After by Amy Efaw - Review

After
by Amy Efaw
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: August 11, 2009
ISBN: 9780670011834
350 Pages (Hardcover)
Young Adult Fiction


Summary (from the publisher):

An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there’s only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible— she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon’s unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.


Quotes:

Then she sees the pictures.

A sharp pain slams into her chest, seizes her breath.

One of the couch - the blood-soaked cushions, the crumpled blanket. And another of the bathroom - the blood smeared across the linoleum, a pile of soiled towels in the corner. And still another - a torn open trash bag, revealing the garbage contained within.

Page 86


Devon's head drops. She wraps her arms around herself tighter, trying to control her shaking. Her breaths come rapid and ragged. " I didn't know any of that, Dom. I swear. I didn't know I was pregnant."

Dom throws her hands up. "When Devon?" When didn't you know you were pregnant? During the appointment? Because -"

"Ever!"

Page 155


My Opinion:

This book had been on my shelf for a few weeks when I realized that I only had three days left to read it before I had to return it to the library. I flipped through the book to see if anything caught my eye, and was struck by the quote on page 155 (see above). My interest was piqued, and I promised myself I would set aside a few hours that night to read at least part of the book and see if I liked it enough to continue.

I needn't have worried about finishing it in time to return it to the library. From the very first chapter I was caught up in Devon's story, and I didn't put the book down until I finished it in the wee hours of the morning (2 a.m.).

After is one of the few books that I have read that is written in the present tense in such a way that it conveys a sense of immediacy - like I was with Devon through all of her troubles. The last book I read that did this successfully was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Normally I wouldn't read this type of story - I find that anything that has to do with children being mistreated is too emotionally intense for me. After, however, is not focused on the baby that was discarded, but instead follows Devon through her initial experiences in the juvenile prison system and the courts. While I think that the author probably only touched the surface of what life is like for young adults in the justice system, she did adequately convey Devon's emotional turmoil.

I like that the focus of the book is on the teenage mother's experience after having tried to rid herself of her baby. I think that most people are so focused on the welfare of the baby in these stories (justifiably so, of course), and that the fate of the mom gets ignored, or remains unknown to the public because of laws about revealing the identity of minors. It was interesting to think about what a postpartum teen would be going through physically and emotionally as she is processed through the justice system. Can you imagine being a postpartum teen, dealing with soreness from labor, milk-engorged breasts, and hormone changes, all while adjusting to life in a detention center? Or what about the guilt over what you had done, and the loss of your child? Or the accusing stares of those around you?

After doesn't justify Devon's actions. There are times in Devon's story where it's hard to tell if she's in denial or if she truly didn't know what was going on. Regardless, the reader knows that she is guilty of dumping her baby in the garbage. Even if she was extremely upset or confused, her actions are never defended.

Although the writing is simplistic at times (nothing too poetic, flowery or overly detailed), it didn't really bother me because the intensity of Devon's emotions and experiences more than make up for it. I thought that the author did a great job of showing how a normal, good kid could end up in such a horrific situation.

Rating: 5/5


Author Information:

To learn about Amy Efaw and her writing please visit her website.