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The Someday Suitcase
Clover and Danny are the kind of best friends who make each other even better. They’re so important to each other that Clover believes they’re symbiotic : her favorite science word, which describes two beings who can’t function without the other. But when Danny comes down with a mysterious illness that won’t go away, the doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. So Clover decides to take matters into her own hands by making lists—list of Danny’s symptoms, his good days, his bad days. As the evidence piles up, only one thing becomes clear – Danny is only better when Clover is around. Suddenly it feels like time is running out for Clover and Danny to do everything they’ve planned together—to finally see snow, to go on a trip with the suitcase they picked out together. Will science be able to save Danny, or is this the one time when magic can overcome the unthinkable?
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2017
60 people are currently reading
3577 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
June 21, 2017
I HAVE LOTS OF FEELINGS RIGHT NOW. But to try and sum this up for a neat little mini-review with my thoughts, I really liked THE SOMEDAY SUITCASE. I fell in love with Clover, with Danny, with their families. I enjoyed the progression of the story, even though it's a little bit of a slow starter. And it made me very emotional by the end, so.... yeah, read this one. It's so good, y'all.
March 7, 2017
As quiet and beautiful and achey as a snowfall.
January 19, 2024
the first time i read this i sobbed. i NEVER cry when reading
April 24, 2020
OMG I literally cannot right now. This book.....it’s giving me all the feels and I’m crying just thinking about it. Its so perfect. It’s taught me so many lessons throughout that I will truly carry the rest of my life. It’s a heartbreaking but amazing book about friendship and love and should be read by many more people. This would be a perfect book to read if you want to cry(take it from me I like never cry over anything), smile, or read a touching story about friendship.
July 18, 2021
Warning - this book is sad. But it’s really good.
“Danny and I aren’t easy to understand. We’re like science or math — it seems really complicated, but actually it’s so simple and perfect and true.”
Danny and Clover are best friends. They’re inseparable from birth, and Clover, a lover of science, often describes their relationship as symbiotic.
When Danny gets sick, Clover does everything she can to help him, but she learns that the world can be unfair and heartbreaking.
I loved the characters. Danny and Clover’s friendship was genuine and refreshing to read. The book addresses multiple issues that kids face, such as having a sibling with special needs, and a parent who must travel often for work. I think young readers will be able to find something to relate to within Clover and Danny’s story.
“…I know that everyone in the world has something they’re really great at, and noticing stuff is what I’m really good at.”
The writing was beautiful - engaging and insightful with a touch of magic; however, at times, Clover’s voice felt a little too old/wise to be a 10-year-old.
“Maybe this is who I’m meant to be — a person who makes other people feel better.”
This book captures perfectly what it feels like to take those first steps away from childhood, how scary it can be to learn that life isn’t fair, and who we want by our side as we figure it all out.
Recommended for readers of all ages.
July 30, 2023
Wow, what a compassionate and phenomenal story about friendship!... I cried for both Clover and Danny throughout this entire book...
For such a young child, Clover was extremely selfless and dedicated to helping and trying to saving her best friend, Danny, from an unknown disease, that consume his entire being. She gave up everything and did everything possible, she was capable of... to cure him.
This story capatived my immediate attention from the very first page and keep me intrigued till the very end. The plot was excellently written and highly motivated to keep the readers' abilities occupied.
This book was recommended by my young niece, who is a highly intelligent, gifted and an advanced reader...and after having the pleasure of reading this passionate story, I therefore, personally and highly recommend to everyone else.
I look forward to reading more of Ms. Corey Ann Haydu' book in the very near future....😇
For such a young child, Clover was extremely selfless and dedicated to helping and trying to saving her best friend, Danny, from an unknown disease, that consume his entire being. She gave up everything and did everything possible, she was capable of... to cure him.
This story capatived my immediate attention from the very first page and keep me intrigued till the very end. The plot was excellently written and highly motivated to keep the readers' abilities occupied.
This book was recommended by my young niece, who is a highly intelligent, gifted and an advanced reader...and after having the pleasure of reading this passionate story, I therefore, personally and highly recommend to everyone else.
