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Aftershock
TORMENT: EXTREME PAIN OR ANGUISH OF BODY OR MIND
Seventeen-year-old Adam is tormented. His parents have just been killed in a car crash in Idaho, and he has survived. In a speechless state of shock, Adam begins walking home, back to Rhode Island.
But he can't think in a straight line: The past and present blend and merge in his thoughts; the future's a blank; he's lost his voice and his money. Memories fling themselves at him like stones, some inflicting great pain. In Adam's harrowing journey he faces many challenges. He confronts situations that demand violence or compromise from him, forcing him to question what it means to be a man, even as he tries to find his voice in a world suddenly devoid of meaning.
This gripping and haunting novel is the story of one young man's struggle to survive -- literally -- on the road, and to propel himself emotionally from despair to hope and freedom.
Seventeen-year-old Adam is tormented. His parents have just been killed in a car crash in Idaho, and he has survived. In a speechless state of shock, Adam begins walking home, back to Rhode Island.
But he can't think in a straight line: The past and present blend and merge in his thoughts; the future's a blank; he's lost his voice and his money. Memories fling themselves at him like stones, some inflicting great pain. In Adam's harrowing journey he faces many challenges. He confronts situations that demand violence or compromise from him, forcing him to question what it means to be a man, even as he tries to find his voice in a world suddenly devoid of meaning.
This gripping and haunting novel is the story of one young man's struggle to survive -- literally -- on the road, and to propel himself emotionally from despair to hope and freedom.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2006
9 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
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May 20, 2019Personal Response:
I thought that this book was pretty good, and I liked how you never knew what was going to happen next. I also like how this book really portrays how it is to be homeless and how many difficult scenarios there are to get out of. I also really liked how the main character was eager and willing to do whatever it was to get himself back home.
Plot Summary:
The book Aftershock is about a 17-year old male, Adam, who is homeless and is fighting his way to make it back home to the rest of his family. Adam has to find his way to get back by standing on the side of the road waiting for kind people to offer him rides to help him get back to Rhode Island. Throughout his journey, with different people giving him rides or offering food he realizes how many people are so kind, and he also sees the true sides of so many other uncaring people. Adam had traveled all the way to Idaho with his parents, and they got into a car accident on their way home. Both of Adam’s parents did not survive and they died on the scene of the accident. Adam had a lot of shock after everything that had happened and he decided that he would be silent on his travels home and just try to make it back to Rhode Island. Most of the time that he spent thinking was about a girl that he really liked, although he did spend some of his time thinking about his parents.
Characterization:
Adam started out as a young boy who was happy to be on vacation with his parents. Adam was a very honest and talkative person until after the tragedy happened. Adam then became very quiet and shy and very reserved. Adam was totally the opposite of himself from the beginning of the book. Adam also never seemed to come back around to the person that he was before the accident.
Recommendations:
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a book that will keep you reading and interested in the characters next decision. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes more of an unpredictable book, with a different outcome than you would have imagined.
I thought that this book was pretty good, and I liked how you never knew what was going to happen next. I also like how this book really portrays how it is to be homeless and how many difficult scenarios there are to get out of. I also really liked how the main character was eager and willing to do whatever it was to get himself back home.
Plot Summary:
The book Aftershock is about a 17-year old male, Adam, who is homeless and is fighting his way to make it back home to the rest of his family. Adam has to find his way to get back by standing on the side of the road waiting for kind people to offer him rides to help him get back to Rhode Island. Throughout his journey, with different people giving him rides or offering food he realizes how many people are so kind, and he also sees the true sides of so many other uncaring people. Adam had traveled all the way to Idaho with his parents, and they got into a car accident on their way home. Both of Adam’s parents did not survive and they died on the scene of the accident. Adam had a lot of shock after everything that had happened and he decided that he would be silent on his travels home and just try to make it back to Rhode Island. Most of the time that he spent thinking was about a girl that he really liked, although he did spend some of his time thinking about his parents.
Characterization:
Adam started out as a young boy who was happy to be on vacation with his parents. Adam was a very honest and talkative person until after the tragedy happened. Adam then became very quiet and shy and very reserved. Adam was totally the opposite of himself from the beginning of the book. Adam also never seemed to come back around to the person that he was before the accident.
Recommendations:
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a book that will keep you reading and interested in the characters next decision. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes more of an unpredictable book, with a different outcome than you would have imagined.
March 5, 2015
Imagine desperately trying to get home without money, transportation, or a voice. That's exactly what it was like for 17 year old, Adam, after him and his parents were in a car accident that killed his parents instantly. Shortly after the crash Adam wandered off, adrenaline pumped and in no where near a healthy mental state. He found a group of "Angels" of whom one of them brought Adam to their apartment and fixed him up there for a while. With no voice, came no true help for Adam, though. After he over stayed his welcome there he hopped from ride to ride courtesy of hitch hiking. He eventually found himself trying to get home, but he only seemed to get farther away; Starving, thirsty, and exhausted he was beginning to lose all hope. Will Adam make it home before he dies of dehydration? Will he escape all odds make it back home in one piece? Sometimes in life you just have to keep pushing even when all you want to do is give up.
Although I can not relate to Adam in a literal sense, I can find some allusions that relate to my life right now. Adam is trying to make it home, tired, hungry, and ready to give up. I am trying to make it through this quarter of school, musical practice, and work; Thirsting for free time and sleep. There are moments when I feel like I can't do it anymore, like my 4.0 isn't all that important and I should just give up on it. But, Adam was so close to home when he was ready to give up. Just as I am so close to getting a 4.0 throughout my whole high school career. Adam and myself are more alike than I would have originally thought when learning the plot of this book.
