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AfterMath
This book is a gift to the culture. --Amy Schumer, writer, actor, and activist
After her brother's death from a congenital heart defect, twelve-year-old Lucy is not prepared to be the new kid at school--especially in a grade full of survivors of a shooting that happened four years ago. Without the shared past that both unites and divides her classmates, Lucy feels isolated and unable to share her family's own loss, which is profoundly different from the trauma of her peers.
Lucy clings to her love of math, which provides the absolute answers she craves. But through budding friendships and an after-school mime class, Lucy discovers that while grief can take many shapes and sadness may feel infinite, love is just as powerful.
After her brother's death from a congenital heart defect, twelve-year-old Lucy is not prepared to be the new kid at school--especially in a grade full of survivors of a shooting that happened four years ago. Without the shared past that both unites and divides her classmates, Lucy feels isolated and unable to share her family's own loss, which is profoundly different from the trauma of her peers.
Lucy clings to her love of math, which provides the absolute answers she craves. But through budding friendships and an after-school mime class, Lucy discovers that while grief can take many shapes and sadness may feel infinite, love is just as powerful.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2021
18 people are currently reading
886 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
September 9, 2021
In a Nutshell: What a brilliant book this is! And yet, it leaves me with a niggling doubt about whether its content is suitable for children.
Story:
What I loved:
• Lucy being a math geek! I adored the way she thought in Math and tried to put everything around her in terms of math. The intelligent manner in which the author has interwoven mathematics in the story is worth appreciating. The geek in me enjoyed all these math references. (Including the math riddles and the fact that every chapter began with an interesting math-related fact that also connected to the story. Brilliant!)
• The first person perspective of Lucy: This writing style brought us that much closer to her insecurities, her confusion, her love for maths, and her wish to fit in.
• The title: What a clever name for this book! It is a perfect fit for the story in multiple ways. Other than the obvious ‘math’ reference to indicate Lucy’s love for the subject, it also hints at the aftermath of the two tragedies: the death of Lucy’s brother and the school shooting.
• The characters: Most of the main characters are depicted in a very realistic manner and you feel for them as they go through their lives in the ‘aftermath’ of their respective traumas. The author doesn’t seek to exaggerate or devalue any experience but stays true to how actual people might behave under similar circumstances in real life. I especially want to mention two memorable characters here: Avery, whose step-brother was responsible for the shooting, and Mr. Jackson, the teacher who seems to be modelled on Mr. Brown from Wonder. You will feel deeply for the former and admire the latter. On the whole, the character development in the book is fabulous.
• The issues it raises: This one book has the potential for so many important discussions we need to have with children: the importance of open and frequent communication, the willingness to opt for therapy if needed, the necessity of understanding mental health struggles (both for yourself and for others), gun control and personal safety requirements. It is a goldmine of discussion opportunities, and not just for children. I’m sure school shootings rank as one of the worst nightmares for a parent, and it preys on their feeling of helplessness in dealing with such situations. The book will be a worthwhile, albeit traumatic read for parents too.
What I am unsure about: (Note that I didn’t say ‘dislike’)
Is this a book I would want middle graders to read? I honestly don’t know. The content is quite dark. With a sibling death, parental problems dealing with the tragedy, and a school shooting too, the book is really heavy on the emotional scale and may not be the right fit for most typical middle graders. At the same time, these are events that actually happen, and awareness is always helpful. To put it bluntly, this book could either help children understand trauma, or it will end up creating trauma. So I’m a bit divided in my feelings here. While the topics are handled with a lot of sensitivity, I still feel that it would be better to target the YA audience and above as potential readers for this story. But yes, I would consider it an essential and impactful read for every adult.
Minor complaint:
I do not particularly like romance being included in a children’s book, even if it is aimed at middle-graders. While the crush-on-a-classmate arc is used properly by the author as a necessary plot point for one crucial scene, and she also includes one character saying that this is not the right age for such thoughts, (Thank you for writing that, dear author!), the fact still is that I do not like to read about crushes in a children’s book.
The audiobook is narrated by the author herself and she does a great job. I enjoyed her performance more than I had expected. It’s a pretty short audiobook at just a little over 5 hours.
Recommended to all adults (young and not so young), and only to the most mature middle-graders.
4.5 stars, rounding up.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Twelve year old Lucy’s family is struggling with the death of her younger brother from a congenital heart defect. In an attempt to make a fresh start, the family shifts to a different town. But Lucy finds that her new classmates are dealing with a different tragedy of their own – they are the survivors from a school shooting that happened in their class 4 years back.
The book depicts the impact of tragedy on these young lives, with Lucy struggling to fit in a class full of children dealing with PTSD in different ways, and her own tragedy making her a misfit in her new social circle. All Lucy has as a source of comfort is her love for math, which seems to be reliable and definite, unlike most other things in her life. Soon, Lucy learns that everyone can deal with grief in different ways, and kindness is a powerful tool to overcome most obstacles.
What I loved:
• Lucy being a math geek! I adored the way she thought in Math and tried to put everything around her in terms of math. The intelligent manner in which the author has interwoven mathematics in the story is worth appreciating. The geek in me enjoyed all these math references. (Including the math riddles and the fact that every chapter began with an interesting math-related fact that also connected to the story. Brilliant!)
• The first person perspective of Lucy: This writing style brought us that much closer to her insecurities, her confusion, her love for maths, and her wish to fit in.
• The title: What a clever name for this book! It is a perfect fit for the story in multiple ways. Other than the obvious ‘math’ reference to indicate Lucy’s love for the subject, it also hints at the aftermath of the two tragedies: the death of Lucy’s brother and the school shooting.
• The characters: Most of the main characters are depicted in a very realistic manner and you feel for them as they go through their lives in the ‘aftermath’ of their respective traumas. The author doesn’t seek to exaggerate or devalue any experience but stays true to how actual people might behave under similar circumstances in real life. I especially want to mention two memorable characters here: Avery, whose step-brother was responsible for the shooting, and Mr. Jackson, the teacher who seems to be modelled on Mr. Brown from Wonder. You will feel deeply for the former and admire the latter. On the whole, the character development in the book is fabulous.
• The issues it raises: This one book has the potential for so many important discussions we need to have with children: the importance of open and frequent communication, the willingness to opt for therapy if needed, the necessity of understanding mental health struggles (both for yourself and for others), gun control and personal safety requirements. It is a goldmine of discussion opportunities, and not just for children. I’m sure school shootings rank as one of the worst nightmares for a parent, and it preys on their feeling of helplessness in dealing with such situations. The book will be a worthwhile, albeit traumatic read for parents too.
