How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

“New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn’t made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It’s not romance, exactly – but it’s definitely love. Still, Bea can’t quite dispel Jonah’s gloom and doom – and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?”

Beatrice and Jonah formed an unlikely relationship. Bonding initially a nightly late night radio show where the callers are a bit eccentric.  I loved these characters in all of their randomness and fun. Amongst reading about Beatrice’s school year, her growing friendship (but friendship is too light of a word for what they have) with Jonah, you have call logs from the show. Bea and Jonah also go on fun little adventures. Both were sure to elicit a chuckle or giggle.

That’s not to say this book is all light and cheery. Jonah has a haunted past, one that Bea helps him uncover and explore. Jonah is a sad individual. Until Bea, he didn’t really have any friends, he was depressed and bullied by fellow students who called him Ghost Boy.

If you haven’t read this book yet, go get it now! Not only did it make me laugh, it made me cry. It was brilliantly cute, with a sad underlining.