Although it was a quick read, I didn't feel entertained. It felt like the same day over and over, hitch hiking, finding food, struggling with communication. It could be the lack of conversation that drowned this book from what it could have been, since all you could hear were Adam's thoughts and what people occasionally said to him. It wasn't a bad book, it wasn't a great book, just your run of the mill, mediocre book. It is intended for a young adult crowd. I wouldn't tell someone to not read this book, but I also wouldn't tell them to hurry and get their copy of Aftershock because they just haaaave to read it. So, maybe if you're super bored one day or just need another book for a GoodReads review, pick up a copy of Aftershock.
Although I can not relate to Adam in a literal sense, I can find some allusions that relate to my life right now. Adam is trying to make it home, tired, hungry, and ready to give up. I am trying to make it through this quarter of school, musical practice, and work; Thirsting for free time and sleep. There are moments when I feel like I can't do it anymore, like my 4.0 isn't all that important and I should just give up on it. But, Adam was so close to home when he was ready to give up. Just as I am so close to getting a 4.0 throughout my whole high school career. Adam and myself are more alike than I would have originally thought when learning the plot of this book.
Although it was a quick read, I didn't feel entertained. It felt like the same day over and over, hitch hiking, finding food, struggling with communication. It could be the lack of conversation that drowned this book from what it could have been, since all you could hear were Adam's thoughts and what people occasionally said to him. It wasn't a bad book, it wasn't a great book, just your run of the mill, mediocre book. It is intended for a young adult crowd. I wouldn't tell someone to not read this book, but I also wouldn't tell them to hurry and get their copy of Aftershock because they just haaaave to read it. So, maybe if you're super bored one day or just need another book for a GoodReads review, pick up a copy of Aftershock.
June 21, 2009
Adam’s parents are killed in a car crash while they are all driving home to Rhode Island and Adam is stranded. Stunned by his grief over the tragedy, Adam walks away from the accident and keeps walking until he collapses in the arms of a pretty young waitress who takes him home with her. Adam can’t tell her his story – he can’t tell anyone. He literally can’t speak, and he can’t make himself write. He has to rely on body language to make himself understood. Adam bounces from place to place, struggling to feed himself and to get back home to Rhode Island. Along the way he flashes back to what his life has been like with his family and his girlfriend, Mira. Home becomes the mantra that keeps him going – somehow, if he can just get there, everything will be all right.
As you’re reading about Adam’s journey home, you’re learning more about him from his thoughts, his reminisces. He’s a really decent guy and his parents were pretty wonderful. I was much more interested in the memories Adam’s brain churned up as he made his way home than I was in his actual journey, but I think that particular plot development was a compelling backdrop for his story. He’s obviously out of his mind with grief and can’t deal with his feelings/emotions, but he seems completely sane otherwise. He set this whole journey in motion, and he has the power to end it at any time, but it’s like that never occurs to him. He can’t bring himself to contact the authorities, he can’t remember phone numbers, he can’t make the necessary connections to reconnect himself with his past life. It takes him months to get back, and when he’s nearly there, he’s picked up by a trio of jerks who almost beat him to death. Adam winds up in a hospital (after crawling down the street and collapsing in front of his parents’ bookstore) where he’s finally able to recuperate after his ordeal. Powerful story, short read. I can't quite wrap my head around whatever compels Adam to wander away from the site of the accident in the first place, but suspend that particular disbelief, and there's a decent story.
As you’re reading about Adam’s journey home, you’re learning more about him from his thoughts, his reminisces. He’s a really decent guy and his parents were pretty wonderful. I was much more interested in the memories Adam’s brain churned up as he made his way home than I was in his actual journey, but I think that particular plot development was a compelling backdrop for his story. He’s obviously out of his mind with grief and can’t deal with his feelings/emotions, but he seems completely sane otherwise. He set this whole journey in motion, and he has the power to end it at any time, but it’s like that never occurs to him. He can’t bring himself to contact the authorities, he can’t remember phone numbers, he can’t make the necessary connections to reconnect himself with his past life. It takes him months to get back, and when he’s nearly there, he’s picked up by a trio of jerks who almost beat him to death. Adam winds up in a hospital (after crawling down the street and collapsing in front of his parents’ bookstore) where he’s finally able to recuperate after his ordeal. Powerful story, short read. I can't quite wrap my head around whatever compels Adam to wander away from the site of the accident in the first place, but suspend that particular disbelief, and there's a decent story.
September 28, 2014
The book Aftershock wasn’t the best book I’ve read, but it kept my interest. The main character, Adam, and his parents get in a car accident. After Adam walks away from the car. Instead of walking away from the car Adam should have stayed or found some help. Throughout the rest of the book Adam can’t talk due to shock.
Adam stays with Stacey, a Wiccan girl, he meets while walking in a forest. I think he should have asked questions on how to get back home instead of trusting Stacey right away. During the five weeks Adam just lies in bed and watches TV, when he should have been figuring out how to get back home. In one of the sections Adam steals a car in Twin Meadows. Perhaps Adam should have just asked someone to take him back to Rhode Island where his house is. While at a bar Adam bumps into a guy wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. Curly, the guy Adam bumped into and his friends take Adam to Portsmouth, a town next to Adam’s house. But since Adam bumped into Curly, Curly and his friends beat Adam up and leave him in a ditch. If I were Adam at this point I would feel like giving up. In the last section when Adam finally gets home he is reunited with his aunt, cousin, and girlfriend. Adam moves in with his aunt and cousin since his parents died. In the future I predict that Adam will recover from the accident, but will never forget the memories with his parents.