What I am unsure about: (Note that I didn’t say ‘dislike’)
Is this a book I would want middle graders to read? I honestly don’t know. The content is quite dark. With a sibling death, parental problems dealing with the tragedy, and a school shooting too, the book is really heavy on the emotional scale and may not be the right fit for most typical middle graders. At the same time, these are events that actually happen, and awareness is always helpful. To put it bluntly, this book could either help children understand trauma, or it will end up creating trauma. So I’m a bit divided in my feelings here. While the topics are handled with a lot of sensitivity, I still feel that it would be better to target the YA audience and above as potential readers for this story. But yes, I would consider it an essential and impactful read for every adult.
Minor complaint:
I do not particularly like romance being included in a children’s book, even if it is aimed at middle-graders. While the crush-on-a-classmate arc is used properly by the author as a necessary plot point for one crucial scene, and she also includes one character saying that this is not the right age for such thoughts, (Thank you for writing that, dear author!), the fact still is that I do not like to read about crushes in a children’s book.
The audiobook is narrated by the author herself and she does a great job. I enjoyed her performance more than I had expected. It’s a pretty short audiobook at just a little over 5 hours.
Recommended to all adults (young and not so young), and only to the most mature middle-graders.
4.5 stars, rounding up.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
October 29, 2022
I love how the writing gets to do exactly what it meant to deliver.
The story is about grief, terminal illness, gun violence, PTSD, OCD and coming of age.
The story needs a certain state of mind to read. This is one of those books we do need to read not to enjoy but to understand how the families and friends of such victims try to cope.
The characters are quite convincing and realistic. I am so glad to read such a story from the perspective of a much younger character.
The character development is outstanding I would say. I do feel middle grade books like this one need to be read by adults so as to try to understand the youngsters much better, specially when it comes to serious inevitable topics like losing a family member, dealing with grief and having someone with terminal illness and how to deal with the rest of the world when and after such unfortunate events happen.
I feel the plot was handled quite well and with sensitivity. I appreciate this so much. I was worried if I would get dissatisfied as the story went on. But I didn't need to.
I could get to see as exactly as how it happens in real life: the parents and the adults deciding everything by themselves without including the children in question.
The progress in the character development and the turn of events in the later half made the story to be such a better one than what I was expecting. It ended well. The characters and the events that occurred in the story gave me so much.
Thank you, author and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.
The story is about grief, terminal illness, gun violence, PTSD, OCD and coming of age.
The story needs a certain state of mind to read. This is one of those books we do need to read not to enjoy but to understand how the families and friends of such victims try to cope.
The characters are quite convincing and realistic. I am so glad to read such a story from the perspective of a much younger character.
The character development is outstanding I would say. I do feel middle grade books like this one need to be read by adults so as to try to understand the youngsters much better, specially when it comes to serious inevitable topics like losing a family member, dealing with grief and having someone with terminal illness and how to deal with the rest of the world when and after such unfortunate events happen.
I feel the plot was handled quite well and with sensitivity. I appreciate this so much. I was worried if I would get dissatisfied as the story went on. But I didn't need to.
I could get to see as exactly as how it happens in real life: the parents and the adults deciding everything by themselves without including the children in question.
The progress in the character development and the turn of events in the later half made the story to be such a better one than what I was expecting. It ended well. The characters and the events that occurred in the story gave me so much.
Thank you, author and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.
October 7, 2021
This is a Middle Grade that covers some hard hitting topics. I feel that this book cover these issues very well, and it is so well written. I loved getting to know the characters in this book. I do feel that this is a middle grade book that parents and kids should read together, so they can talk more over the topics cover in this book. I have a son that has a congenital heart defect lucky his is not life treating. My daughter at first was super worried about the fact we may lost him. I think at times Adults forget that kids worry to, and we do not know what to do to help them. I think this book also can help adults see that fact. There are a lot of great messages in this book. I listen to the audiobook of this book, and I have to say the narrator was really good. I was kindly provided an e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Carolrhoda Books) or author (Emily Barth Isler) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
August 16, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Trigger warning: Gun violence, terminal illness, PTSD, OCD.
After/Math is a beautifully narrated and sensitively written story about a young girl who has moved to a new house and new school after her brother died of a heart problem. The child who lived in the house she's moved into also died as a victim of a school shooting at the new school she's started to attend.
The characters were realistic and so was the setting of the story.
This is definitely a book to read/listen to at some time in your life. The story certainly makes you think about all aspects to situations like this one and see it from the eyes and view point of a child too.
I recommend this book not just to children but to adults too.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Trigger warning: Gun violence, terminal illness, PTSD, OCD.
After/Math is a beautifully narrated and sensitively written story about a young girl who has moved to a new house and new school after her brother died of a heart problem. The child who lived in the house she's moved into also died as a victim of a school shooting at the new school she's started to attend.
The characters were realistic and so was the setting of the story.
This is definitely a book to read/listen to at some time in your life. The story certainly makes you think about all aspects to situations like this one and see it from the eyes and view point of a child too.
I recommend this book not just to children but to adults too.
June 4, 2021
I have to start this review by admitting how upset I am that a topic like this is necessary as a middle grade book. Unfortunately, attacks on children in their own schools are a harsh reality for everyone, and whether it has happened to a child or not, it is something that we see often enough on the news that young people may feel concerned, scared, and have questions. Heck, almost every American public school student has had to participate in an active shooter drill during the school day.
With that out of the way, I am happy with this book. It is raw and full of emotion and reminds us that people, both children and adults, are human. One of my favorite parts of this book is the way that the adults struggle to reassure and communicate with the young characters after their tragedies.
Would I immediately recommend this book to every middle grade child that walks into the library? Honestly, no. I would reserve this for kids with very mature emotions and reading levels. I would happily recommend this to a family who has faced tragedy because of the way the main character handles not only her sadness, but her loneliness and that of her parents. I would sure as heck recommend this book to every adult. All ages can appreciate the way the parents and other adults struggle to handle the aftermath of something so incredibly unimaginable.
With that out of the way, I am happy with this book. It is raw and full of emotion and reminds us that people, both children and adults, are human. One of my favorite parts of this book is the way that the adults struggle to reassure and communicate with the young characters after their tragedies.
Would I immediately recommend this book to every middle grade child that walks into the library? Honestly, no. I would reserve this for kids with very mature emotions and reading levels. I would happily recommend this to a family who has faced tragedy because of the way the main character handles not only her sadness, but her loneliness and that of her parents. I would sure as heck recommend this book to every adult. All ages can appreciate the way the parents and other adults struggle to handle the aftermath of something so incredibly unimaginable.
