Goodbye Days

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Pre-Reading “Icebreaker”

In Goodbye Days, Carver Briggs and his friends are all students at the Nashville Arts Academy, and each has a unique creative skill—Carver is a writer, Blake does comedy (YouTube sketches), Mars is an artist (graphic novels), and Eli is a musician (guitar). Each of the deceased boys leaves behind artistic creations. Do you think it’s possible for a person to “live on” through their art? How can an art object reflect a person’s unique spirit? Do you have a creative pursuit you practice (or would like to learn)?

Teaching Suggestion: Use this prompt to give students some insights into the “art” each boy creates. Blake’s fart videos on YouTube are his “art,” for example. Although we will never meet Blake’s character in the book, this fact tells us a lot about him—he’s a humorous jokester and prankster. You can also use this question to introduce a broader discussion of what constitutes “art.” Are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) art? Is graffiti like Banksy’s art? Is a YouTube prank video art? Or is it only art if it’s hanging on the wall of the Louvre in Paris, like the Mona Lisa?

Personal Response Prompt

In Goodbye Days, a number of persons of color (POC) experience “Casual Racism,” a subtle form of racism that might go unnoticed. For example, Carver thinks it’s funny that Jesmyn, a Filipina woman, says her favorite breakfast is biscuits and gravy, grits, and ham. She calls him out: “Because I’m of Asian descent and therefore it’s funny that I enjoy Southern food? I’m from Jackson, Tennessee, dude. Racist” (Chapter 14). Have you experienced or witnessed instances of casual racism? How did you feel? Did you react?

Teaching Suggestion: Casual racism and racism at large, including microaggressions, can be a difficult topic for students. When discussing the book’s thematic treatment of The Prevalence of Casual Racism, you may want to alert the guidance counselor that you plan to discuss this issue. These tips can help you set up a safe space for discussion. The Center for Racial Justice has additional resources that can help.

Post-Reading Analysis

One “lesson” Carver learns in Goodbye Days is that being more transparent and open with family—particularly parents—can be beneficial. Many teens aren’t very close with their parents and are more emotionally open with their friends. This becomes clear as Carver must often share essential facts about his deceased friends with their family members (such as telling Nana Betsy that Blake was gay). Why do you think Judge Edwards suggests Carver have his own “goodbye day” with his parents? What’s the value of this activity? Do you wish you could be more open with your own parents? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: Discuss the value of Carver’s individual family members, such as Georgia connecting him with a therapist and his parents paying for his lawyer. How does his family’s support translate emotionally, beyond these practical actions? In your discussion, make a connection to the novel’s theme of The Importance of Family.