Before I Let Go

English Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire	Dutch Voor Ik Je Loslaat Publisher: HarperCollins Holland Translator: Ineke van Bronswijk	German Nur in der Dunkelheit leuchten die Sterne Publisher: Fischer FJB Translator: Mo Zuber	Polish Zanim odejdę Publisher: Butterfly Translator: Wojtek Cajgner
Audio – Recorded Books

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At its core, Nijkamp’s novel is a harsh rebuke of an all-too-common, troubling trope in many YA novels: fetishizing deeply creative, suicidal teens as “too bright to live.” With exceptional handling of everything from mental illness to guilt and a riveting, magic realist narrative, this well wrought, haunting novel will stick with readers long after the final page.
– Booklist, starred review

This intense focus on Corey’s thoughts and feelings lets readers immerse themselves in her pain and her drive for answers; Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends) has an uncommon talent for drawing readers deep into the psyches of her characters.
– Publishers Weekly

Told in a variety of formats including narrative chapters, letters, phone calls, and play scripts, Before I Let Go tells the story of grief, anger, heartbreak, and regret. (…) The short chapters and suspenseful tone model some aspects of Nijkamp’s bestseller This is Where It Ends, while Before I Let Go tells a fresh story that strays from traditional, sometimes predictable, YA plotlines.
– VOYA

This sophomore novel from Nijkamp will haunt readers. The Alaskan weather mimics the frostiness from the residents beautifully. (…) Nijkamp writes about the highs and lows of the mental illness and how even the best-intentioned people can do harm. The cruelty of the town’s people will stay with readers long after they close the book. The honest reflection of mental illness, suicide, friendship, and being an outsider provides ample topics for book discussion.
– School Library Journal

The story has enough suspense to keep readers guessing and wanting to know the outcome for both Corey and Kyra. Give to readers who enjoy realistic fiction, tragedies, mystery, or suspense. Highly Recommended
– School Library Connection

The claustrophobic, dark setting–along with disembodied voices, cultish townspeople and whispers of the supernatural–gives Before I Let Go a foreboding and intensely creepy feel. Short chapters and temporal switches hurtle this subtly terrifying mystery along, leaving readers as disturbed and desperate for answers as the frightened protagonist.
– Shelf Awareness

Compulsive readability… Intriguingly spooky
– Kirkus

With a chilling air of suspense and a dash of supernatural all wrapped up in the dreary and bitter cold of an Alaskan setting, this offers an emotional and twisted mystery. Nijkamp plays with time and format as she beautifully weaves narrative, letters, diary entries and phone calls into a single account. This title is great for readers with a taste for atmospheric mystery and who can appreciate the harrowing chill of an Alaskan winter.
– Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Hand this to readers who like spooky-feeling stories that will leave them rather enraged at the gross injustice of a life lost.
– Teen Library Toolbox

Chilling in all senses.
– My Weekly

[A] fantastic middle finger at the idea of using others’ disability as your inspiration.
– BN Teen

A story of loss, acceptance, and the plight of the outsider that will draw you in.
– SciFi Bulletin

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☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a New York Times Bestseller.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Publishers Lunch Buzz Book (Fall/Winter 2017 edition).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Publishers Lunch January 2018 Buzz Book.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a 2019 Rainbow Book List pick.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Writer’s Digest’s Most Anticipated Book of 2018.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Seventeen‘s Best YA of 2018.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a BookRiot’s Best YA of 2018.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a BookBub Best YA of 2018.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a BookBub Biggest Teen Book of 2018.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Teen Choice Award nominee.

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Catholic Board of Education Summer Reading Pick (2018).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Booksplosion Book of the Month (January 2018).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a MackinVIA Great Realistic Fiction pick (January 2018).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a Barnes and Noble Most Anticipated YA (January 2018).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is an Epic Reads Most Anticipated YA (January 2018).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is an ABC10 10 Books To Read (2020).

☙ BEFORE I LET GO is a part of the CBC Spring 2021 Showcase (Disability Awareness)

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If you want to discuss Before I Let Go with your class, teen group, or book club, a discussion guide is available.

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– Suicidal ideation and (possible) suicide
– Confinement
– Abandonment and abuse
– Grief
– Fire
– Violence

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