June 30, 2021
This book is definitely one that you will want to have tissues by when reading! During the course of this book we follow two characters who have both dealt with traumatic events in their lives. We watch these two characters open up throughout the course of the novel. I loved the friendship that the two girls created and this book definitely tugged at my heart strings. This book does cover school shootings though so if you are triggered by those I wouldn't recommend reading this book. This is definitely a book I recommend to anyone though. It warmed my heart and broke it all in between the pages!
September 7, 2022
Aftermath is a powerful, heartbreaking, and hopeful middle grade book about the impact of school shootings, grief, and friendships. Lucy’s love for math and the math jokes throughout this book will appeal to kids who like STEM middle grade books. At the same time, the mime class will appeal to kids who love the arts, making this a potential crowd pleaser. Although grief is never a fun topic to discuss, the author does a great job of making this realistic without being utterly depressing. I would definitely recommend this one!
January 2, 2023
Wow. This book was so heartbreaking and so thoughtfully and beautifully written. The author did a great job of discussing themes of grief, family, friendship, and mental health. I can see this book being important to a lot of middle grade (and adult!) readers too because of how it talks about moving forward from losing loved ones. every single character here grieves differently, and I think every reader will be able to relate to them.
This was on my to be read list of mathical book prize winners as well, and this is definitely my favorite one I've read. Emily Barth Isler's writing about math to describe the main character's emotions was equally inspiring and creative. Additionally, I liked how the math teacher was depicted as so gentle and also passionate about theater! His character along with the dad being bookish but finding humor in math to encourage the main character was great 'math-representation'. Specifically I appreciated that there was no stereotype of what a 'math person' is; the math in this book was like a setting for the story, not a driving plotline. Overall, I can definitely understand why this book won the prize because of its way of showing both joy and sadness for people of all ages and genders.
There is a question of whether the topic of gun violence is appropriate for middle grade readers. The inside cover says the book's audience is both grades 4-6 but also ages 11-14 (which doesn't make much sense). While I leave that up to schools and libraries to decide, I do have a (probably not unique opinion) that this book is appropriate for middle grade readers, particularly ages 11-14.
Children in America prepare for and face the trauma of school shootings at many grade levels–to say that the topic of gun violence is inappropriate for this age range is missing the point of this book and others like it. This story in particular focuses on how both individuals and a community as a whole grieve, and less so on violence or politics. Grief is a perfectly age appropriate theme to discuss in middle grade books. Furthermore, I would be highly interested in knowing if any school shooting survivors have read this and feel like it is a good representation of the grief that comes with that experience.
Now, the much less controversial issue–is the math appropriate for middle grade readers? Yes and no. Some of the writing might be foreign language for younger readers. That's the main reason why I wouldn't necessarily encourage readers in 4th or 5th grade to read this. Lots of the beautiful math metaphors might be lost on them.
This was on my to be read list of mathical book prize winners as well, and this is definitely my favorite one I've read. Emily Barth Isler's writing about math to describe the main character's emotions was equally inspiring and creative. Additionally, I liked how the math teacher was depicted as so gentle and also passionate about theater! His character along with the dad being bookish but finding humor in math to encourage the main character was great 'math-representation'. Specifically I appreciated that there was no stereotype of what a 'math person' is; the math in this book was like a setting for the story, not a driving plotline. Overall, I can definitely understand why this book won the prize because of its way of showing both joy and sadness for people of all ages and genders.
There is a question of whether the topic of gun violence is appropriate for middle grade readers. The inside cover says the book's audience is both grades 4-6 but also ages 11-14 (which doesn't make much sense). While I leave that up to schools and libraries to decide, I do have a (probably not unique opinion) that this book is appropriate for middle grade readers, particularly ages 11-14.
Children in America prepare for and face the trauma of school shootings at many grade levels–to say that the topic of gun violence is inappropriate for this age range is missing the point of this book and others like it. This story in particular focuses on how both individuals and a community as a whole grieve, and less so on violence or politics. Grief is a perfectly age appropriate theme to discuss in middle grade books. Furthermore, I would be highly interested in knowing if any school shooting survivors have read this and feel like it is a good representation of the grief that comes with that experience.
Now, the much less controversial issue–is the math appropriate for middle grade readers? Yes and no. Some of the writing might be foreign language for younger readers. That's the main reason why I wouldn't necessarily encourage readers in 4th or 5th grade to read this. Lots of the beautiful math metaphors might be lost on them.
July 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this audio book.
This is a story of Lucy, sister to a dead brother and new to a school that suffered the tragedy of a shooting. The story follows Lucy as she struggles to adapt to her new school, make friends with people who have lived through something so tragic but unifying and hard to relate, at the same time of dealing with her own grief of losing her brother in a different way to the losses experiences by her peers.
It's a hard hitting subject aimed at middle grade ages 9-12 and id say it hit that pretty perfectly for such a tough subject.
I found this a really easy listen, the narration (which also happens to be the author) is spot on and it flows really wonderfully. I find it really distracting when narrators change their voice for characters but Emily has a lovely tone and speed to her narration.
I really like Lucy's character. She empathises well with her peers but holds and expresses her own feelings without coming across as selfish or unkind, I would say she feels quite mature but I think that would reflect the events she has experienced in her young life.
I enjoyed the relationships and friendships in this book, exploring jealousy and how to deal with forgiveness as well as the importance of dealing with and facing grief and how grief effects everyone around us. I do feel some children will connect with how Lucy feels about her parents and the awkward sadness following their loss. It doesn't try to lull us into a false sense of characters, they are really real with their own flaws, its real. I love that.
I will say I only felt like I really knew the main character Lucy,, her parents and Avery quite well. The other characters didn't come to life for me or have any real depth or benefit to the story. It didn't bother me too much but with a school based book I'd have liked a little more from peer groups that wasn't too obvious. Things seemed to work out a little too easily with school friends, I'd have liked a little more drama from some spiky characters.
A really poiniant and important book for young readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a story of Lucy, sister to a dead brother and new to a school that suffered the tragedy of a shooting. The story follows Lucy as she struggles to adapt to her new school, make friends with people who have lived through something so tragic but unifying and hard to relate, at the same time of dealing with her own grief of losing her brother in a different way to the losses experiences by her peers.
It's a hard hitting subject aimed at middle grade ages 9-12 and id say it hit that pretty perfectly for such a tough subject.
I found this a really easy listen, the narration (which also happens to be the author) is spot on and it flows really wonderfully. I find it really distracting when narrators change their voice for characters but Emily has a lovely tone and speed to her narration.