I look forward to reading more of Ms. Corey Ann Haydu' book in the very near future....😇
February 23, 2018
This book was wonderful and heart-breaking for me. I picked it up just because I liked the cover, and I thought if I picked it up one of my kids would read it. But they didn't, and it was time to return it. I didn't return it; I renewed it and started it today.
It is a book about a friendship, where the boy gets an autoimmune disease. Being autoimmune myself, and just now starting to see symptoms of it again, this book became highly emotional for me. But so, so sweet.
Quotes:
"Sometimes all adults sound exactly the same, and I wonder if they are all taking some How to Be an Adult class together, where they learn how to say frustrating things and how to stop listening while pretending to keep listening." (127)
"And with the hurt there's confusion. It doesn't make sense, like a sentence with a missing noun. The whole world is a sentence with a missing noun." (274)
It is a book about a friendship, where the boy gets an autoimmune disease. Being autoimmune myself, and just now starting to see symptoms of it again, this book became highly emotional for me. But so, so sweet.
Quotes:
"Sometimes all adults sound exactly the same, and I wonder if they are all taking some How to Be an Adult class together, where they learn how to say frustrating things and how to stop listening while pretending to keep listening." (127)
"And with the hurt there's confusion. It doesn't make sense, like a sentence with a missing noun. The whole world is a sentence with a missing noun." (274)
November 24, 2018
"But in science, like with art, even when you're wrong, you're right. As long as you're trying, you're doing your job."
October 28, 2017
When I heard that Haydu was writing another MG book, I was immediately excited. I hadn't read her first foray into children's literature back in November 2016, but seeing this on Goodreads after a drive to St. Louis for Thanksgiving sent a little thrill through me. The Someday Suitcase sounded absolutely magical, and I was ready to dive into it at a latter point.
After reading Rules for Stealing Stars as 2016 faded and 2017 started, I found a good book. It wasn't the best, as some of the characters weren't as developed, the content fell a bit flat, and Silly's voice occasionally sounded too old. But I was still excited to see more of Haydu in a younger setting. I didn't even know my library had copies of this until a few weeks ago when my brother pulled it off the new shelf. Not able to get my hand on an ARC, I was immediately excited. Time to finally see what this would give me.
And I got an endearing story, that's for sure. At times adorable and heartbreaking, The Someday Suitcase is a tender read about how the bond of friendship can be truly magical. Outside of a slight dullness, this book got my full attention as it carried on. The plot was great, the characters were nice, the climax was another show-stopper, the writing was great, and I felt all the feels. Haydu is still one to watch, mark my words.
Clover turns 11 in the back half of the book, but for the majority of it, she's 10. I think Haydu got a better handle on her younger characters, because Clover ended up being really endearing. She reminded me of a sweet younger sibling, and I loved her friendship with Danny. It may have bordered a bit on the obsessive side at points, but I could ignore that. The two of them are innocent young kids who haven't grown up and learned all of the world's dark secrets.
The story was also really good. I found myself curious to see how Danny's sickness would be tackled, and the climax was well-earned and the ending sad, but understandable. It closed the overall arc really well, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Yet I accidentally spoiled myself before I even started this. Oops.
Haydu's writing is still strong, and despite being simpler for a younger audience, it is still quite engaging and left me on my toes. It may not be as gripping as what I've seen before, but it still did its job.
Again, this book did get a bit dull at points, mainly in the beginning. It's understandable due to set-up, but I wished it had a little more life. But the second half does redeem that, and that's good enough for me. Just as long as I have more Corey Ann Haydu in my life, I'll be good. Really excited to see what's in store for her, and that's for both middle grade and young adult.
After reading Rules for Stealing Stars as 2016 faded and 2017 started, I found a good book. It wasn't the best, as some of the characters weren't as developed, the content fell a bit flat, and Silly's voice occasionally sounded too old. But I was still excited to see more of Haydu in a younger setting. I didn't even know my library had copies of this until a few weeks ago when my brother pulled it off the new shelf. Not able to get my hand on an ARC, I was immediately excited. Time to finally see what this would give me.