I would recommend this book to either girl or boy teenagers because it has a mature theme and some swearing throughout the book. Teenagers would enjoy this book because it keeps your interest and you can’t predict what will happen next.
Adam stays with Stacey, a Wiccan girl, he meets while walking in a forest. I think he should have asked questions on how to get back home instead of trusting Stacey right away. During the five weeks Adam just lies in bed and watches TV, when he should have been figuring out how to get back home. In one of the sections Adam steals a car in Twin Meadows. Perhaps Adam should have just asked someone to take him back to Rhode Island where his house is. While at a bar Adam bumps into a guy wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. Curly, the guy Adam bumped into and his friends take Adam to Portsmouth, a town next to Adam’s house. But since Adam bumped into Curly, Curly and his friends beat Adam up and leave him in a ditch. If I were Adam at this point I would feel like giving up. In the last section when Adam finally gets home he is reunited with his aunt, cousin, and girlfriend. Adam moves in with his aunt and cousin since his parents died. In the future I predict that Adam will recover from the accident, but will never forget the memories with his parents.
I would recommend this book to either girl or boy teenagers because it has a mature theme and some swearing throughout the book. Teenagers would enjoy this book because it keeps your interest and you can’t predict what will happen next.
October 30, 2015
Personal Response: I wasn’t too impressed with this book. It was very boring and slow moving to me. I didn’t think it had a good enough story line. I was also pretty annoyed the the main character, Adam, wouldn’t talk during the entire book. I understand that he just went through a traumatizing situation, but you would still think that he would at least talk. I thought that the first several pages were good, but it went all downhill from there.
Plot: This book is about a boy named Adam. He got into a car accident with his parents and was the only survivor. He was all the way across the country when the accident happened, so he had to travel all the way back his home. He spent the whole book hitchhiking and walking across the country. He stayed with people along the way, but he also stayed on the streets. After the accident he would not talk at all. He did not say a word throughout the whole book. At the end of the story, he finally made it back to his home, nearly half dead, where his aunt and girlfriend were waiting for him.
Characterization: Adam was the main character in this story. He was a pretty average teenage boy. He was smart, funny, and had a girlfriend. His character changed a lot throughout the story. He got stronger and stronger after the car accident. He also got a lot smarter about his actions and choices as the book went on.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to high school students. I would not recommend it to anybody younger than that because it has some inappropriate scenes. I think teens of any gender would enjoy this if they are looking for a quick, easy read.
Plot: This book is about a boy named Adam. He got into a car accident with his parents and was the only survivor. He was all the way across the country when the accident happened, so he had to travel all the way back his home. He spent the whole book hitchhiking and walking across the country. He stayed with people along the way, but he also stayed on the streets. After the accident he would not talk at all. He did not say a word throughout the whole book. At the end of the story, he finally made it back to his home, nearly half dead, where his aunt and girlfriend were waiting for him.
Characterization: Adam was the main character in this story. He was a pretty average teenage boy. He was smart, funny, and had a girlfriend. His character changed a lot throughout the story. He got stronger and stronger after the car accident. He also got a lot smarter about his actions and choices as the book went on.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to high school students. I would not recommend it to anybody younger than that because it has some inappropriate scenes. I think teens of any gender would enjoy this if they are looking for a quick, easy read.
December 11, 2015
Personal Response:
I really liked this book because you never know what was gonna happen next and was very exciting. The book started off exciting and never got boring. There was always something new going on. It was a little confusing at the beginning because it would randomly switch from topic to topic but them once you get a little farther in the book it was easy to know what was going on.
Summary:
The book started of as the family driving home from their vacation and in the car was the two parents and their son. They were driving and got in a car accident, the boy was the only one who lived. When he woke up he didn´t think his dad was dead, he just thought he was unconscious. Then he realized that he wasn´t breathing and he was actually died. He already knew his mom was dead by the way she was laying on the ground because she had been r out of the car when they crashed. So he started wondering into the woods and came to another road, he started his journey home. His plan was to hitchhike all the way home because he had no money, no phone, and couldn´t really remember anything or anyone number. He was surprised at how many people would actually pick him up and give him rides to where they were going. It he about a week and a half to get home by hitchhiking and walking.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to both boys and girls. It would a be a good book for boys and girls that like fun and adventures books. It wouldn´t be good for little kids to read.
I really liked this book because you never know what was gonna happen next and was very exciting. The book started off exciting and never got boring. There was always something new going on. It was a little confusing at the beginning because it would randomly switch from topic to topic but them once you get a little farther in the book it was easy to know what was going on.
Summary:
The book started of as the family driving home from their vacation and in the car was the two parents and their son. They were driving and got in a car accident, the boy was the only one who lived. When he woke up he didn´t think his dad was dead, he just thought he was unconscious. Then he realized that he wasn´t breathing and he was actually died. He already knew his mom was dead by the way she was laying on the ground because she had been r out of the car when they crashed. So he started wondering into the woods and came to another road, he started his journey home. His plan was to hitchhike all the way home because he had no money, no phone, and couldn´t really remember anything or anyone number. He was surprised at how many people would actually pick him up and give him rides to where they were going. It he about a week and a half to get home by hitchhiking and walking.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to both boys and girls. It would a be a good book for boys and girls that like fun and adventures books. It wouldn´t be good for little kids to read.