I really like Lucy's character. She empathises well with her peers but holds and expresses her own feelings without coming across as selfish or unkind, I would say she feels quite mature but I think that would reflect the events she has experienced in her young life.
I enjoyed the relationships and friendships in this book, exploring jealousy and how to deal with forgiveness as well as the importance of dealing with and facing grief and how grief effects everyone around us. I do feel some children will connect with how Lucy feels about her parents and the awkward sadness following their loss. It doesn't try to lull us into a false sense of characters, they are really real with their own flaws, its real. I love that.
I will say I only felt like I really knew the main character Lucy,, her parents and Avery quite well. The other characters didn't come to life for me or have any real depth or benefit to the story. It didn't bother me too much but with a school based book I'd have liked a little more from peer groups that wasn't too obvious. Things seemed to work out a little too easily with school friends, I'd have liked a little more drama from some spiky characters.
A really poiniant and important book for young readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 6, 2021
The story of a girl who was not in a school shooting. That is what this book is about. Lucy has had a death in her family, but nothing like that her class has experienced.
But is death different, if it happens differently?
Lucy doesn't have the same trauma as everyone else, but that doesn't mean she is not in mourning as well.
This book is an interesting take on, not so much school shootings, which unfortunately are far too common in the US, but what happens to those who survive? What sort of PTSD do they have. And how to they navigate life?
A shared trauma is an amazing bonding, but also a terror. I can't say that I've ever been in any schools shooting, or any kind of shootings, but last summer, the area I live in was struck by one of the largest firestorms in the state, and a quarter of the people in our county had to evacuated. In all, 945 houses burned. Those who lost homes, and those who did not, are still on edge, still flinch when they smell smoke, or hear a fire engine. We all have a bit of PTSD. I can't imagine what school shooting survivors would go through, but I can imagine.
But that is not to say that it he whole point of this book. The point, I think, is how we use the sorrow of death to understand what life is about.
Good book. Grabbed me and pulled me in, and I totally related to Lucy, the narrator, the new kid, who wasn't part of the school shooting.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
But is death different, if it happens differently?
Lucy doesn't have the same trauma as everyone else, but that doesn't mean she is not in mourning as well.
This book is an interesting take on, not so much school shootings, which unfortunately are far too common in the US, but what happens to those who survive? What sort of PTSD do they have. And how to they navigate life?
A shared trauma is an amazing bonding, but also a terror. I can't say that I've ever been in any schools shooting, or any kind of shootings, but last summer, the area I live in was struck by one of the largest firestorms in the state, and a quarter of the people in our county had to evacuated. In all, 945 houses burned. Those who lost homes, and those who did not, are still on edge, still flinch when they smell smoke, or hear a fire engine. We all have a bit of PTSD. I can't imagine what school shooting survivors would go through, but I can imagine.
But that is not to say that it he whole point of this book. The point, I think, is how we use the sorrow of death to understand what life is about.
Good book. Grabbed me and pulled me in, and I totally related to Lucy, the narrator, the new kid, who wasn't part of the school shooting.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
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September 22, 2021I got to this book through an article suggested by Pocket about how to talk to kids about difficult things. I read a weirdly high number of articles on that topic considering that it is something I literally never do.
I liked when the mom said "Oh, honey. I don't want to scare you, but no one has anything all figured out."
I found the kids in this book to be extremely mature/have brilliant self-insight in a way that made them seem unrealistic to me. But then again, I often think this about middle-grade novels, and I rarely interact with middle-grade-aged people, so maybe many of them are wiser and more articulate than I would expect.
I liked when the mom said "Oh, honey. I don't want to scare you, but no one has anything all figured out."
I found the kids in this book to be extremely mature/have brilliant self-insight in a way that made them seem unrealistic to me. But then again, I often think this about middle-grade novels, and I rarely interact with middle-grade-aged people, so maybe many of them are wiser and more articulate than I would expect.
January 18, 2024
Gorgeous and heartbreaking. I think this is the ideal novel for any tween going through grief. Beautifully written and executed.
July 25, 2022
I am very glad that this book exists, and I am very sad that it has to.
The narrator is an outsider, new to town, but who also carries her own grief. In that way, the book is an excellent look at grief and trauma and how it affects different people in different ways. It is also an excellent look at COLLECTIVE grief and trauma and how that can also affect different groups of people in different ways (i.e., Lucy and her family; the students in her class; the town as a whole). You can also add to that the different ways PTSD shows up.
Also, I deeply appreciate that the aftermath encompasses the children as well as the shooter's family.
I wish a copy of this book could be sent to every member of Congress/governor/person who opposes gun safety laws and they were forced to read it. Maybe then, they would care.
I also feel it's important to add that I knew the first review I read on this site about this book would question how appropriate it is for young readers because it deals with heavy topics so let me just say that everything in this book is children's lived reality. It doesn't matter whether or not we THINK the topics are "appropriate"; what matters is that a book like this, written at their level, gives them an opportunity to process the world they live in. "I don't know if I want children reading a book about a school shooting" is not it since mass shootings happen at schools almost every day in this country. "I don't want children living in a world where they have to worry about getting shot at school" is. Kids are sad sometimes, kids deal with hard things sometimes, and kids deserve books that honor both of those things.
The narrator is an outsider, new to town, but who also carries her own grief. In that way, the book is an excellent look at grief and trauma and how it affects different people in different ways. It is also an excellent look at COLLECTIVE grief and trauma and how that can also affect different groups of people in different ways (i.e., Lucy and her family; the students in her class; the town as a whole). You can also add to that the different ways PTSD shows up.
Also, I deeply appreciate that the aftermath encompasses the children as well as the shooter's family.
I wish a copy of this book could be sent to every member of Congress/governor/person who opposes gun safety laws and they were forced to read it. Maybe then, they would care.
I also feel it's important to add that I knew the first review I read on this site about this book would question how appropriate it is for young readers because it deals with heavy topics so let me just say that everything in this book is children's lived reality. It doesn't matter whether or not we THINK the topics are "appropriate"; what matters is that a book like this, written at their level, gives them an opportunity to process the world they live in. "I don't know if I want children reading a book about a school shooting" is not it since mass shootings happen at schools almost every day in this country. "I don't want children living in a world where they have to worry about getting shot at school" is. Kids are sad sometimes, kids deal with hard things sometimes, and kids deserve books that honor both of those things.
June 7, 2021
An incredible piece of work.