And I got an endearing story, that's for sure. At times adorable and heartbreaking, The Someday Suitcase is a tender read about how the bond of friendship can be truly magical. Outside of a slight dullness, this book got my full attention as it carried on. The plot was great, the characters were nice, the climax was another show-stopper, the writing was great, and I felt all the feels. Haydu is still one to watch, mark my words.
Clover turns 11 in the back half of the book, but for the majority of it, she's 10. I think Haydu got a better handle on her younger characters, because Clover ended up being really endearing. She reminded me of a sweet younger sibling, and I loved her friendship with Danny. It may have bordered a bit on the obsessive side at points, but I could ignore that. The two of them are innocent young kids who haven't grown up and learned all of the world's dark secrets.
The story was also really good. I found myself curious to see how Danny's sickness would be tackled, and the climax was well-earned and the ending sad, but understandable. It closed the overall arc really well, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Yet I accidentally spoiled myself before I even started this. Oops.
Haydu's writing is still strong, and despite being simpler for a younger audience, it is still quite engaging and left me on my toes. It may not be as gripping as what I've seen before, but it still did its job.
Again, this book did get a bit dull at points, mainly in the beginning. It's understandable due to set-up, but I wished it had a little more life. But the second half does redeem that, and that's good enough for me. Just as long as I have more Corey Ann Haydu in my life, I'll be good. Really excited to see what's in store for her, and that's for both middle grade and young adult.
July 6, 2019
This book was sad and complicated. I am struggling to think of other books that showcase a young child’s death from the perspective of his/her best friend. Bridge to Terabithia comes to mind, but the death was sudden and Jesse’s grief was in the aftermath. Same for My Girl (not a book, I know, but it’s summer time and it’s hard *not* to think about Vada crying over Macaulay Culkin’s casket when there are bees and summer fun and I’m reading a book with a male/female fifth grade friendship).
Unlike those other media, so much of clover’s grief takes place while Danny is still very much alive. She struggles with accepting that he is ill and with not knowing the cause. Frustrating, since it’s not just that the doctors and parents won’t tell Clover what is wrong, but that they don’t really know themselves. Clover struggles with being at school without her best friend, her security blanket. Clover and Danny have grown up believing that they are one whole person together. Their personalities balance each other and they have created a system to make the difficult business of being in school and a human in this world not only tolerable but enjoyable.
At first Clover flounders without her counterpoint, but then she becomes even more baffled when she finds herself having fun without Danny. It’s such an interesting theme to explore—who are we outside of our partners? And how do we navigate having more than one friend or more than one type of friend? For some people (extroverts?), this might seem like a ridiculous question. But I get it. The scene in the mall food court with two friend groups meeting up was uncomfortably relatable. What is nice for Clover is that her classmates are welcoming and willingly to invite her to participate where she might not have needed to or wanted to before. It’s not always like that for kids.
Also at Clover’s school,the teachers are kick ass. Not only do they get her special relationship with Danny and foster their friendship, but they also speak in a way that allows students like cLover to gain information while also wondering more. I loved Ms Mendez’s approach to science and the fact that Haydu was able to sell the idea that magic can be a part of science through the words of Ms Mendez and Rachel, the mother of a classmate. The science projects that this class was working on seem way more meaningful than some I’ve seen. Teachers who care about things breed students who care about things and learn about them too. This is the second book I’ve ready recently (exit strategy) that used the scientific method as a vehicle for storytelling, albeit this was way less blatant.
Once Danny is officially sick, which happens pretty quickly, Clover details his symptoms and other notes to help her make sense of what’s happening. She is a logical person and her approach works in other areas too, specifically when dealing with her autistic brother. Her mother scolds her for being “too adult” and I see that several times in their interactions. But what choice does clover have? Let her brother and family suffer?
