When You Never Said Goodbye: An Adoptee’s Search for Her Birth Mother

Eighteen-year-old Liz McLane transferred to New York University to pursue her dreams of becoming a poet and discovering her birth mother’s identity. She quickly bonds with her roommate and finds inspiration in her classes, but her investigation into her mother causes tension in her relationships with her family and boyfriend. She’s also drawn to a guitar player in Washington Square Park—could this woman be connected to Liz’s search? Through journal entries and varied styles of poems, Kearney sensitively conveys Liz’s journey of discovery; the answer she’s been seeking, though unexpected, brings her peace of mind. This isn’t the first book Kearney has written about Liz (who also appeared in The Secret of Me and The Girl in the Mirror), and while knowledge of those books isn’t required, readers unfamiliar with them may find it difficult to feel much connection to anyone in Liz’s orbit, other than her new classmates. Back matter includes the story behind the novel (partly inspired by the author’s adoption), notes about the poems and music within, and the lyrics to the title song, which Kearney wrote. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elaine Markson, Elaine Markson Literary. (Mar.)