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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
Lacey’s father is killed in an auto accident, leaving her mother and two brothers obviously consumed by grief. Lacey, although she blames herself for the accident, is fine … or so she keeps telling everyone. She is doing well in school, has taken up the household tasks her mother cannot seem to accomplish, and is watching out for her younger brother Tanner, who has virtually withdrawn from life. The kids at school have mostly stopped giving her pitying looks, and even though she’d like for things to return to “before” she recognizes that she must deal with “after.” One thing that helps is a club she starts for other classmates who have lost a parent – a place where they can feel “normal” and know that expressions of “I know how you feel” are genuine and not just a rote response. And the attentions of a new boy in school, handsome and popular, definitely help.
This is a good YA novel that deals with some very real issues. Lacey, her brothers and mother each deal with their grief in different ways – ignoring it, keeping busy with work or school, withdrawing from friends and family, turning to alcohol. Those around them are sometimes puzzled by the reactions to their offers of help and support. Harmel shows how the loss of a parent affects not only the surviving family members, but also those around them – colleagues, teachers, friends, and neighbors. What does a friend do in this kind of situation? Do you reminisce with Lacey about her Dad? Do you pretend everything is fine? Do you avoid mentioning your own family? Do you try to have fun like a “normal” teen? Do you stick by your friend or find new friends who don’t shut you out?
This is a sensitively written story of one family’s journey back to “normal” after suffering a devastating loss. The characters are fully realized, and the situations believable. Definitely recommended for teen readers.
Lacey’s father is killed in an auto accident, leaving her mother and two brothers obviously consumed by grief. Lacey, although she blames herself for the accident, is fine … or so she keeps telling everyone. She is doing well in school, has taken up the household tasks her mother cannot seem to accomplish, and is watching out for her younger brother Tanner, who has virtually withdrawn from life. The kids at school have mostly stopped giving her pitying looks, and even though she’d like for things to return to “before” she recognizes that she must deal with “after.” One thing that helps is a club she starts for other classmates who have lost a parent – a place where they can feel “normal” and know that expressions of “I know how you feel” are genuine and not just a rote response. And the attentions of a new boy in school, handsome and popular, definitely help.
This is a good YA novel that deals with some very real issues. Lacey, her brothers and mother each deal with their grief in different ways – ignoring it, keeping busy with work or school, withdrawing from friends and family, turning to alcohol. Those around them are sometimes puzzled by the reactions to their offers of help and support. Harmel shows how the loss of a parent affects not only the surviving family members, but also those around them – colleagues, teachers, friends, and neighbors. What does a friend do in this kind of situation? Do you reminisce with Lacey about her Dad? Do you pretend everything is fine? Do you avoid mentioning your own family? Do you try to have fun like a “normal” teen? Do you stick by your friend or find new friends who don’t shut you out?
This is a sensitively written story of one family’s journey back to “normal” after suffering a devastating loss. The characters are fully realized, and the situations believable. Definitely recommended for teen readers.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
AFTER is a gentle and sweet read about death and love. The book doesn’t cover any new ground, but it makes for a quick, pleasant read.
The characters’ dilemmas regarding, grief, friendship, family, and love are realistically complex. Grief affects people differently, and in AFTER we get to see many different facets of it: Lacey’s younger brother’s silent withdrawal, her older brother diving into a relationship that she can’t understand, her mother flinging herself into work and neglecting the rest of the family. The different situations, breakdowns, and verbal showdowns that Kristin Harmel portrays in this story are rendered accurately and sensitively.
However, many of the characters’ interactions with one another still felt rather forced to me. While I appreciated and could even understand Lacey’s uncertain feelings toward Sam, it is not well explained why Sam had such a persistent interest in her. And, unfortunately, there really was nothing new in this book: there are already a number of YA books on grief out there.
AFTER is a quick but ultimately forgettable read that may perhaps best be enjoyed by readers who either understand what Lacey is going through or are looking for an easy and quick read.
The characters’ dilemmas regarding, grief, friendship, family, and love are realistically complex. Grief affects people differently, and in AFTER we get to see many different facets of it: Lacey’s younger brother’s silent withdrawal, her older brother diving into a relationship that she can’t understand, her mother flinging herself into work and neglecting the rest of the family. The different situations, breakdowns, and verbal showdowns that Kristin Harmel portrays in this story are rendered accurately and sensitively.
However, many of the characters’ interactions with one another still felt rather forced to me. While I appreciated and could even understand Lacey’s uncertain feelings toward Sam, it is not well explained why Sam had such a persistent interest in her. And, unfortunately, there really was nothing new in this book: there are already a number of YA books on grief out there.
AFTER is a quick but ultimately forgettable read that may perhaps best be enjoyed by readers who either understand what Lacey is going through or are looking for an easy and quick read.
jacquelinec's review against another edition
2.0
While some parts smacked of "after school special" and there was a marked lack of subtlety, I can't deny that I shed a few tears. What can I say? I'm a sucker when it comes to grief stories.
booksherlocked's review against another edition
2.0
Good but the teen angst was kinda unbearable sometimes.
syflthfia's review against another edition
3.0
You can either get upset about the past, or just plan on doing things differently in the future.
hezann73's review against another edition
3.0
I should not have read this right after "Life of Glass" because it's essentially the same story. I actually got the characters confused a couple of times. Not bad, but isn't going to stick in my mind.
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