November 9, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Life can completely change in a moment. Seventeen-year-old Adam's life changes the moment his family's car hits a deer on a back road in Idaho. He and his bookstore-owning, pacifist parents have traveled from Rhode Island for a peace vigil, but only Adam will be heading home. His parents die instantly leaving Adam helpless on the side of the road.
In shock, Adam begins walking. His mind is spinning with past memories and present pain. His only constant, steady thought? To get home. This journey without any emotional and financial support would be challenging enough, but to complicate matters Adam finds he can't speak.
Adam's journey is filled with dangerous situations, a few truly kind and generous people, and others out to make his life miserable. Through his exhaustion and hunger he continues to focus on the life he had in Rhode Island. Dreams of the family's bookstore, his girlfriend Mira, and even his irritating Aunt Margarite and her son, Joey, keep Adam heading toward hope and home.
AFTERSHOCK is a tale of survival and the compelling human need to carry on even after heartbreaking tragedy. Adam's strength and courage will touch all who read his story.
Life can completely change in a moment. Seventeen-year-old Adam's life changes the moment his family's car hits a deer on a back road in Idaho. He and his bookstore-owning, pacifist parents have traveled from Rhode Island for a peace vigil, but only Adam will be heading home. His parents die instantly leaving Adam helpless on the side of the road.
In shock, Adam begins walking. His mind is spinning with past memories and present pain. His only constant, steady thought? To get home. This journey without any emotional and financial support would be challenging enough, but to complicate matters Adam finds he can't speak.
Adam's journey is filled with dangerous situations, a few truly kind and generous people, and others out to make his life miserable. Through his exhaustion and hunger he continues to focus on the life he had in Rhode Island. Dreams of the family's bookstore, his girlfriend Mira, and even his irritating Aunt Margarite and her son, Joey, keep Adam heading toward hope and home.
AFTERSHOCK is a tale of survival and the compelling human need to carry on even after heartbreaking tragedy. Adam's strength and courage will touch all who read his story.
October 13, 2009
Adam is suffering from severe shock after he and his parents are in a terrible car accident. His parents are killed, and Adam wanders from the site of the accident, his brain unable to process what has happened. Adam begins walking home, unable to think clearly or to speak. The book follows his journey, and is interspersed with anecdotes from Adam's former life as he is reminded of what happened. Through these stories, the reader becomes acquainted with Adam's parents, his aunt and cousin, and his girlfriend Mira. It's an emotionally difficult book at points, as Adam slowly starts to cope with his parents' death, but it is a quick read, and would be a good pick for relcutant male readers.
April 15, 2010
AWESOME fast and easy read. I finally found time to read Aftershock this afternoon since so many of the residents have been reading and loving it.
This would be a great book for class, there is some discussion of sex but nothing explicit and a few f bombs.
I would highly recommend it.
This would be a great book for class, there is some discussion of sex but nothing explicit and a few f bombs.
I would highly recommend it.
August 5, 2009
What an interesting story with a poetic, thought-provoking ending.
May 12, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book, but they are mainly negative. It starts off strong with a good rising action, but quickly plateaued. The characters are introduced pretty quickly and the conflict is made known. About 1/4 of the way into the book, the plot becomes dead. It becomes extremely boring and hard to finish reading. After a bunch of senseless events that don't play into the conflict, the reader is hit with an ending that was extremely predictable. Due to the entire book being boring, the ending provides no satisfaction at all. I would recommend this book if you absolutely do not want to enjoy reading.
September 6, 2022
Aftershock left me feeling blank. Though the book is centered around living after experiencing trauma, the book itself never really feels like it started or ended. It's more of a collaborative piling of past, present, and future featuring moments of time. There's no character development and any questions you have as the reader aren't answered. The story itself never goes anywhere.
I understand that Kelly Easton was focusing on portraying how aftershock can take hold, but I feel that this book should've been a beginning to a larger book. Even where she ends the book left me feeling like I should be beginning the next chapter to what comes next.
I understand that Kelly Easton was focusing on portraying how aftershock can take hold, but I feel that this book should've been a beginning to a larger book. Even where she ends the book left me feeling like I should be beginning the next chapter to what comes next.
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May 5, 2020After the accident, Adam is not sure if he’s dead.
After he finds that his mother is dead, he checks his father’s arm for a pulse.
After he finds that his father – also not wearing a seat belt – is dead, Adam speaks his last word.
After he realizes he’s completely alone, he starts walking.
In a speechless state of shock, Adam begins walking across the country, toward home. But he can’t think in a straight line: the past and present merge in his thoughts, and the future’s a blank.
Every journey begins with a single step.
After he finds that his mother is dead, he checks his father’s arm for a pulse.
After he finds that his father – also not wearing a seat belt – is dead, Adam speaks his last word.
After he realizes he’s completely alone, he starts walking.
In a speechless state of shock, Adam begins walking across the country, toward home. But he can’t think in a straight line: the past and present merge in his thoughts, and the future’s a blank.
Every journey begins with a single step.
November 6, 2017
After a horrible accident, were both of his parents died, a teenager boy try to find a way through his memories, to make his journey back home.
Although the book was confusing at first, I really liked it. The style of the author is really captivating. I would recommend this book to people who are learning English as a second language, just as I am, because it was clear and easy to read and understand.
