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yapha's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Everything about this book is just so, so sad. If you have students looking for sad books, try this one.
Lucy and her parents moved to a new town after the death of her younger congenital heart defect. The town they moved to had a school shooting a few years back, and many of the third graders at the time were killed or injured. They are all in middle school now, and this is the class that Lucy joins. She is the first new student in their grade since the shooting. Lucy, her parents, and her classmates are all processing their grief in many different ways, some of which work better than others. A very powerful book. Recommended for grades 5 & up.
Lucy and her parents moved to a new town after the death of her younger congenital heart defect. The town they moved to had a school shooting a few years back, and many of the third graders at the time were killed or injured. They are all in middle school now, and this is the class that Lucy joins. She is the first new student in their grade since the shooting. Lucy, her parents, and her classmates are all processing their grief in many different ways, some of which work better than others. A very powerful book. Recommended for grades 5 & up.
mrsdaliborreads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
notinjersey's review against another edition
5.0
In After/Math, Lucy’s family moves after her brother dies from a congenital heart defect. But at her new school she finds that she has joined a class full of survivors of a school shooting, where her grief over the loss of her brother seems different and separate from the shared trauma her classmates suffered. This was a touching book that addressed the aftermath of a school shooting as a community mourned as well as the aftermath of personal losses for families. I enjoyed the math jokes and puzzles included and the Jewish representation. I also loved Mr Jackson, who was a wonderful teacher. As it is about a difficult topic, I would recommend it for the older middle grade reader and their trusted adults. The author narrates the audio book herself and did a great job!
cjmedinger's review
5.0
A really sweet middle grade story that absolutely wrecked me emotionally. There is a seen with a fire alarm and the writing of it is so beautifully done. Eff america and it's affair with guns. We are a seriously messed up culture
kenna92005's review
5.0
AfterMath is the first juvenile fiction book I've read in a long while. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
Lucy's voice is so poignant and raw. It gripped me from the very beginning. My emotions jumped along with hers as the story progressed. I never knew what was coming next.
AfterMath is unique in that I don't think there are many books that tell an outsider's point of view coming into the middle of people recovering from something so tragic and life altering. The premise is, Lucy's younger brother died from a heart condition and her family wanted a new start to try and help their grieving. So they move to Queensland where all of Lucy's schoolmates are survivors of a school shooting that occurred four years ago.
There was so much loss and grief in this book, but it didn't feel overwhelming. The author wrote about the grieving process and healing through tragedy in way that was uplifting and encouraging. I think the author handled this situation respectively for all of the victims of loss. I also enjoyed all of the math anecdotes.
This book is a fast read. The characters are very lovable and the storyline is gripping. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel connected to another who has experienced some loss.
Lucy's voice is so poignant and raw. It gripped me from the very beginning. My emotions jumped along with hers as the story progressed. I never knew what was coming next.
AfterMath is unique in that I don't think there are many books that tell an outsider's point of view coming into the middle of people recovering from something so tragic and life altering. The premise is, Lucy's younger brother died from a heart condition and her family wanted a new start to try and help their grieving. So they move to Queensland where all of Lucy's schoolmates are survivors of a school shooting that occurred four years ago.
There was so much loss and grief in this book, but it didn't feel overwhelming. The author wrote about the grieving process and healing through tragedy in way that was uplifting and encouraging. I think the author handled this situation respectively for all of the victims of loss. I also enjoyed all of the math anecdotes.
This book is a fast read. The characters are very lovable and the storyline is gripping. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel connected to another who has experienced some loss.
notinjersey's review
5.0
In After/Math, Lucy’s family moves after her brother dies from a congenital heart defect. But at her new school she finds that she has joined a class full of survivors of a school shooting, where her grief over the loss of her brother seems different and separate from the shared trauma her classmates suffered. This was a touching book that addressed the aftermath of a school shooting as a community mourned as well as the aftermath of personal losses for families. I enjoyed the math jokes and puzzles included and the Jewish representation. I also loved Mr Jackson, who was a wonderful teacher. As it is about a difficult topic, I would recommend it for the older middle grade reader and their trusted adults. The author narrates the audio book herself and did a great job!
cassiesbookshelves's review
5.0
This is one of the best middle grade books that I've read in a long time, but it hurts my heart that it needed to be written in the first place.
The book follows seventh grader Lucy, whose little brother just died from a congenital heart defect. Her parents, looking for a fresh start, move to a town devastated by a school shooting five years earlier. Lucy's new classmates are the survivors.
I've never read a middle grade book that dealt with grief and trauma so well. The characters all cope with their traumas in different ways, and it helps kids understand that everyone grieves differently. It also has a really poignant lesson about gun violence, and it breaks my heart that so many kids will be able to relate to the shooting survivors.
Overall, this was an amazing middle grade read. It does handle some very mature and emotional content, so be sure to discuss with young readers in advance and be careful recommending this book to those who aren't emotionally ready for it.
The book follows seventh grader Lucy, whose little brother just died from a congenital heart defect. Her parents, looking for a fresh start, move to a town devastated by a school shooting five years earlier. Lucy's new classmates are the survivors.
I've never read a middle grade book that dealt with grief and trauma so well. The characters all cope with their traumas in different ways, and it helps kids understand that everyone grieves differently. It also has a really poignant lesson about gun violence, and it breaks my heart that so many kids will be able to relate to the shooting survivors.
Overall, this was an amazing middle grade read. It does handle some very mature and emotional content, so be sure to discuss with young readers in advance and be careful recommending this book to those who aren't emotionally ready for it.
ashleyfuhr's review
5.0
I simply don't have the words for how brilliant this book is.
Lucy loses her brother to a congenital heart defect, and her parents are looking for a new start. What better place than a community that understands loss? Moving to a community that is familiar with death, her parents think the transition will make their loss feel easier, but Lucy finds it to be anything but. How does she fit in with everyone who experience a school shooting? How can she share her loss, when theirs seems so much greater? Will she every escape the shadow of the shooting or the shadow of losing her brother?
The tragedy of loss, the darkness of trauma, the breadth of one person's decisions, the fragility yet resiliency of children, the power of friendship - this book has it all. What a stunning read, with so many nuggets of brilliant writing, yet perfect for a middle grade audience. Emily Barth Isler did an outstanding job of tackling very difficult and delicate subjects with both truth and tact. I'd recommend it to any of my friend's children. The audiobook (read by the author) was also done very well.
I received an audio copy of this book via NetGalley. I read and reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Lucy loses her brother to a congenital heart defect, and her parents are looking for a new start. What better place than a community that understands loss? Moving to a community that is familiar with death, her parents think the transition will make their loss feel easier, but Lucy finds it to be anything but. How does she fit in with everyone who experience a school shooting? How can she share her loss, when theirs seems so much greater? Will she every escape the shadow of the shooting or the shadow of losing her brother?
The tragedy of loss, the darkness of trauma, the breadth of one person's decisions, the fragility yet resiliency of children, the power of friendship - this book has it all. What a stunning read, with so many nuggets of brilliant writing, yet perfect for a middle grade audience. Emily Barth Isler did an outstanding job of tackling very difficult and delicate subjects with both truth and tact. I'd recommend it to any of my friend's children. The audiobook (read by the author) was also done very well.
I received an audio copy of this book via NetGalley. I read and reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.