Why No Goodbye?

by Pamela L. Laskin

What happens to a Rohingya boy left behind? A mother escapes Myanmar - with three of her four children. On the cusp of adolescence, the young boy left to fend for himself is filled with rage. He does not know how to read, so why does his mother bother smuggling in these letters? Jubair begins to express this anger in his own letters, as he develops a level of literacy, eventually becoming a reader and writer. Written in letters, "Why No Goodbye?" explores loss, grief, and transcendence.

Genres: Ebooks

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Bethanie Corona · Rating 1 out of 5]

You cannot write a book in first person verse about a Brown refugee, if you are 1. not a Brown refugee or 2. do not come from a family of surviving refugees of color. To fantasize about the point of view of a refugee child of color… is not just cultural appropriation! It is racist! Cultural appropriation stems from racism, and whether the proceeds for this book were donated to the family who was researched for this book or not does not justify the act. The fact that this book is still used in this author’s/professor’s curriculum shows their lack of cultural awareness and understanding of what systemic racism truly is.

[spookwrite · Rating 1 out of 5]

tw: sexual assault, violence

When writing books about another culture, it's imperative to think about the ramifications your book has on the people you're representing. Though it is a crucial international topic, I bet the average westerner couldn't expound on the persecution Rohingya Muslims face daily in Myanmar.

However, branding this as a novel about a Rohingya Muslim boy in Myanmar is misleading. The protagonist faces barely any conflict due to his Muslim identity. He does not witness any instances of mistreatment. Vague descriptions of gunshots are present. He is left behind as his family leaves him to seek better opportunities. The tangled mess of plot holes and inaccuracies makes me feel this novel was not researched properly.

The weird, out-of-place descriptions add to this feeling. "The sounds of tamarind." Tamarind what? Fruit? Seed pods? Trees? What do you mean by tamarind? That's the equivalent to saying "the sound of lemon." It's not a thing.

The content of this story is painful to dissect. We see this novel tackle issues of child marriage and sexual assault. It falls on broken stereotypes of consent. After promising to respect consent, we see our protagonist sexually assault a girl. She runs away. He seeks out to find her, she immediately goes back to him. There are no consequences for his actions. With her return, the physical relationship escalates. It made me feel horrified and repulsed. Were we supposed to be glad she came back? I wish she got away.

I was left confused, disheartened, yet unfortunately, not surprised. I don't want to dissuade people from writing another culture. I believe that cultivating diverse thought processes is beneficial for everyone. The point still stands: Neglectful research and damaging stereotypes are hurtful to your audience.

I used to feel a lot of anger at books that frame cultures in false, questionable narratives. But truthfully, I'm exhausted.

[Ana-Luisa Anaya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story that is not the author's to tell. Not only is she a white woman writing about a Rohingya refugee, but the main character of the book is essentially a budding rapist. The girl in the story is written as though she's a wild animal meant to be tamed and controlled by the main character, who straight up sexually assaults her. He faces no ramifications for what he's done, other than to say how sorry he is, and the girl-- who's been assaulted in the past-- is written to just forgive and forget, at the mercy of the main character's character development. It's an extraordinary example of how a white woman can once again take over and distort a woman of color's story.

[Sukhmani's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and easy read! It’s about a young 13 year old Rohingya boy who’s mother left him. His mother left her son with relatives, while taking her two other sons and daughters. They communicate through letters. While the young boy first resents and yearns for his mother, he learns of what it means to read, write, and to become a young man. Beautiful read!

[Danyelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

NO: the protagonist's anger at women is understandable but doesn't justify his behavior with Zahura, particularly after she explains her rape. Then she forgives him and falls in love with him? It's a no from me, problematic views on women and not enough description of the conflict in Myanmar and the plot of the Rohingya to make up for it.

[Kinish · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a simple yet touching and powerful read.

[Caroline Bock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written verse novel --written as a series of letters -- about a young boy from Myanmar separated from his family -- an award-winning young adult novel, well deserved award!!

[Bek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, beautiful, and eye opening.

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok novel in verse. One day when a young man, abandoned by his mother, learns to read, he will understand why she left him. Quick read.