Although the book was confusing at first, I really liked it. The style of the author is really captivating. I would recommend this book to people who are learning English as a second language, just as I am, because it was clear and easy to read and understand.
December 28, 2021
nothing particularly special. found myself quite frustrated with the main character and the fact that he wouldn't say anything to anyone. I get thats the whole plot of the book but it just made me more annoyed than anything because of that fact. the whole book was predicated 0n him not saying anything about his parents. which I couldn't exactly see happening in real life. was a short book though and I didn't have trouble getting through it. "every journey begins with a single step."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2017
A fascinating stream of consciousness, dual journey. After surviving the car crash that killed his parents, Adam must figure out how to go home, but his emotions are so strong and confused, he can't speak. Following him from Idaho across the south and eventually back to Rhode Island, makes for a an intriguing and emotional experience.
Want to read
April 28, 2022nobody:
chapter 1: woman with black bra.. oh and my parents are dead. 👨🦲
chapter 1: woman with black bra.. oh and my parents are dead. 👨🦲
January 10, 2024
It didn't have a great plot and not very much action.
May 26, 2025
something different than what I'm used to reading couldn't put it down.
April 2, 2013
If you are bored and want a good read, you should read Aftershock by Kelly Easton. I rated Aftershock 3 stars for several reasons. I liked the plot and how it developed but I personally thought it got repetitive on how he went from town to town; to say the least it was very predictable. Basically the book was about this boy named Adam and his parents are going to attend a peace rally in Seattle. On their way back home to Rhode Island his family gets into a single car crash that kills both his parents.
Adam stunned and is no longer able to speak as he tries to make it home by himself with the help of some people on the way. He makes several stops across the United States and encounters different characters along the way including people that make life harder for Adam.
He has sudden flashbacks mostly of events with himself and his girlfriend Mira, his parents' bookstore, or events of himself and his parents. I liked the way Kelly Easton connected Adam's past to the present situation that Adam was in. It gave me a better understanding on what type of character Adam was.
For the most part people are fine with Adam's muteness, but Adam runs into a couple of sticky situations. On his way home Adam came across a couple of punks in a bar parking lot with a bad temper that created a life threatening situation for Adam. Just because he ran into the one of them inside the bar. But somehow Adams survives getting beat to a pulp and being thrown off the road. And he continues through these events as his journey back home/bookstore becomes more difficult.
It all came down to this kind mother who was driving her son to get Adam finally home. She lived in a town nearby where Adam lived and drove him for the most part of the way back. When he got back the first thing he did was go to the bookstore, he didn't even return to his own house or try to contact his aunt who is looking for him after the phone call. He is later reunited with his girlfriend and his aunt and cousin, his only remaining family members as the book is resolved.
As I said I liked the book because it had an amazing plot and it was developed very well. Also I enjoyed reading the flashbacks Adam had while on his journey. The one thing I liked the most about the book was that it was a short quick read, very easy and enjoyable.
The parts I didn't like was that it was a predictable book, it was very easy to guess whats going to happen next. I would have liked a little suspense in the book. Plus I didn't like the ending, yes he made it home but I thought it was anti-dramatic. It seemed like the ending was rushed. I also didn't like how she skipped passed a couple of scenes, as I can remember she passed 6 months by in a sentence and she did it again later in the book as well.
But I have to say Aftershock was an enjoyable read. It tells us how life can be so unpredictable and it also motivates me that nothing is impossible. Even though Adam is lost and abandon he does not give up and he does everything he can do to get back home. These messages made the book an even better book an made it have that quality that other books lack. I would advise you to all read if you have the spare time to do so.
Adam stunned and is no longer able to speak as he tries to make it home by himself with the help of some people on the way. He makes several stops across the United States and encounters different characters along the way including people that make life harder for Adam.
He has sudden flashbacks mostly of events with himself and his girlfriend Mira, his parents' bookstore, or events of himself and his parents. I liked the way Kelly Easton connected Adam's past to the present situation that Adam was in. It gave me a better understanding on what type of character Adam was.
For the most part people are fine with Adam's muteness, but Adam runs into a couple of sticky situations. On his way home Adam came across a couple of punks in a bar parking lot with a bad temper that created a life threatening situation for Adam. Just because he ran into the one of them inside the bar. But somehow Adams survives getting beat to a pulp and being thrown off the road. And he continues through these events as his journey back home/bookstore becomes more difficult.
It all came down to this kind mother who was driving her son to get Adam finally home. She lived in a town nearby where Adam lived and drove him for the most part of the way back. When he got back the first thing he did was go to the bookstore, he didn't even return to his own house or try to contact his aunt who is looking for him after the phone call. He is later reunited with his girlfriend and his aunt and cousin, his only remaining family members as the book is resolved.
As I said I liked the book because it had an amazing plot and it was developed very well. Also I enjoyed reading the flashbacks Adam had while on his journey. The one thing I liked the most about the book was that it was a short quick read, very easy and enjoyable.
The parts I didn't like was that it was a predictable book, it was very easy to guess whats going to happen next. I would have liked a little suspense in the book. Plus I didn't like the ending, yes he made it home but I thought it was anti-dramatic. It seemed like the ending was rushed. I also didn't like how she skipped passed a couple of scenes, as I can remember she passed 6 months by in a sentence and she did it again later in the book as well.
