he forgot to say goodbye

He Forgot to Say Goodbye by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Introduction

The book I have chosen is Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s book ”He Forgot To Say Goodbye”, which covers the story about the protagonists, Jake and Ramiro. I had never read Sáenz’s books before and when I picked this book, I had no clue what I was about to read except reading the summary on the back of the book. It became very clear that I could relate to Jake and Ramiros problems and how they are coping with it, due to the fact that I have also divorced parents. Sáenz’s abililty to write a sophisticated language and how brilliant he can make one relate to Jake and Ramiro, is something few other authors have the capability to do. Therefore, it is in my interest to ask the question how Sáenz uses the language in the book to describe the teenage life.

Thesis

How do Sáenz portrait the typical teenage life and acting in the book?

Background

In the book ”He Forgot To Say Goodbye” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, the reader gets the chance to know the two boys, Jake Upthegrove and Ramiro Lopez. Jake and Ramiro don’t appear have much in common. Ramiro, or Ram as he is called, lives in the Mexican-American suburbs. His life is surrounded by misery, due to his brother’s drug addiction and stealing. Jake, who is a rich white boy, has problems with his mother’s shallow and materalistic world. Still, they have one thing in common: they are lost boys who have never met their fathers. This fact has left them scarred and obsessed with the men who abandoned them. Eventually, their paths cross eachothers and later they find out the problem they share. The friendship between Jake and Ramiro develops into something that was bigger and their problems and the difference between them, which would also beco...

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...lt that being abandoned was the worst thing possible. With the help of their friends and each other, they learn that life goes on. It's not always easy to keep on living, but they understand they must, to keep their family and friends intact.

This book was amazing. It discussed one of the most common problem or disadvantage faced in the present. Each characters is real. They represent those in the world that learn an essential human attritube and have the power to overcome any tough moment in life. We expect the characters to rise above expectations and no one should be disappointed in the end. A real coming-of-age story in which both protagonists learn the value of life.

"We were going to sadder. That was true. But were going to live. And that mattered." (303)-Ramiro Lopez

Introduction

Thesis

Background

Analysis

Discussion (Optional)

Conclusion

List of sources