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A review by callum_mclaughlin
After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross
5.0
I'm really impressed with what Gillian Cross achieved in this book and I think it should be mandatory reading for all school kids. Cleverly flipping the refugee story that we see playing out in news reports all too often these days on its head, she poses the question: What if we were the ones who had to flee our home country?
It's all too easy to see real life refugees as 'other', and their lives as something so unlike our own that we could never fully sympathise with their plight, but by focussing on a British family coming from a culture and way of life just like our own, it becomes so much more relatable, helping young people feel more connected, empathetic and engaged the next time they see refugees on the news.
I think she pitched the level of the writing perfectly, taking on the best elements of both middle grade and YA-level reading whilst avoiding the tropes of both. It didn't shy away from the serious nature of the themes being explored and yet was made approachable for young readers without ever being condescending.
The plot always felt relatable to things that are really happening in other countries right now and yet plausible as something that could very well happen here one day. By being speculative rather than post-apocalyptic, and very realistic in the way in which the collapse of society came about (a huge economic crash was followed by mass food shortages, leading to raids, theft, rioting, etc. and a vilification of anyone deemed to be 'hoarding', thus leading to people being alienated from communities), it never felt overdone or melodramatic, but frighteningly realistic as people became more desperate to make ends meet.
It touches on many of the aspects of the refugee experience, including displacement, language barriers, borders being closed, families being separated and so on. I also really liked the subtle sub-plot throughout that explored the mistrust often felt on the sides of both the locals towards refugees and vice versa, with our protagonist reluctant at first to embrace anything French through fear of losing his English identity and thus admitting that he may never return home.
In terms of plot, I also really appreciated that there was a teenage male/female friendship at the core that remained entirely platonic throughout the whole thing, which was such a breath of fresh air. In fact, there wasn't an ounce of angst in sight.
The ending had enough hope to satisfy, but I liked that it remained somewhat open, reflecting the uncertain futures that lie ahead for so many real-life refugees.
In short, I think this is a wonderfully realised, timely and important read that I urge everyone to pick up.
It's all too easy to see real life refugees as 'other', and their lives as something so unlike our own that we could never fully sympathise with their plight, but by focussing on a British family coming from a culture and way of life just like our own, it becomes so much more relatable, helping young people feel more connected, empathetic and engaged the next time they see refugees on the news.
I think she pitched the level of the writing perfectly, taking on the best elements of both middle grade and YA-level reading whilst avoiding the tropes of both. It didn't shy away from the serious nature of the themes being explored and yet was made approachable for young readers without ever being condescending.
The plot always felt relatable to things that are really happening in other countries right now and yet plausible as something that could very well happen here one day. By being speculative rather than post-apocalyptic, and very realistic in the way in which the collapse of society came about (a huge economic crash was followed by mass food shortages, leading to raids, theft, rioting, etc. and a vilification of anyone deemed to be 'hoarding', thus leading to people being alienated from communities), it never felt overdone or melodramatic, but frighteningly realistic as people became more desperate to make ends meet.
It touches on many of the aspects of the refugee experience, including displacement, language barriers, borders being closed, families being separated and so on. I also really liked the subtle sub-plot throughout that explored the mistrust often felt on the sides of both the locals towards refugees and vice versa, with our protagonist reluctant at first to embrace anything French through fear of losing his English identity and thus admitting that he may never return home.
In terms of plot, I also really appreciated that there was a teenage male/female friendship at the core that remained entirely platonic throughout the whole thing, which was such a breath of fresh air. In fact, there wasn't an ounce of angst in sight.
The ending had enough hope to satisfy, but I liked that it remained somewhat open, reflecting the uncertain futures that lie ahead for so many real-life refugees.
In short, I think this is a wonderfully realised, timely and important read that I urge everyone to pick up.