Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
My name is Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.
Sixteen-year-old Jamal Anderson knows loss. He’s known it ever since the car crash that killed both of his parents and marked the last time he called Quincy Barrantes his best friend. He knows how it simmers inside of him, coats him in apathy and anger and grief and doesn’t let go.
But loss has never felt like this.
When Quincy drowns trying to save a little girl, Jamal starts to feel the waves of grief and regret creeping over him once again: this time with the knowledge that Quincy died thinking Jamal hated him, that he died when they were still angry at each other, that the bitterness between them had never been cleared.
But then a new healthcare technology gives them a chance to make up: the ability to reanimate Quincy, bring him back to life… for a short time.
So now Jamal is faced with a new conundrum: he has a former best friend who doesn’t know he’s about to die—again. And there is no way that Quincy’s mom is going to let anyone ruin the last days Quincy has on earth by telling him that. Jamal has this second chance to fix everything between them… and he can’t mess that up.
With brilliant, heartfelt clarity about the terrible pain that comes with loving someone, Jason A. Reynolds shows that no matter how much it hurts to lose someone, it is forever worth it to love them while they’re with you. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you yell, and it will break your heart—but that’s what love is: whatever happens, it’s always, always, worth it.