But I have to say Aftershock was an enjoyable read. It tells us how life can be so unpredictable and it also motivates me that nothing is impossible. Even though Adam is lost and abandon he does not give up and he does everything he can do to get back home. These messages made the book an even better book an made it have that quality that other books lack. I would advise you to all read if you have the spare time to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2013
This book in summary is about a 17 year old boy named Adam. He is on a road trip with his parents and they get into a car crash. His parents die and he is alone and sets off on a destination that leads him home. He meets new people and encounters problems every step back home. The sight of his dead parents traumatise him so bad he does not speak for the rest of this story. He becomes a bum with his only enemy; the past.
The title of the book was well chosen because it truly resembles the story itself. There is good litterary elements that are shown in this book and can be quickly picked out and exampled. The main character (Adamn) is pretty dynamic character. After his parents die he feels as if he's dead " I'm not laid out like her, but there might be different ways of being dead." (3) (Referring to his mother's dead body in the car.). In the end of the book he says "People don't die. That isn't how it happens. They float inside of you. Like leaves on water." (165) that to me shows a great change in thinking of the character which seems quite dynamic. At first he thinks people can die physically and mentally, but as he later soons to figure out that people will always live on with memories and things that they have touched in their life. There is a lot of attention to detail in the story; the flashbacks and descriptions of his travel are thorough and make the story much better.
Although there is good litterary elements there is also great meaning and messages that I interpreted from the story. One of the messages I got from the story was; taking things for granted. On Adams travel he is forced to use bum tactics due to the circumstances. It shows you how the little things that most people take in life for granted can be needed more than anything for others. Another message that I grasped from the story was; people that died "Define you as much as by their absence as they did when they were there." (165). When Adams parents are gone the deadliness that illuminates off them go in to him. He seams dead by the way he acts and represents him self by not speaking. This amount of defining was equivalent to; when they were alive and happy. This story has many more lessons/morals that can be learned and touched by. That's why this book is a must read.
The title of the book was well chosen because it truly resembles the story itself. There is good litterary elements that are shown in this book and can be quickly picked out and exampled. The main character (Adamn) is pretty dynamic character. After his parents die he feels as if he's dead " I'm not laid out like her, but there might be different ways of being dead." (3) (Referring to his mother's dead body in the car.). In the end of the book he says "People don't die. That isn't how it happens. They float inside of you. Like leaves on water." (165) that to me shows a great change in thinking of the character which seems quite dynamic. At first he thinks people can die physically and mentally, but as he later soons to figure out that people will always live on with memories and things that they have touched in their life. There is a lot of attention to detail in the story; the flashbacks and descriptions of his travel are thorough and make the story much better.
Although there is good litterary elements there is also great meaning and messages that I interpreted from the story. One of the messages I got from the story was; taking things for granted. On Adams travel he is forced to use bum tactics due to the circumstances. It shows you how the little things that most people take in life for granted can be needed more than anything for others. Another message that I grasped from the story was; people that died "Define you as much as by their absence as they did when they were there." (165). When Adams parents are gone the deadliness that illuminates off them go in to him. He seams dead by the way he acts and represents him self by not speaking. This amount of defining was equivalent to; when they were alive and happy. This story has many more lessons/morals that can be learned and touched by. That's why this book is a must read.
May 27, 2016
Personal Response:
I personally did not enjoy reading this book. The book wasn’t terribly written, but the storyline was annoying. I hated the main character. He was stupid and irresponsible. The fact that I didn’t like the main character made the book hard to finish.
Plot:
This book started off with Adam and his parents in Idaho when suddenly, they got in a car crash. Both of Adam’s parents died. However, Adam survived. In a state of shock, Adam got up and started to walk home to Rhode Island. Adam walked until he ran into a group of girls who took him in. Adam wouldn’t speak because of his traumatic experience. As the weeks went on, Adam stayed in a comatose state. He seemed to not care about his parents or going home. Finally Adam snapped out of it and realized he needed to make his way back home. Between walking and hitching rides, Adam eventually made it back to Rhode Island. When he got there he found his Aunt. Adam was then admitted to the hospital and luckily had little health issues. In the end, Adam still wouldn’t talk because he was scared that he wasn’t able to anymore.
Setting:
In the beginning of the book, Adam and his parents were in Idaho. Throughout the book, Adam traveled to many states in the U.S. At one point, Adam was working in Texas. In the end of the book, Adam ended up back home in Rhode Island. The book took place in present time and tense.
Characterization:
Adam was a teenage boy. He was usually very smart, but during this specific occasion he acted stupidly. The trauma from the accident affected him very seriously. Adam was always very nice and friendly to the people he traveled with. Even though he wouldn’t talk, Adam used body language to communicate well with people.
Rating/ Recommendation:
I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars. I personally did not like this book. It made me angry how stupid the main character was and it was completely unrealistic. Overall, the book was not written the best and I have read much better books. I would not recommend this book to any of my friends. This book was appropriate for people ages 14 and up. It included some inappropriate language and profanity for younger children. This book was also gender neutral.
I personally did not enjoy reading this book. The book wasn’t terribly written, but the storyline was annoying. I hated the main character. He was stupid and irresponsible. The fact that I didn’t like the main character made the book hard to finish.
Plot:
This book started off with Adam and his parents in Idaho when suddenly, they got in a car crash. Both of Adam’s parents died. However, Adam survived. In a state of shock, Adam got up and started to walk home to Rhode Island. Adam walked until he ran into a group of girls who took him in. Adam wouldn’t speak because of his traumatic experience. As the weeks went on, Adam stayed in a comatose state. He seemed to not care about his parents or going home. Finally Adam snapped out of it and realized he needed to make his way back home. Between walking and hitching rides, Adam eventually made it back to Rhode Island. When he got there he found his Aunt. Adam was then admitted to the hospital and luckily had little health issues. In the end, Adam still wouldn’t talk because he was scared that he wasn’t able to anymore.
