What is Goodbye?
Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Raul Colon
Hyperion Books for Children, NY
Grade Level: 3-5
ISBN 0786807784
$15.99
Synopsis:
Through poetry, a brother and sister juxtapose their raw emotions surrounding the recent death of an older brother. Various coping mechanisms, questions and feelings unique to children are depicted as each reacts differently to the sudden change and progress slowly to find healing.
General Review:
Grimes’ skillful use of free verse, rhyme and pattern snapshots the sentiments of Jesse and Jerilyn, brother and sister, who have lost an older sibling. Throughout a year, stages of grief, coping, and finally preliminary healing are powerfully portrayed with the unique perspective of a child. Guilt, anger, depression, escapism, happy nostalgia, loss of control, and other feelings are juxtaposed as each sibling follows a unique path of grief. Grimes added in the author’s note, “There is no right or wrong way to feel when someone close to you dies.” Jesse and Jerilyn exemplify the basic human struggles which transpire gender, race, culture and status.
Themes: death, grief, juvenile poetry, brothers and sisters, family, bibliotherapy
Author Information:http://www.nikkigrimes.com , SATA v. 136
Discussion Questions: (Standard 3, Benchmark 3)
- See Nikki Grimes Discussion Guide http://www.nikkigrimes.com/teacher/goodbtg.pdf
- When Jerilyn tries to talk about Jaron to her parents, they don’t want to talk about him. Why do you think that is? Why does Jerilyn want to talk? Why do her parents not want to talk? Do you think they need to talk together? When?
- What do you think each of the characters in the book will be like in 10 years?
- What have you learned about grief from reading this book?
Suggested Activities:
1. Choose one of Raul Colon’s illustrations from the book. Make a list of all the objects, actions, and colors in the picture. Write about why he used those things to tell us about the poem. (Standard 5, Benchmark 2)
2. Read about the stages of grief. Pick one poem from the book which you believe best shows that stage and write about why. (Standard 2, Benchmark 4)
3. Procure an emotions poster. (An emotions poster is one which depicts dozens of various faces, cartoon or photographs, each with a different emotion. They are available through library curriculum resource centers or through educational materials companies.) While reading the book, find the emotion(s) depicted on the poster, which relate to the poem being studied. Select the words from the poem (verbs, nouns, adjectives or adverbs) which best support the face you have chosen. (Standard 5, Benchmark 2)
