Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
29(29%)
4 stars
33(33%)
3 stars
38(38%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews
July 15,2025
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I absolutely loved it! It was truly an amazing experience.

If I had the option, I would definitely give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The quality and attention to detail were outstanding.

Every aspect of it was well thought out and executed to perfection.

I was thoroughly impressed from start to finish.

The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because there were just a few minor things that could have been improved upon.

However, these small details did not overshadow the overall awesomeness of the product or service.

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something of great quality.

It really is worth every penny and I will definitely be using it again in the future.

I can't wait to see what else they come up with!
July 15,2025
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I have a deep affection for Lois Lowry's remarkable book series, The Giver. It is a literary masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on my heart and mind.

However, when it comes to this particular book, I must admit that it simply doesn't hold a candle to The Giver.

Don't get me wrong, this book is still good in its own right. It has its own charm and engaging elements that keep the reader hooked.

But compared to the greatness of The Giver, it falls short. The Giver had a unique and thought-provoking concept, beautifully developed characters, and a powerful storyline that made it truly unforgettable.

This book, while enjoyable, lacks that certain something that made The Giver so special. It doesn't have the same depth, the same emotional impact, or the same ability to make you question the world around you.

Nevertheless, it is still a worthy read and I would recommend it to others. But if you're looking for a truly outstanding book, I would highly suggest picking up The Giver instead.
July 15,2025
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I think Natalie's background is quite remarkable. As an adopted child, she has a good and wealthy family where everyone is kind to her. But what if things were different? What if she wasn't adopted into such a fortunate situation? Maybe her life would have taken a completely different turn. I envision a story where Natalie is placed in a controversial family that restricts her from doing the things she wants. Additionally, I would modify the personality of Natalie's real mother. I find it strange that she could go to a man's house alone at the age of 15. And how is it that Natalie is intelligent while her real mother seems so slow?


Now that I'm deep into the story, I'm eager to find out what happens next when Natalie meets her father, Terry, assuming he's still alive. What will she do? I believe she desires to know the reason why her father didn't want her. If her parents had chosen to raise her, she might never have felt the need to search for them. In my opinion, Natalie is a truthful and forgiving person. Due to these qualities, she doesn't hate her parents for abandoning her.


I hope Natalie will face a similar situation as her real mother did when she was pregnant at a young age. I'm curious to see how Natalie will handle having a baby at a young age. I don't think she'll be like her mother who abandoned her because she has grown up in a loving family that can support her in any way.

July 15,2025
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I grew up in the beautiful state of Maine.

From the moment of my birth, I was adopted into a loving family.

Recently, I came across a book that I can only describe as superb.

The story follows Natalie on her journey, and I absolutely loved going along with her.

The author's writing is so skillful that it draws you in from the very beginning.

The emotions and experiences described in the book are so moving that they touch your heart.

It's a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great read.

Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, this book has something for everyone.

I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Overall, it's been a wonderful experience reading this book and going on this journey with Natalie.

I'm sure it will stay with me for a long time to come.

July 15,2025
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Book #10 in my Summer of Lois Lowry series.

This particular book was truly precious. It had a charm that drew me in from the very beginning. The story was filled with moments that were both sad and touching.

The sadness in the book came through in the characters' experiences and the challenges they faced. It made me feel a deep sense of empathy for them.

However, it was also the touching moments that made this book so special. The relationships between the characters were beautifully developed, and there were scenes that brought a tear to my eye.

Overall, this book was a wonderful addition to the series. It left me with a feeling of warmth and a newfound appreciation for Lois Lowry's writing.

I can't wait to continue reading the rest of the series and see what other amazing stories she has in store for us.
July 15,2025
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Introduction: Have you ever had a deep longing to meet your birth parents if you are adopted? Well, this story is about a 15-year-old teen girl named Natalie. Her journey begins in the bustling city of New York. Her destination lies over 500 miles away from her hometown. Do you think she will succeed? There are moments in the story when she wants to give up, but she never does. There are numerous obstacles, yet she always strives for greatness. This story is a realistic fiction novel penned by Lois Lowry.


Brief Summary: Natalie Armstrong, an adopted child, embarks on a journey to find her birth parents.


Evaluation: "Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye" was a great novel. The book achieved its goal at the very end. The ending was the most thrilling part of Natalie's entire journey, revealing the truth behind the whole story. Mr. Armstrong, Mrs. Armstrong, and Natalie's little sister are her biggest supporters. They stand by her until the very end. However, in my opinion, I didn't enjoy this book. I found it rather dull overall, lacking in exciting parts. It wasn't as good as the other books I've read by Lois Lowry. I had heard many positive reviews about her, but after reading this novel, I was quite disappointed.


Conclusion: If you are in grades 8th - 10th, you may enjoy this book. It's an interesting read overall. I hope everyone who reads it finds it enjoyable. It's a great choice for a summer read and can be read anywhere you go.

July 15,2025
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This is a YA book,

yet I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The characters within it were extremely easy to relate to.

Lowry's writing style is such that it makes it effortless to picture every single detail.

It is a very lovely and simple read.

One can easily get lost in the story and become invested in the lives of the characters.