Setting:
In the beginning of the book, Adam and his parents were in Idaho. Throughout the book, Adam traveled to many states in the U.S. At one point, Adam was working in Texas. In the end of the book, Adam ended up back home in Rhode Island. The book took place in present time and tense.
Characterization:
Adam was a teenage boy. He was usually very smart, but during this specific occasion he acted stupidly. The trauma from the accident affected him very seriously. Adam was always very nice and friendly to the people he traveled with. Even though he wouldn’t talk, Adam used body language to communicate well with people.
Rating/ Recommendation:
I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars. I personally did not like this book. It made me angry how stupid the main character was and it was completely unrealistic. Overall, the book was not written the best and I have read much better books. I would not recommend this book to any of my friends. This book was appropriate for people ages 14 and up. It included some inappropriate language and profanity for younger children. This book was also gender neutral.
September 5, 2013
Aftershock by Kelly Easton takes place in places throughout the United States. The main character, Adam is from New England but was on the way back from a peace rally in Oregon when the story started. He was with his mother and father when they hit a deer. Both of his parents died in the crash, leaving him unable to speak. The rest of book was alternating from flashbacks about his life before the death of his parents and his adventures hitch hiking across America, trying to get back home.
I felt like the way Kelly Easton wrote alternating from the past to the present helped the story but it also kind of hurt it. It helped it by making there be a gap in between the present story and background knowledge about Adam and his previous life, causing suspense. I think that this style made the main character, Adam, well developed and more relatable person. At the same time, this also caused me to be confused at some points. It was sometimes hard to transition from the past to the present because one would have a happy tone and the other would have a depressing.
After reading Aftershock, I wouldn’t recommend it to one of my friends because it was kind of hard to follow and the story wasn’t very entertaining. But if you like a book that has an overall depressing tone and a well developed character then I would recommend this book to you.
I felt like the way Kelly Easton wrote alternating from the past to the present helped the story but it also kind of hurt it. It helped it by making there be a gap in between the present story and background knowledge about Adam and his previous life, causing suspense. I think that this style made the main character, Adam, well developed and more relatable person. At the same time, this also caused me to be confused at some points. It was sometimes hard to transition from the past to the present because one would have a happy tone and the other would have a depressing.
After reading Aftershock, I wouldn’t recommend it to one of my friends because it was kind of hard to follow and the story wasn’t very entertaining. But if you like a book that has an overall depressing tone and a well developed character then I would recommend this book to you.
December 29, 2010
I originally chose this book because I thought the summary sounded interesting and the book itself was a small, paperback book that I assumed I’d get through pretty quickly. The first few pages of Aftershock had me a little confused because Adam experiences flashbacks from when his parents died in a car crash, to life before the car crash, and then to various points on his journey. Although I had to really focus on what was happening, it made the story much more interesting then if the flashbacks weren’t included.
Once I was able to straighten out the flashbacks, the book was pretty interesting. Adam encounters a number of people on his journey from Oregon to Rhode Island and some made the plot move forward more than others. The fact that Adam is not physically capable of speaking but is able to get acquainted with the various characters made the story a little far fetched at times. Initially, I thought the plot would be more suspenseful and action packed than it was. Although this disappointed me, I just could not put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen to Adam and whether or not he would make it home.
Once I was able to straighten out the flashbacks, the book was pretty interesting. Adam encounters a number of people on his journey from Oregon to Rhode Island and some made the plot move forward more than others. The fact that Adam is not physically capable of speaking but is able to get acquainted with the various characters made the story a little far fetched at times. Initially, I thought the plot would be more suspenseful and action packed than it was. Although this disappointed me, I just could not put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen to Adam and whether or not he would make it home.
July 17, 2012
Read the whole book review here: http://paperbookworm.blogspot.com/200...
Honestly, I bought the book because I was enticed with its cover - it seemed so mysterious and vague so I thought might like it. The story revolves around Adam who lost his parents in a tragic car accident on the way home to Rhode Island from a peace rally in Seattle. You would certainly feel Adam's sorrow as he recalls what has happened to them that resulted to his parent's death.
This book teaches some values learned from Adam's experiences as he journeys along - the people he met, the places he's explored and the impressions they leave on him. However, there are good and bad points in Aftershock: it worked on the story by means of flashback although some of the way it was presented was drastic, the reader could not distinguish whether Adam was in reality or was he recalling a memory. But I guess it's just the nature of Adam's experience: shocking and mind-swifting. I think even though he has been weary, he enjoyed the journey as he struggles to get home because he has certainly learned a lot from it.
Honestly, I bought the book because I was enticed with its cover - it seemed so mysterious and vague so I thought might like it. The story revolves around Adam who lost his parents in a tragic car accident on the way home to Rhode Island from a peace rally in Seattle. You would certainly feel Adam's sorrow as he recalls what has happened to them that resulted to his parent's death.
This book teaches some values learned from Adam's experiences as he journeys along - the people he met, the places he's explored and the impressions they leave on him. However, there are good and bad points in Aftershock: it worked on the story by means of flashback although some of the way it was presented was drastic, the reader could not distinguish whether Adam was in reality or was he recalling a memory. But I guess it's just the nature of Adam's experience: shocking and mind-swifting. I think even though he has been weary, he enjoyed the journey as he struggles to get home because he has certainly learned a lot from it.
