How To Say Goodbye In Robot
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
How To Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Sandiford
Scholastic Press, 2009
Beatrice Szabo has just moved to Baltimore with her family. Her father, a professor, moves the family often for his job. With all the moving around, Beatrice has grown into an increasingly detached “Robot Girl,” emotionally distant from both her formerly close, but now crazy, mother and her would be friends at school. At her new school, Beatrice is surprised when she is drawn into the world of Jonah Tate, the weird, friendless kid. Their friendship develops and Robot Girl finds herself unable to stay detached from the intense emotions that surround their relationship. Really, this is a love story…just not a romantic kind of love.
How To Say Goodbye in Robot occupies a strange place in young adult fiction. It’s a quirky book with high quality writing and a strong sense of place, however, the plot is almost entirely internal. With much of the drama unfolding in subtle emotions rather than direct action, this is not a book for reluctant readers. It’s slow and meandering, but for readers who want an intense emotional drama, How to Say Goodbye in Robot is worth savoring. The end left me deep in thought (and a little teary eyed). The characters, including the smaller characters, are all extremely well developed. Also, although this is definitely a YA book, I think it it most suitable to the older YA set in addition to the 20-something adult crowd.
