A review by anneadeline
AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Grief, and Mass/school shootings

The book takes place in a school about 4 years after the characters have gone through a school shooting. There are some mentions to specific events of the shooting. The main character's younger brother has died before the book started.