Afterwards

by Claire Hennessy

How does a 14-year old cope when the going gets too tough for her Mum and she leaves? Who will be there for Claudia if her Dad isn’t? Or her brother and sister? Or her friends? Find out what happens ... afterwards ... in this sharply observed and confidently assured new novel from Claire Hennessy.

Genres: Young Adult, Irish Literature

188 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2005

About the author

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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chennessybooks
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Website: http://www.clairehennessy.com/

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Writer, reader, reviewer, creative writing facilitator, editor.

Reviews

[Sheri Fresonke Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA story is told in first person, as a stream of thoughts about her day at school. I don't usually read YA so I thought I'd try it when I saw it on a bookstore table in Dublin. I thought it seemed real world although perhaps somewhat over the top, but the main conflict is slowly reached and deals with an important subject, how do families work together. The narrator seems like any girl, but is very likeable when she finally gets around to saying what she thinks.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

God I loved this book! Claudia is a great character and the story is by turns hilarious, touching and fury-inducing - Claudia is fourteen going on fifteen, and arrives home from school one day to find a note from her mother announcing 'I just can't do this any more. I'm sorry.' Her mum has moved out to stay with her sister and her dad brushes it off as her mum being 'a bit funny...it's her age' - but as the burden of cooking and cleaning increasingly falls on Claudia, she starts to rethink all of the things she's taken for granted about her family and everyones' role within it.

The book absolutely nails the tone of being young and questioning and constantly worrying. It recalled with painful clearness certain diary entries of mine as a teen; very serious and concerned about issues and so, so earnest...