Shamrock Shamrock A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name "shamrock" comes from Irish , which is the diminutive of the Irish word for plant () and means simply "little plant" or "young plant". "Shamrock" usually refers to either the species (lesser clover, Irish: ) or (white clover, Irish: ). However, other three-leaved plants—such as , , and —are sometimes called shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medicinal properties and was a popular motif
What Happened to Goodbye community is a not-so-subtle metaphor for Mclean building an emotional community for herself", Dessen emphasizes friendship throughout the novel by "having the characters reach out to one another to forge genuine relationships". "What Happened to Goodbye" has mostly received positive reviews. Critics have praised Dessen's way of making her characters realistic. Critic Melissa DeMoux said that each character really "resonates with the reader". Dessen's books are aimed toward teens because she focuses on the "exploration of a teen's life". The Horn Book Magazine said that Dessen "creates a comfortable space for young adults struggling with identity, relationships, and all that