The vivid descriptions allow the reader to truly envision the settings and events as if they were right there.

Despite being a YA book, it has a charm and appeal that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

It's the kind of book that you can pick up and quickly become engrossed in,

forgetting about the outside world for a while.

Overall, it's a wonderful literary experience that I would highly recommend.
July 15,2025
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Recent high school graduate Natalie Armstrong has always been aware that she was adopted. Now, she has a strong desire to find her birth mother. However, she is cautious not to cause any harm to her adoptive parents in the process. "FIND A STRANGER, SAY GOODBYE" was first published in 1978, when I was in high school. Teen readers today might view this book as historical fiction or a period piece. In 2014, teens likely can't envision life before the era of computers and cell phones. Back then, conducting research meant visiting the library or doing a lot of legwork. We were relieved when old newspapers were microfiched, as it saved us from having to flip through yellowed pages and get ink on our fingers.


Natalie was born in 1960, at a time when almost all adoptions were closed. Today's teens may not comprehend how parents could give their teenager money to drive around and conduct investigations. They might not understand how we were more independent and self-reliant before the era of helicopter parents who wanted to protect their children excessively. Moreover, most teens won't understand that Natalie's boyfriend talking to her in an authoritative and sometimes insulting manner was quite common. In those days, boys were generally the "boss" in relationships, just as husbands often were in marriages. Although not as old-fashioned as in the 1950s, feminism and equality reached small towns at a slower pace.


"FIND A STRANGER" is challenging to rate with stars. When it was written, it might have deserved 5 stars. But when considering today's youth, the rating would be much lower. This slow-paced novel contains a lot of filler, with conversations about mundane topics such as homework or which college someone is going to. These fillers do not contribute anything to the plot or the characters. Natalie seemed like a rather one-dimensional character, a "good girl" who was thoughtful, polite, and kind. She lacked any edge and appeared dull. Most of the characters were like cardboard cutouts, representing types of people rather than unique individuals. I constantly hoped that Natalie would stand up to her boyfriend or break up with him when he dismissed her feelings about searching for her birth mother.


I recommend this book for middle-aged people like me who enjoy a trip down memory lane, and for teens who are interested in pre-digital life or historical fiction. However, YA readers who prefer more edgy and faster-paced books should probably skip this one or pass it on to their moms. It gets 4 stars for those who were teens in the 70s and 2 stars for most of today's teens, resulting in an average of 3 stars.

July 15,2025
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Loved it!

A high school graduate has a strong desire to find her birth mother.

She embarks on this journey with great anticipation, but she is also aware that some of the answers she discovers may not be what she initially expects.

However, this does not deter her. Instead, she keeps digging for answers with unwavering determination.

She explores every possible avenue, reaches out to people who might have information, and sifts through countless records.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead, she remains committed to uncovering the truth about her past.

Her search is not only about finding her birth mother but also about understanding herself and her roots.

She believes that by learning the story of her birth, she will gain a deeper sense of identity and belonging.

Read it!
July 15,2025
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Short but sweet.

This description accurately sums up my experience with this book.

The only thing that was a bit annoying was that, for some reason, the Kindle Prime version had two-thirds of the book in all caps.

It made the reading a bit disrupted as I had to go back and forth to make sense of it.

However, despite this minor inconvenience, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book.

The story was engaging and held my attention from start to finish.

The characters were well-developed and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me interested.

Even with the formatting issue, I would still recommend this book to others.

It's a quick read that is definitely worth the time.
July 15,2025
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I was truly excited when I got my hands on Lois Lowry's second book. She has been a favorite author of mine for a long time. I have always had a particular soft spot for "A Summer to Die", and I was recently astonished to find out that it was actually her very first book.

I did enjoy reading this particular book, but in all honesty, it doesn't quite measure up to her other remarkable offerings. I really liked the main character, and the mystery aspect as she painstakingly pieced together the clues regarding her parentage was quite engaging. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but wonder if I would recommend it to fifth graders. Generally speaking, I absolutely love to recommend Lois Lowry's works to them. However, in this case, I don't think I would specifically recommend this book. The reason being that there are some rather oblique references to sex and a few curse words. Nevertheless, a fifth grader might still find it enjoyable despite these drawbacks.

It's a bit of a tough call, but I think it's important to consider the age-appropriateness of the content when making such recommendations.
July 15,2025
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This book didn't really convey the true essence of what it's like to find one's birth mother.

It simply presented the steps that the main character, Natalie, took in her search for her mother.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that this was written in the 70's, and I couldn't quite relate to the events that were happening during that time.

The character, Natalie, never really elaborated on her feelings or what it was like to come face to face with someone from her past.

To me, these characters seemed to have very little emotion. I'm sorry to say.

However, I did like Natalie's adopted mother and grandmother. They were very eccentric, and I'm glad that Natalie loves them for who they are, and vice-versa.

The book was short, but I felt that if it had added more emotion, I might have been more inclined to read more of it.

It was a fast read, but not a good enough book to really stick with me.

It's a bit outdated, and perhaps could benefit from a modern update to make it more relevant and engaging for today's readers.

Overall, while there were some aspects of the book that I liked, it ultimately fell short in terms of depth and emotional resonance.
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