HELLO, GOODBYE

Stollenwerck debuts with a young adult novel about a teenager who bonds with her grandmother and discovers family secrets.

Fifteen-year-old Hailey isn’t looking forward to spending time with her grandmother Gigi for the summer, but it’s the best way to keep her parents from nagging her about ACT prep, volunteering, or getting a job. Hailey’s mother and Gigi have a distant relationship, so Hailey has no expectations for their time together, but she quickly bonds with Gigi, who introduces her to the Beatles, The Great Gatsby, and driving a convertible. Being at Gigi’s house gives Hailey an opportunity to meet her school’s star football players, Blake and DeMarcus, who become her unexpected friends. She also learns some of the family’s complicated history from her grandmother. Gigi’s mother, Ilse, was a Holocaust survivor who died soon after giving birth, and her widowed father, Jack, sent Gigi to live with his sister while he took off for South America on a one-man crusade against escaped Nazis and stolen Jewish property. Hailey and Gigi take a road trip through rural Texas in search of more information about their family, but mysteries remain. When Gigi dies suddenly following a stroke, Hailey is devastated, and she’s even more upset when her mother claims that Gigi’s family stories are all lies. Hailey moves through her mourning process and discovers a hidden map Jack left for Gigi. With Blake’s help, she follows the map to discover hidden treasure and learn more about her extended family. Well-written and engaging, this story has an authentic voice likely to appeal to young adult readers. The pacing is a bit slow at times, but Stollenwerck does a good job of bringing together a sometimes-sprawling collection of characters and subplots into a coherent whole that is supported but not overwhelmed by historical facts. Hailey’s relationship with her father is particularly well done. Beatles fans will appreciate the organic integration of the band’s music into the story, and Gatsby plays an important role in the plot but remains appropriately in the background.

A solid young adult novel explores intergenerational relationships and a Holocaust legacy.