About This Book
In 'Say Good-Bye,' Zoe is deeply moved by her friend Jane's therapy dog, Yum-Yum, who brings joy to children in a cancer ward. Inspired, Zoe begins to consider training her own puppy, Sneakers, for similar work. However, the story takes a poignant turn when Yum-Yum becomes very ill, forcing Zoe to grapple with the fragility of life, the pain of potential loss, and the profound impact animals have on our emotional well-being. This middle-grade novel gently explores themes of empathy, resilience, and the difficult emotions surrounding illness and grief, making it suitable for readers aged 8-12. It offers a sensitive look at how children process challenging situations and find ways to help others, even amidst their own worries.
Seeing Jane's dog, Yum-Yum, help cheer up children in a cancer ward makes Zoe think about having her puppy, Sneakers, trained to do therapy, too, especially when Yum-Yum becomes very ill.
illness
Character Death
sad_scenes
Discussion Prompts
1
How does Yum-Yum help the children in the cancer ward? What qualities make a good therapy animal?
2
How does Zoe feel when Yum-Yum gets sick? How do you think she handles those feelings?
3
What does this book teach us about empathy and kindness, both towards animals and people?
4
If you had a pet, would you want to train it to help others? What kind of help would it provide?
5
The title is 'Say Good-Bye.' What do you think that means in the context of the story? How do we cope with saying good-bye to someone or something we love?
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