Same once Clover realizes that Danny is feeling better when she is around. She’s already struggling with the idea of being friends with others and having fun when Danny’s not able to. Now she has to decide how much of her time she can give to him. Her parents step in to remind her that she’s not responsible for making Danny better. (Her mother even says she’s not going to make him better or worse). But she truly feels it’s up to her to save him. She’s the one who realizes that he feels better when she rubs his back and she’s the one who finds out about the idyllic Somerset clinic in Vermont. She is also the one who hatches the plan to stowaway in her dads truck with her super sick bff and appeal to the clinic’s morality. Who is going to turn away a sick kid who drove 30ish hours in the back of an 18 wheeler?
Once the docs figure out that Danny does have an autoimmune disease and it is attacking his organs, Clover and Danny live out his last days like an old married couple playing checkers on the porch of the farmhouse in the dead of winter. But it snows when Danny finally passes away, so the trip isn’t for naught.
Then Clover must return home to figure out how to live life on her own. But is she alone? Her family will still plan a a getaway to Mexico to get some of the world’s best tacos with her. Classmate Elsa will sit and sketch while Clover lies quietly on her bed. All the other 5th graders fill in her not-self portrait and the art teacher even includes a little Danny in the heart. Not to mention the collectible snow globes everyone in town gifts to her. Seems like everyone might know Clover a little better than she thought and she finds that talking about Danny with them is slightly better than keeping his memories all to herself.
The final scene takes place during a very very cold Florida February. It snows. It helps Clovers hearts. It makes me wonder if Haydu read about this happening and wrote this entire book around this one event. I like the idea of a book being born like that.
There was a lot in this book, but it was genuine. I imagine that Clover’s feelings about Danny and his transition from vibrant playmate to sickly patient are pretty true to form for some kids going through this. Such a sad and necessary story to be told.
Unlike those other media, so much of clover’s grief takes place while Danny is still very much alive. She struggles with accepting that he is ill and with not knowing the cause. Frustrating, since it’s not just that the doctors and parents won’t tell Clover what is wrong, but that they don’t really know themselves. Clover struggles with being at school without her best friend, her security blanket. Clover and Danny have grown up believing that they are one whole person together. Their personalities balance each other and they have created a system to make the difficult business of being in school and a human in this world not only tolerable but enjoyable.
At first Clover flounders without her counterpoint, but then she becomes even more baffled when she finds herself having fun without Danny. It’s such an interesting theme to explore—who are we outside of our partners? And how do we navigate having more than one friend or more than one type of friend? For some people (extroverts?), this might seem like a ridiculous question. But I get it. The scene in the mall food court with two friend groups meeting up was uncomfortably relatable. What is nice for Clover is that her classmates are welcoming and willingly to invite her to participate where she might not have needed to or wanted to before. It’s not always like that for kids.
Also at Clover’s school,the teachers are kick ass. Not only do they get her special relationship with Danny and foster their friendship, but they also speak in a way that allows students like cLover to gain information while also wondering more. I loved Ms Mendez’s approach to science and the fact that Haydu was able to sell the idea that magic can be a part of science through the words of Ms Mendez and Rachel, the mother of a classmate. The science projects that this class was working on seem way more meaningful than some I’ve seen. Teachers who care about things breed students who care about things and learn about them too. This is the second book I’ve ready recently (exit strategy) that used the scientific method as a vehicle for storytelling, albeit this was way less blatant.
Once Danny is officially sick, which happens pretty quickly, Clover details his symptoms and other notes to help her make sense of what’s happening. She is a logical person and her approach works in other areas too, specifically when dealing with her autistic brother. Her mother scolds her for being “too adult” and I see that several times in their interactions. But what choice does clover have? Let her brother and family suffer?
Same once Clover realizes that Danny is feeling better when she is around. She’s already struggling with the idea of being friends with others and having fun when Danny’s not able to. Now she has to decide how much of her time she can give to him. Her parents step in to remind her that she’s not responsible for making Danny better. (Her mother even says she’s not going to make him better or worse). But she truly feels it’s up to her to save him. She’s the one who realizes that he feels better when she rubs his back and she’s the one who finds out about the idyllic Somerset clinic in Vermont. She is also the one who hatches the plan to stowaway in her dads truck with her super sick bff and appeal to the clinic’s morality. Who is going to turn away a sick kid who drove 30ish hours in the back of an 18 wheeler?