Twelve year old Lucy has recently moved to Queensland with her parents. With the grief of losing her baby brother still engulfing her, she is not really ready to attend a new school where the students have witnessed a shooting four years back. Lucy and the kids are constantly haunted by their unpleasant memories, yet they seem to be seas apart. Lucy is a math geek who tries to perceive the world in mathematical language, but she finds that not everything fits easily in a practical frame. Life eventually makes her realize that pain can be endless but love too can be so.
In the marvelously penned story, Emily takes us on an emotional journey in the shoes of a traumatized seventh grader. Sprinting through jumbled thoughts, complicated human interactions, and silent struggles, we finally reach a beautiful conclusion that inspires our heart to hold a place for hope.The book also tells us that death does not necessarily mean the end of someone. Loved ones live beyond time and space in our memories, in our thoughts, in our heart.
The character of Avery holds a special place in my mind. Although the story has been narrated from Lucy’s perspective, the author has done a brilliant job in portraying Avery’s desperation to escape her identity and reality.
I will admit that my attention was not immediately conquered by the book, but things began to work in no time as the story progressed.
A must read for people of all ages.
(I have received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
Twelve year old Lucy has recently moved to Queensland with her parents. With the grief of losing her baby brother still engulfing her, she is not really ready to attend a new school where the students have witnessed a shooting four years back. Lucy and the kids are constantly haunted by their unpleasant memories, yet they seem to be seas apart. Lucy is a math geek who tries to perceive the world in mathematical language, but she finds that not everything fits easily in a practical frame. Life eventually makes her realize that pain can be endless but love too can be so.
In the marvelously penned story, Emily takes us on an emotional journey in the shoes of a traumatized seventh grader. Sprinting through jumbled thoughts, complicated human interactions, and silent struggles, we finally reach a beautiful conclusion that inspires our heart to hold a place for hope.The book also tells us that death does not necessarily mean the end of someone. Loved ones live beyond time and space in our memories, in our thoughts, in our heart.
The character of Avery holds a special place in my mind. Although the story has been narrated from Lucy’s perspective, the author has done a brilliant job in portraying Avery’s desperation to escape her identity and reality.
I will admit that my attention was not immediately conquered by the book, but things began to work in no time as the story progressed.
A must read for people of all ages.
(I have received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
August 8, 2021
Twelve years old Lucy's family moved to a new town for a fresh start after the loss of their five years old baby boy from a congenital heart defect. Lucy found out that her new room belonged to a dead girl her age, who died in an elementary school shooting where 27 other kids died. Lucy's new classmates were third graders when the shooting happened, and everyone of them has his/her story of surviving or loss and therapy.
The author was the narrator of this audio-book and I liked it. Both the story and the narration.
PS. I got this audio-book via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
The author was the narrator of this audio-book and I liked it. Both the story and the narration.
PS. I got this audio-book via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
August 29, 2021
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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This review will appear on my site on September 3, 2021.
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AfterMath is the third book I have read this year that has dealt with a school shooting before or after the fact. AfterMath is a middle grades novel by Emily Barth Isler and the title has mul-tiple meanings. The idea for AfterMath came to Isler after the December 2, 2015 shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino, California. She had a baby and a 4-year-old at the time.
Each chapter of AfterMath begins with a Math problem. Our main character is Lucy who is twelve years old and dealing with the death of her younger brother from a rare congenital heart defect. Dealing with the loss, Lucy’s parents decide to move. They move to where her parents have a shorter commute, but they also move to a town that has not had new mem-bers to the community since there was a school shooting four years earlier. Not only that, but Lucy is also the age of the students who were victims of the shooting. The house they move into was also the home of a girl her age who died in the shooting.
Lucy’s adjustment to a new school in a unique situation at an awkward time of life is our sto-ry. There are so many important issues addressed in this book with loss and grief being at the forefront. PTSD in various forms is also addressed along with bullying. For one particu-lar student we see the effects of how the sins of one person affect another who had nothing to do with said sin. We see how everyone experiences their grief in different ways, and the way Lucy does this is not telling anyone at her new school about the recent loss of her brother.
I really liked Lucy and how we see her love of Math despite having problems with learning the concept of Infinity. We see how she grows over the course of the novel. We also get to know Avery through Lucy, a girl whom everyone at the school avoids. We also see Lucy’s homelife with her parents and mysterious math jokes appearing in her room. Lucy has a good relationship with her math teacher who also teaches her after-school mime class.
This is a great book for those in the middle grades age group. I listened to the audiobook version which the author also narrated. She brought a special voice to the novel. I received an arc copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
AfterMath is definitely recommended for the middle grades ages readers.
~~~~
This review will appear on my site on September 3, 2021.
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AfterMath is the third book I have read this year that has dealt with a school shooting before or after the fact. AfterMath is a middle grades novel by Emily Barth Isler and the title has mul-tiple meanings. The idea for AfterMath came to Isler after the December 2, 2015 shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino, California. She had a baby and a 4-year-old at the time.
Each chapter of AfterMath begins with a Math problem. Our main character is Lucy who is twelve years old and dealing with the death of her younger brother from a rare congenital heart defect. Dealing with the loss, Lucy’s parents decide to move. They move to where her parents have a shorter commute, but they also move to a town that has not had new mem-bers to the community since there was a school shooting four years earlier. Not only that, but Lucy is also the age of the students who were victims of the shooting. The house they move into was also the home of a girl her age who died in the shooting.
Lucy’s adjustment to a new school in a unique situation at an awkward time of life is our sto-ry. There are so many important issues addressed in this book with loss and grief being at the forefront. PTSD in various forms is also addressed along with bullying. For one particu-lar student we see the effects of how the sins of one person affect another who had nothing to do with said sin. We see how everyone experiences their grief in different ways, and the way Lucy does this is not telling anyone at her new school about the recent loss of her brother.
I really liked Lucy and how we see her love of Math despite having problems with learning the concept of Infinity. We see how she grows over the course of the novel. We also get to know Avery through Lucy, a girl whom everyone at the school avoids. We also see Lucy’s homelife with her parents and mysterious math jokes appearing in her room. Lucy has a good relationship with her math teacher who also teaches her after-school mime class.
This is a great book for those in the middle grades age group. I listened to the audiobook version which the author also narrated. She brought a special voice to the novel. I received an arc copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
AfterMath is definitely recommended for the middle grades ages readers.
August 31, 2021
It’s so good. It hits you right in the feels from the very beginning and just never lets up.
Lucy's parents decide to move after her little brother dies of a heart defect. They think of it as a new start, but they also decide that the best place to do that is the Washington suburb where a gunman entered an elementary school and killed a lot of people fours years earlier. And Lucy starts the new school year as not only the first new student since the incident but in the same grade as the survivors. I'm not going to talk more about the plot because I truly appreciate the little twists, turns, and revelations that Barth Isler worked into it. It shows the different levels and reactions to events in a very humanistic way.