Read
March 12, 2008Aftershock
by Kelly Easton
Adam is 17 years old and he is tormented. He is the only survivor of a car crash. Adam and his parents were driving across country, returning from a peace rally, and swerved to avoid a deer. His parents are dead. Adam is in a state of shock and his mind is in a jumble. Past and present mix up in his thoughts and the future is blank. And on top of all this he has become mute, and has lost his money and his identification.
So he starts wandering. And as he wanders trying to find food and some comfort, memories of his beautiful girlfriend, his easy going parents and his sometimes violent friends all flash through his mind. But he can’t make it connect.
And as he wanders he meets people living on the edges of society, finding them kind and accepting of his situation. But others take advantage, and leave Adam broken and hurting. Can Adam put together the fragments of his thoughts and make it back to where he was once known? Or has he truly lost everything?
Grades 8 and up
Survival Fiction
AHD-6387
Submitted by Jocelyn Mullen, 12/10/07
by Kelly Easton
Adam is 17 years old and he is tormented. He is the only survivor of a car crash. Adam and his parents were driving across country, returning from a peace rally, and swerved to avoid a deer. His parents are dead. Adam is in a state of shock and his mind is in a jumble. Past and present mix up in his thoughts and the future is blank. And on top of all this he has become mute, and has lost his money and his identification.
So he starts wandering. And as he wanders trying to find food and some comfort, memories of his beautiful girlfriend, his easy going parents and his sometimes violent friends all flash through his mind. But he can’t make it connect.
And as he wanders he meets people living on the edges of society, finding them kind and accepting of his situation. But others take advantage, and leave Adam broken and hurting. Can Adam put together the fragments of his thoughts and make it back to where he was once known? Or has he truly lost everything?
Grades 8 and up
Survival Fiction
AHD-6387
Submitted by Jocelyn Mullen, 12/10/07
February 3, 2011
I did not enjoy this book. One of my friends read it and loved it, so maybe it's just me.
UNREALISTIC! I didn't really like this one. It seemed to be trying to be this heartbreaking YA novel, but it tried too hard. It was odd how he could not talk or get help from someone. Seriously! When you are in trouble, you need to reach out for help, not collapse in on yourself.
This may not seem like a huge deal, but I hated his relationship with that girl. I disliked how he did not follow through on his promise to his parents to wait.
I also hated how this book contained spoilers for Lord of the Flies, which I was reading at the same time as this one. That is so frustrating!
UNREALISTIC! I didn't really like this one. It seemed to be trying to be this heartbreaking YA novel, but it tried too hard. It was odd how he could not talk or get help from someone. Seriously! When you are in trouble, you need to reach out for help, not collapse in on yourself.
This may not seem like a huge deal, but I hated his relationship with that girl. I disliked how he did not follow through on his promise to his parents to wait.
I also hated how this book contained spoilers for Lord of the Flies, which I was reading at the same time as this one. That is so frustrating!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2010
This is an amazing novel by an amazing writer. In fact I haven't encountered such fantastic literature since THE GREEEEEEAAAAAAT GAtsby. Easton skillfully imitates the style of an angry failed children's book writer in this beautiful Epic. The subject matter is among the most cheerful I have encountered in quite some time and seems to hint at her anger towards the outside world. The most interesting part however is that I happen to share the protagonist's name and live in Rhode Island. Words cannot express the joy I gained by discovering that she had written such a wonderful novel about a character with my name. I especially love the fact that Adam's parents die in a horrible automobile accident leaving him unable to speak. Also he gets molested. That's pretty groovy. I wish Easton the best of luck at becoming a competent writer and a less disturbed individual.
March 6, 2015
This was a interesting book on how this teenager finds his way home after a terrible accident. With his parents dead after the car crash Adam begins to wonder not knowing where to go or where he is. All he knows is that he is a long way from home and that his parents are dead, and he has to get home. So he starts walking down the long road that they were on and hopes that he can find someone or someway to help him. He later finds a group of Wiccans. He is so tired by the time he finds this group that he passes out. He is then taken in by one of the Wiccans and is helped over the next few months by her. But Adams problem is that he can't talk or write after the accident. After a lot of struggles with the girl who took him in Adam decides to leave and that he needs to get home. The only problem is he still doesn't know how.
September 7, 2009
When a book is constructed around a first-person narration, the reader really needs to care about that narrator. Sadly, Easton's Adam is so distant that I never cared one way or another about him. Sure, some interesting things happen on his journey from fatal accident towards home, but none were remarkable.
Each chapter begins with an SAT-level vocabulary word and its definition, and Adam is constantly quoting high school-type literature ("Grapes of Wrath," "Crime and Punishment"), which leads me to wonder, "for whom the book tolls?" It moves too slowly for a reluctant reader, yet doesn't have enough meat for an experienced reader. The chapters were brief, so perhaps this would be an OK book to read in class, but it didn't add up to much for me.
Each chapter begins with an SAT-level vocabulary word and its definition, and Adam is constantly quoting high school-type literature ("Grapes of Wrath," "Crime and Punishment"), which leads me to wonder, "for whom the book tolls?" It moves too slowly for a reluctant reader, yet doesn't have enough meat for an experienced reader. The chapters were brief, so perhaps this would be an OK book to read in class, but it didn't add up to much for me.
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