Once the docs figure out that Danny does have an autoimmune disease and it is attacking his organs, Clover and Danny live out his last days like an old married couple playing checkers on the porch of the farmhouse in the dead of winter. But it snows when Danny finally passes away, so the trip isn’t for naught.
Then Clover must return home to figure out how to live life on her own. But is she alone? Her family will still plan a a getaway to Mexico to get some of the world’s best tacos with her. Classmate Elsa will sit and sketch while Clover lies quietly on her bed. All the other 5th graders fill in her not-self portrait and the art teacher even includes a little Danny in the heart. Not to mention the collectible snow globes everyone in town gifts to her. Seems like everyone might know Clover a little better than she thought and she finds that talking about Danny with them is slightly better than keeping his memories all to herself.
The final scene takes place during a very very cold Florida February. It snows. It helps Clovers hearts. It makes me wonder if Haydu read about this happening and wrote this entire book around this one event. I like the idea of a book being born like that.
There was a lot in this book, but it was genuine. I imagine that Clover’s feelings about Danny and his transition from vibrant playmate to sickly patient are pretty true to form for some kids going through this. Such a sad and necessary story to be told.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2021
Things I liked:
1. The writer has a friendly style and decent description.
2. The writer did a great job in capturing the emotions of an 11 yo protagonist as she travels this rough journey.
1. The writer has a friendly style and decent description.
2. The writer did a great job in capturing the emotions of an 11 yo protagonist as she travels this rough journey.
June 5, 2017
This is the story of eleven-year-olds Clover and Danny. They've been best friends forever, do everything together and essentially don't exist without each other. No, I'm serious. This is written in first-person point-of-view of Clover, but every other sentence begins with "Danny." At one point, Clover casually remarks that she forgets "I'm a person in a body" without Danny around. Their friendship had some really sweet moments and it's clear how important they are to each other, but the co-dependency at such a young age really bothered me and it seemed almost inappropriate to include in a book for this age group. That being said, this was ultimately a sad story filled with hope and magic and a touch of science. These elements were fantastic inclusions and had the potential to be a strong recommendation for realistic kids books, but I cannot quite get over this lingering feeling of desperateness.
January 21, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up
There was a lot that I loved about The Someday Suitcase. The supportive parents were great. Jake's autism and the effect it had on others felt genuine. The connection between Clover and Danny's friendship and the concept of symbiosis was amazing. The snow globe symbolism was powerful.
At the same time, some things felt off. It seems unlikely that two friends like Clover and Danny would recognize and appreciate their bond. There was a detail at the end that seemed totally out of character, but would be spoilery, so I will not elaborate. In general, Clover came across as too mature for her age.
Overall, I liked this.
There was a lot that I loved about The Someday Suitcase. The supportive parents were great. Jake's autism and the effect it had on others felt genuine. The connection between Clover and Danny's friendship and the concept of symbiosis was amazing. The snow globe symbolism was powerful.
At the same time, some things felt off. It seems unlikely that two friends like Clover and Danny would recognize and appreciate their bond. There was a detail at the end that seemed totally out of character, but would be spoilery, so I will not elaborate. In general, Clover came across as too mature for her age.
Overall, I liked this.
June 20, 2019
This book was magical like the snowfall. I really liked this book. I loved the relationship between Clover and Danny.
It was also nice to see how Clover dealt with an autistic brother. I haven't read many books that deal with autism.
I kinda guessed that Danny was gonna die but it still made me cry. This was a very sad book but I still liked it. 😭😥😥
It was also nice to see how Clover dealt with an autistic brother. I haven't read many books that deal with autism.
I kinda guessed that Danny was gonna die but it still made me cry. This was a very sad book but I still liked it. 😭😥😥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2017
Lovely book about the enduring power of friendship and the belief in love, friendship, and the power to cure. Well-written, and nice characterization. Particularly loved the science angle.