There are very dark topics touched in a way that I think is perfectly appropriate for the target age. I also particularly enjoyed the way the author manages to weave healing and hope into the story in such a way that shows that it's not just about getting 'over' trauma but learning to live with and accept it.
It hits hard to read this fictionalized school where kids talk about dead friends and go into serious PTSD episodes when the fire alarm accidentally goes off because I can easily picture it happening for real. It's a sad truth of today's world where bulletproof backpacks are sold. But I appreciate how it can give a voice and a story to prove that you can move on from the worst moments in your life.
I would particularly like to give kudos to the author for the brilliant wordplay involved in the title and Lucy's love of Math. Just that element would be worthy of praise.
The audiobook narration was very good, and it makes sense because it's read by the author. She knows when to hit what key in order to elicit the right emotion for the scene. It shows that the person doing the narration cares about the story.
Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks for the emotional early listen!
Lucy's parents decide to move after her little brother dies of a heart defect. They think of it as a new start, but they also decide that the best place to do that is the Washington suburb where a gunman entered an elementary school and killed a lot of people fours years earlier. And Lucy starts the new school year as not only the first new student since the incident but in the same grade as the survivors. I'm not going to talk more about the plot because I truly appreciate the little twists, turns, and revelations that Barth Isler worked into it. It shows the different levels and reactions to events in a very humanistic way.
There are very dark topics touched in a way that I think is perfectly appropriate for the target age. I also particularly enjoyed the way the author manages to weave healing and hope into the story in such a way that shows that it's not just about getting 'over' trauma but learning to live with and accept it.
It hits hard to read this fictionalized school where kids talk about dead friends and go into serious PTSD episodes when the fire alarm accidentally goes off because I can easily picture it happening for real. It's a sad truth of today's world where bulletproof backpacks are sold. But I appreciate how it can give a voice and a story to prove that you can move on from the worst moments in your life.
I would particularly like to give kudos to the author for the brilliant wordplay involved in the title and Lucy's love of Math. Just that element would be worthy of praise.
The audiobook narration was very good, and it makes sense because it's read by the author. She knows when to hit what key in order to elicit the right emotion for the scene. It shows that the person doing the narration cares about the story.
Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Audiobooks for the emotional early listen!
August 29, 2021
This is a story that at some times was quite hard. It’s always going to be difficult subject matter. A death of a child. This took the different route of it being told through the eyes of the sister. It gave insight into her feelings and her thoughts which I suspect sometimes gets lost. It was sensitively done and I could imagine being a useful tool for children to use who have been or are going through a similar situation. The narrator of this audio book was the author which was great and I it was easy to listen to her telling of the story.
Thank you @netgalley for this arc
Thank you @netgalley for this arc
October 2, 2021
I was fascinated by the setting - a school and town after a shooting that left an entire community grieving. Lucy is new to the school and town but she's not without her own grief after losing her younger brother to a chronic illness. This book so expertly portrayed the many facets of grief and how none of us are immune to it but may show it in different ways. I loved how even Lucy's parents struggle with their own grief in different ways and stumble on the way to moving forward. While the subject matter is at time difficult, there is humor and some fun math jokes (yes I said FUN math jokes) sprinkled throughout that provide some much-needed tension relief.
Due to my busy schedule, I toggled back and forth from reading to listening to the audio version (read by the author) and while I enjoyed the read, the author is a wonderful narrator. By about 2/3 of the way through, I switched over to the audio and didn't switch back.
Highly recommended.
Due to my busy schedule, I toggled back and forth from reading to listening to the audio version (read by the author) and while I enjoyed the read, the author is a wonderful narrator. By about 2/3 of the way through, I switched over to the audio and didn't switch back.
Highly recommended.
January 16, 2022
This is a desperately sad story about death and survivors—I felt weepy most of the time I was reading it. But it also very gently deals with grief and the pain that comes after “the worst” happens. It’s a very simple powerful story of resilience and hope.
September 17, 2021
Middle grade books are not usually something I'm interested in reading, but I decided to check this one out since it was partly inspired by a mass shooting that happened not too far from where I lived. This is a heavy book for middle grade children but there were some important lessons that come out of this book.
I liked how there were math analogies to life and grief throughout the book because it frames some abstract concepts in a different way. Isler was able to write a deeply emotive story in a relatively short book.
⚠️: gun violence, death of a loved one, grief
Thank you to Emily Barth Isler for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review
I liked how there were math analogies to life and grief throughout the book because it frames some abstract concepts in a different way. Isler was able to write a deeply emotive story in a relatively short book.
⚠️: gun violence, death of a loved one, grief
Thank you to Emily Barth Isler for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 21, 2021
3.8
Wow, este libro fue tan fuerte y tan bonito a la vez :')
Trata sobre un tema muy delicado y lo hace de una manera muy personal, muy realista, así que me terminó encantado.
Amé que el libro estuviera narrado en primera persona para ver todo lo que pensaba nuestra protagonista, esto me hizo empatizar muy rápido con ella: love you Lucy <3
Y de verdad no puedo con la cantidad de sentimientos reunidos en este libro, es impresionante como nada se siente fuera de lugar, si no que es como un viaje.
Y bueno por ahora no tengo más que decir, esperen la reseña completa en el Wrap Up mensual de Libros Amino ;)
Wow, este libro fue tan fuerte y tan bonito a la vez :')
Trata sobre un tema muy delicado y lo hace de una manera muy personal, muy realista, así que me terminó encantado.
Amé que el libro estuviera narrado en primera persona para ver todo lo que pensaba nuestra protagonista, esto me hizo empatizar muy rápido con ella: love you Lucy <3
Y de verdad no puedo con la cantidad de sentimientos reunidos en este libro, es impresionante como nada se siente fuera de lugar, si no que es como un viaje.
Y bueno por ahora no tengo más que decir, esperen la reseña completa en el Wrap Up mensual de Libros Amino ;)
July 20, 2021
Welcome Back!
