Scan barcode
sallenreads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
AFTERMATH was a moving middle grade book about a 12-year-old girl, Lucy, who's at a new school after her younger brother dies of a heart defect -- except everyone else in her grade is processing their own grief and trauma from surviving a school shooting four years prior. This book tackles some heavy subjects, but it does so with an unmistakable middle grade voice that manages to balance out some scary things with humor and friendship; what results is that the book trusts its readers to be able to consider the subjects at hand, while keeping the sense of hope that's so common in middle grade books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Child death, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Terminal illness
nerdysread's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Holly fuck. Sorry but…. Okay. First of all, thank you Net Galley for the audio arc of the book. I, for once, have read the summary. But I was like “cone on it’s a middle grade book. It won’t be that hard”. Ah. Joke’s on me. This book made me cry in the street and it was hard not crying in the bus. It’s an emotional m, hard and powerful book. And yet it’s hopeful. It talks about grief, family and friendship. It also talks about mental health and the fact that nobody should be ashamed of going to therapy.
Anyway, started august with this book and honestly o don’t know if I’ll like any book more this month.
Anyway, started august with this book and honestly o don’t know if I’ll like any book more this month.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mass/school shootings, and Grief
gem114's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Aftermath is a great middle grades novel by Emily Barth Isler. The story follows 7th grade Lucy in her transition to a new school. Her family moved to start over after her younger brother's death from a heart condition. Lucy is no stranger to grief, and neither are any of her classmates at her new school. Four years ago, there was a tragic school shooting at the school that killed 27 people, including students and staff. Lucy struggles with balancing her own grief while learning about her classmates' traumas.
I don't read that many middle grade novels, and I was surprised at how openly Aftermath confronted such serious topics. Still, everything was definitely handled in an age-appropriate manner. I even think this could be a great book for adults to read with the middle schoolers in their lives to open up lines of communication since that is a conflict in the story with Lucy and her parents.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lerner Audiobooks for the ARC!
I don't read that many middle grade novels, and I was surprised at how openly Aftermath confronted such serious topics. Still, everything was definitely handled in an age-appropriate manner. I even think this could be a great book for adults to read with the middle schoolers in their lives to open up lines of communication since that is a conflict in the story with Lucy and her parents.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lerner Audiobooks for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Mass/school shootings
anneadeline's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
AfterMath was a quick read that covered some difficult topics without ever feeling sad or depressing. Lucy has moved with her parents to a new town after the death of her little brother. She starts at a school with the class of students who were the victims of a school shooting. The book does a fantastic job of showing how everyone deals with grief differently. Besides Lucy's thoughts, we get snapshots of how her parents, classmates, and teachers are all trying to move on from tragedy. Throughout the book, Lucy thinks about situations in mathematical ways and each chapter starts with a math problem. Together, these provide provide a level of symbolism that is a powerful addition to the plot.
This is also a story of friendship. Lucy struggles with losing touch with her friend from back home and the difficult task of making new friends in a middle school where all the students have been bonded by tragedy.
Though listed as Middle Grade, the topics of this book may be difficult for some readers. Despite the tough topics, I believe that this book would be great for anyone to read: middle schoolers, teachers, and families.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Child death, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, and Grief
catandherbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Child death and Grief
emileereadsbooks's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you Netgalley and Lerner Books for the gifted book!
Whew! What a ride. This book will have you giggling at some funny math jokes and then crying as you sit in the grief of all the characters. Lucy's brother Theo recently died from a congenital heart condition and her parents have moved her to a town that is still recovering from a school shooting 4 years prior. Lucy's new bedroom belonged to a girl killed in the shooting and every member of her class has a story to tell her about their experience on that dreadful day. How does Lucy even start to fit in? How can she move on when she is harboring her own secret grief? This story explores grief, the awkwardness of middle school, and finding your voice in such a gentle and caring way. I was a little wary going in how these big topics of grief would be handled, but I thought it was so well done.
Whew! What a ride. This book will have you giggling at some funny math jokes and then crying as you sit in the grief of all the characters. Lucy's brother Theo recently died from a congenital heart condition and her parents have moved her to a town that is still recovering from a school shooting 4 years prior. Lucy's new bedroom belonged to a girl killed in the shooting and every member of her class has a story to tell her about their experience on that dreadful day. How does Lucy even start to fit in? How can she move on when she is harboring her own secret grief? This story explores grief, the awkwardness of middle school, and finding your voice in such a gentle and caring way. I was a little wary going in how these big topics of grief would be handled, but I thought it was so well done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Bullying
kta's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I love the play on words of the title and the overall cleverness of the writing. It also captured a variety of grief journeys interwoven with normal issues a middle schooler faces at home and at school. The audiobook version was well done and engaging.
I love the play on words of the title and the overall cleverness of the writing. It also captured a variety of grief journeys interwoven with normal issues a middle schooler faces at home and at school. The audiobook version was well done and engaging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Grief
More...