem forced or preachy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about privacy and social media. Have you heard of any situations of private material getting circulated at your school? This is a good opportunity to revisit your family's guidelines for using cell phones and social media.

  • Do you think females face a double standard when it comes to how they dress and behave?

  • What do you think of the way the characters handle the cyberbullying incidents? Do you think you would make the same choices? Why, or why not?

Book Details

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