Pretty recently I decided to change how I was reading just a little bit. So typically, I juggle a physical book, a graphic novel or manga, audiobook, and maybe a kindle book. However, I decided to change that up a bit! I upgraded my phone a few months ago and honestly, I love reading on it! It allows me to read wherever without bringing my kindle (do not get me wrong I still love my kindle and read on it a lot) but if for example, I am waiting for an appointment I would have my phone with me but maybe not my kindle. So one day I was waiting for something (I honestly forget) and I decided to try a book on my phone! I honestly loved it and ended up reading most of the book on my phone, so while it already sounded like a lot of books to juggle, I decided to add a phone book or phone read to the list. I do not even have to be out of the house to read this one, perhaps I am not feeling well but I have my phone with me on the couch, I might read on my phone for a bit. I really enjoy it and that brings me to my first phone read, Aftermath!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Lucy is not ready for literally everything in her life to change but her parents are and so Lucy really has no choice. Lucy's little brother recently passed away of a congenital heart defect and now Lucy is not really sure how things are supposed to be. They have been a family of four, living in the same house and same town for almost her whole life. But now, they are moving and not to just anywhere. They are moving to a town, where there was school shooting. Lucy, will attend the school where the shooting happened and be in the same grade as the kids who were there that day and many of them lost classmates or people they cared about. Lucy knows this type of loss is not the same as her brother but she is really unsure what to expect. When the first day of school comes, Lucy learns quickly that she is the first new kid at the school since the shooting (it's been a few years) and everyone is very open about their experiences that day. Lucy is finding it really hard to make any friends, or adjust, and she is not telling anyone about her brother. On top of that her favorite subject and class (math) is suddenly not as concrete as it has always been when the teacher starts talking about the concept of infinity which Lucy does not get at all. Outside of school, things are anything but normal at home, she does not have her friends from back home and things with her parents are weird. They do not really talk about her brother and her mom is buying tons of stuff for the new house. Also Lucy quickly finds out her room belonged to one of the girls who died in the shooting. On top of all of that, someone is leaving math jokes in Lucy's room. Can things look up for Lucy in this new town? Can she open up to her parents about her struggles with her brother's death? With her new school? With her favorite subject?
When I started this book on my phone while waiting for my appt, I was honestly unsure what it was about and if I would really enjoy it. However, when my appt time came and went I found myself just wanting to read more of the story and find out what happens to Lucy. Lucy and honestly all of her classmates and the town's story were heartbreaking but I enjoyed my time with this story. This book covers a lot of deep and hard-hitting topics but it is done very gracefully and written incredibly well.
Pretty recently I decided to change how I was reading just a little bit. So typically, I juggle a physical book, a graphic novel or manga, audiobook, and maybe a kindle book. However, I decided to change that up a bit! I upgraded my phone a few months ago and honestly, I love reading on it! It allows me to read wherever without bringing my kindle (do not get me wrong I still love my kindle and read on it a lot) but if for example, I am waiting for an appointment I would have my phone with me but maybe not my kindle. So one day I was waiting for something (I honestly forget) and I decided to try a book on my phone! I honestly loved it and ended up reading most of the book on my phone, so while it already sounded like a lot of books to juggle, I decided to add a phone book or phone read to the list. I do not even have to be out of the house to read this one, perhaps I am not feeling well but I have my phone with me on the couch, I might read on my phone for a bit. I really enjoy it and that brings me to my first phone read, Aftermath!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Lucy is not ready for literally everything in her life to change but her parents are and so Lucy really has no choice. Lucy's little brother recently passed away of a congenital heart defect and now Lucy is not really sure how things are supposed to be. They have been a family of four, living in the same house and same town for almost her whole life. But now, they are moving and not to just anywhere. They are moving to a town, where there was school shooting. Lucy, will attend the school where the shooting happened and be in the same grade as the kids who were there that day and many of them lost classmates or people they cared about. Lucy knows this type of loss is not the same as her brother but she is really unsure what to expect. When the first day of school comes, Lucy learns quickly that she is the first new kid at the school since the shooting (it's been a few years) and everyone is very open about their experiences that day. Lucy is finding it really hard to make any friends, or adjust, and she is not telling anyone about her brother. On top of that her favorite subject and class (math) is suddenly not as concrete as it has always been when the teacher starts talking about the concept of infinity which Lucy does not get at all. Outside of school, things are anything but normal at home, she does not have her friends from back home and things with her parents are weird. They do not really talk about her brother and her mom is buying tons of stuff for the new house. Also Lucy quickly finds out her room belonged to one of the girls who died in the shooting. On top of all of that, someone is leaving math jokes in Lucy's room. Can things look up for Lucy in this new town? Can she open up to her parents about her struggles with her brother's death? With her new school? With her favorite subject?
When I started this book on my phone while waiting for my appt, I was honestly unsure what it was about and if I would really enjoy it. However, when my appt time came and went I found myself just wanting to read more of the story and find out what happens to Lucy. Lucy and honestly all of her classmates and the town's story were heartbreaking but I enjoyed my time with this story. This book covers a lot of deep and hard-hitting topics but it is done very gracefully and written incredibly well.
August 11, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
AfterMath is a sensitively written coming-of-age novel by Emily Barth Isler. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Lerner Books on their Carolrhoda imprint, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is such a warm and thoughtful book for middle grades and older. Despite the heavy themes of sudden violent loss, death, trauma, grief, painful family and friendship relations, and the general upheaval of adolescence, there are moments of humor and fun woven throughout. The author has a real gift with writing that engages and informs without ever being maudlin or preachy. Although it has been decades since I was Lucy's age, I think the honesty of the writing will touch most readers whatever their age.
The author's positive and supportive matter-of-fact discussion of mental health issues and support for grief and healing are vitally important. She touches on the upside-down roles of parents and the "problem free" kid in families with a seriously ill or dying sibling; and she does so in a genuine and realistic way.
I liked the character portrayals. They were believable and the author wrote them as living breathing people. They weren't perfect and the adults didn't have all the answers. I especially loved Mr. Jackson, Lucy's math teacher. He's such a positively portrayed, engaged, caring, and intelligent character. I appreciated that the author wrote inclusive, respectful, and positive portrayals of other ethnicities and backgrounds. Representation is important. It felt brave of the author to tackle the issues which she did and she did them so well.
The audiobook is narrated by the author herself and has a run time of 5 hours 7 minutes. She does a stellar job of delineating the characters' voices and keeping them distinct from one another. I had no trouble keeping them separate in my head during listening.
Five stars. Genuinely important and well written middle grade book. I would recommend it for public and school library acquisition, reading groups, and home use. The book includes study question prompts for discussions in the back of the book. Potential trigger warnings, shooting death, discussion of grief and mental health issues, death of a child.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
AfterMath is a sensitively written coming-of-age novel by Emily Barth Isler. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Lerner Books on their Carolrhoda imprint, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is such a warm and thoughtful book for middle grades and older. Despite the heavy themes of sudden violent loss, death, trauma, grief, painful family and friendship relations, and the general upheaval of adolescence, there are moments of humor and fun woven throughout. The author has a real gift with writing that engages and informs without ever being maudlin or preachy. Although it has been decades since I was Lucy's age, I think the honesty of the writing will touch most readers whatever their age.