February 17, 2019
“If Magic is love with a twist, and the magic goes... Love remains.” ❤️
April 11, 2020
The someday suitcase es un libro poderoso, lleno de muchos sentimientos y emociones, lleno de sueños e ilusiones, lleno de ciencia y de magia, lleno de insistencia y perseverancia, lleno de amistad y compañerismo, pero lo más importante, lleno de amor. Es asombrosa la manera en que puedes llegar a empatizar con dos niños y ser capaz de ver sus emociones. La lectura muestra cómo en ocasiones olvidamos que los niños son capaces de sentirse igual de vulnerables que cualquier adulto, que los niños también sienten dolor y amor, que a su edad, la amistad es una de las cosas más valiosas que se pueda tener. Este es un libro de esos que te arrebatan las lagrimas.
Gracias al poder que tuvo este libro de desgarrarme el alma, al poder que tuvo de jugar con mis emociones, es un libro que está en mi lista de favoritos.
Gracias al poder que tuvo este libro de desgarrarme el alma, al poder que tuvo de jugar con mis emociones, es un libro que está en mi lista de favoritos.
October 20, 2017
Heartbreaking, emotional, and so many feelings in this book. Honestly, it was almost too much for me, but it’s a powerful story about friendship, hope, and the power of things both explained and unexplained.
August 23, 2017
Clover and Danny are closer than best friends. What do fifth graders do when one gets sick and one wants to fix it? Read this beautiful and powerful story of true friendship!
August 27, 2019
*4.5 stars*
January 7, 2021
this is one of the saddest yet most amazing book
April 27, 2024
My 5th grade niece lent this one to me because she knows I like sad books… and she was right about that. 😭 Danny and Clover are best friends. Danny gets sick and isn’t getting any better, unless he’s around Clover. Clover loves science and her favorite topic is symbiosis. She believes that’s what her and Danny have with each other. As long as she’s near him, he’ll get better, right?! This is a story about a special friendship.
May 17, 2022
There are absolutely no words, this book is incredible. To everyone in the world, read this, check out my profile if you don't believe me. I've read a decent amount of books, but this is one of my favs. EVER. THIS IS YOUR SIGN.
December 18, 2024
This book is so sweet, heartbreaking and wounding! At the end I was a like clover, a water fountain and it would not stop. I will never forget this story EVER! Thank you for this change to read one of the best books ever! I am off reading one jar of magic now! Definitely 💯% recommend to kids who, have patience me to read, and enjoy one of the best books you can read at 10! I would say the book ages are 9-12 but an advanced 8 year old can read it!
I cried which never happens while watching a movie or especially when reading!
I cried which never happens while watching a movie or especially when reading!
August 8, 2025
In The Someday Suitcase, a young girl named Clover finds out her friend Danny has an illness (CVID) that keeps getting worse. As her friend gets more ill she meets some new friends. But on his birthday things change. Clover wants to see Danny but her other friends guide her towards playing a game. Will Danny’s sickness get worse or will Clover have to play with her new friends?
March 2, 2024
Absolutely stunning.
February 8, 2023
100/5 stars
……ummmmm, no words.
The amount of emotion in this book! Especially near the end when Danny is dying/died and when Clover is still figuring out how to become herself without her lifelong best friend 😭. The teachers. They inspire Clover and Danny so much and without them it would be incomplete. Overall Clover and Danny are so perfect. Go read this. It will make you happy.
……ummmmm, no words.
The amount of emotion in this book! Especially near the end when Danny is dying/died and when Clover is still figuring out how to become herself without her lifelong best friend 😭. The teachers. They inspire Clover and Danny so much and without them it would be incomplete. Overall Clover and Danny are so perfect. Go read this. It will make you happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2023
I really liked "The Someday Suitcase" by Corey Ann Haydu. It is a really good book about friendship and loss, as one of the main characters gets sicker throughout it. It has a sad ending, but altogether I really enjoyed it.
June 16, 2023
AAAAAAAAAH
Review to come
Review to come
February 19, 2017
Bittersweet and lovely, and one that left me teary.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews