91 pages • 3 hours read
Jeff ZentnerGoodbye Days
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Jeff Zentner’s Goodbye Days, teenager Carver Briggs struggles with the deaths of his three best friends, who died in a car crash caused by the driver responding to Carver’s text. Carver is engulfed in guilt and faces a potential negligent homicide investigation. As Carver attempts to cope, he engages in “goodbye days” with the families of the deceased boys to grieve and find closure. The book explores themes of grief, guilt, and redemption. The narrative includes instances of panic attacks.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jeff Zentner's Goodbye Days captures raw emotion and explores grief after a tragic accident. Reviewers praise its heartfelt and relatable portrayal of loss, friendship, and guilt. The character development is compelling; however, some felt the pacing was uneven and certain plot points predictable. Overall, it's a poignant read for young adults dealing with grief and forgiveness.
Who Should Read Goodbye Days?
A reader who would enjoy Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner is typically a fan of contemporary young adult fiction marked by emotional depth and complex friendships. They likely appreciate books like The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, due to similar themes of grief, guilt, and coping with loss.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
620LBook Details
Realistic Fiction
Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Relationships: Family