The author's positive and supportive matter-of-fact discussion of mental health issues and support for grief and healing are vitally important. She touches on the upside-down roles of parents and the "problem free" kid in families with a seriously ill or dying sibling; and she does so in a genuine and realistic way.
I liked the character portrayals. They were believable and the author wrote them as living breathing people. They weren't perfect and the adults didn't have all the answers. I especially loved Mr. Jackson, Lucy's math teacher. He's such a positively portrayed, engaged, caring, and intelligent character. I appreciated that the author wrote inclusive, respectful, and positive portrayals of other ethnicities and backgrounds. Representation is important. It felt brave of the author to tackle the issues which she did and she did them so well.
The audiobook is narrated by the author herself and has a run time of 5 hours 7 minutes. She does a stellar job of delineating the characters' voices and keeping them distinct from one another. I had no trouble keeping them separate in my head during listening.
Five stars. Genuinely important and well written middle grade book. I would recommend it for public and school library acquisition, reading groups, and home use. The book includes study question prompts for discussions in the back of the book. Potential trigger warnings, shooting death, discussion of grief and mental health issues, death of a child.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 11, 2021
Aftermath turned out to be a heartwarming middle grade book. It follows Lucy, who starts at a new school after her brother dies due to a heart condition. Years before her starting at this new school, there was a school shooting, and her classmates are still dealing with the trauma. Lucy struggles to make friends, but clings to her love of math, and joins an after school mime class. Throughout the story, she learns more about grief, friendship, and love.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of math within the story. I was a math nerd at Lucy's age, and I appreciated the math jokes her father leaves for her.
The author drew inspiration from other school shootings in America, and she tackles this incredibly difficult subject in a way that is age appropriate for the middle grade reading level. She incorporates grief and trauma in ways that the target audience can understand.
The author narrates the audiobook, and I can tell that great care and love went into not just the creation of the book, but in the narration as well.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free audio copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of math within the story. I was a math nerd at Lucy's age, and I appreciated the math jokes her father leaves for her.
The author drew inspiration from other school shootings in America, and she tackles this incredibly difficult subject in a way that is age appropriate for the middle grade reading level. She incorporates grief and trauma in ways that the target audience can understand.
The author narrates the audiobook, and I can tell that great care and love went into not just the creation of the book, but in the narration as well.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free audio copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2022
I heard the author talk on one of the podcasts I listen to and immediately ordered the book. Not sure exactly what she said to prompt such a decisive move on my part, but it was well worth it! While it’s a YA book, I truly enjoyed it. Great messages for young and old and really promoted thinking outside your own experience and appreciating a respecting the trauma others carry.
May 9, 2024
Middle grade for the win again. This was beautifully written and I know why it has landed on many award lists. Grief is a hard subject to write about and talk about, but this book did such a good job covering a family dealing with it, a young girl dealing with it, and entire class dealing with it. Must read!
February 5, 2025
AfterMath yo! Who Knew life Could Be This Relatable.
I hate algebra , yet this book had me weirdly invested in its little quiz questions. Lucy is effortlessly cool, the characters feel real, and the story proves everyone’s fighting battles you can’t see. It made me laugh, made me think, and against all odds low-key proves that every problem has a solution! Q: How many time can you subtract 5 from 25? A: only once because then you’re subtracting 5 from 20 😂
I hate algebra , yet this book had me weirdly invested in its little quiz questions. Lucy is effortlessly cool, the characters feel real, and the story proves everyone’s fighting battles you can’t see. It made me laugh, made me think, and against all odds low-key proves that every problem has a solution! Q: How many time can you subtract 5 from 25? A: only once because then you’re subtracting 5 from 20 😂
August 13, 2021
Complete review (in Spanish): Instagram @entre.mi.libro.y.yo
I REALLY liked this book.
I liked that it talks about grieve and duel in a very innocent way, making us readers feel the sadness but also understand the protagonist during the changes she goes through in the book.
I also liked that Lucy tries to solve her personal problems as if they were math problems, as an engineer, I could relate to that.
The way that the author narrates the book is very special, making different voices for different characters and never sounding boring or monotonous.
Thanks for this wonderful story Emily, and thanks for letting me hear it Netgalley!
I REALLY liked this book.
I liked that it talks about grieve and duel in a very innocent way, making us readers feel the sadness but also understand the protagonist during the changes she goes through in the book.
I also liked that Lucy tries to solve her personal problems as if they were math problems, as an engineer, I could relate to that.
The way that the author narrates the book is very special, making different voices for different characters and never sounding boring or monotonous.
Thanks for this wonderful story Emily, and thanks for letting me hear it Netgalley!
October 14, 2021
Format: audiobook
Author: Emily Barth Isler ~ Title: AfterMath ~ Narrator: Emily Barth Isler
Content: 5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
TW: terminal illness, school shooting, PTSD
Complete audiobook review
AfterMath is a story of a twelve-year-old Lucy. Her brother died recently, and she moved with her family to a town full of grieving after a mass shooting in a local school. I liked all the math problems at the beginning of the chapters. And I love how Lucy is thinking and her explanations with maths throughout the book.
This is a very good coming-of-age story, but there’s a lot of sadness in this book. It is a middle-grade novel, but maybe it’s a bit too dark for this age group. I would recommend it, but I don’t think I would recommend it for middle-grade readers. Maybe in some exceptional cases. I would recommend it for adult readers who like serious topics in the middle-grade genre.
The narrator is the author herself, and I liked her narration. You could sense all the emotions in her voice.
Thanks to the Lerner Audiobooks for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.
Author: Emily Barth Isler ~ Title: AfterMath ~ Narrator: Emily Barth Isler
Content: 5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
TW: terminal illness, school shooting, PTSD
Complete audiobook review
AfterMath is a story of a twelve-year-old Lucy. Her brother died recently, and she moved with her family to a town full of grieving after a mass shooting in a local school. I liked all the math problems at the beginning of the chapters. And I love how Lucy is thinking and her explanations with maths throughout the book.
This is a very good coming-of-age story, but there’s a lot of sadness in this book. It is a middle-grade novel, but maybe it’s a bit too dark for this age group. I would recommend it, but I don’t think I would recommend it for middle-grade readers. Maybe in some exceptional cases. I would recommend it for adult readers who like serious topics in the middle-grade genre.
The narrator is the author herself, and I liked her narration. You could sense all the emotions in her voice.
Thanks to the Lerner Audiobooks for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.
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