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Before the Ever After
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2020)
National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson’s stirring novel-in-verse explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed and the cost of professional sports on Black bodies.
For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone’s hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he’s as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. But lately life at ZJ’s house is anything but charming. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time. ZJ’s mom explains it’s because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. ZJ can understand that–but it doesn’t make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can’t remember it. And most importantly, can those happy feelings ever be reclaimed when they are all so busy aching for the past?
For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone’s hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he’s as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. But lately life at ZJ’s house is anything but charming. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time. ZJ’s mom explains it’s because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. ZJ can understand that–but it doesn’t make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can’t remember it. And most importantly, can those happy feelings ever be reclaimed when they are all so busy aching for the past?
161 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
298 people are currently reading
22899 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Woodson
90 books9,126 followersI used to say I’d be a teacher or a lawyer or a hairdresser when I grew up but even as I said these things, I knew what made me happiest was writing.
I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories.
I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade.
That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange.
Lots and lots of books later, I am still surprised when I walk into a bookstore and see my name on a book’s binder. Sometimes, when I’m sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing’s coming to me, I remember my fifth grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said “This is really good.” The way, I — the skinny girl in the back of the classroom who was always getting into trouble for talking or missed homework assignments — sat up a little straighter, folded my hands on the desks, smiled and began to believe in me.
I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories.
I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade.
That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange.
Lots and lots of books later, I am still surprised when I walk into a bookstore and see my name on a book’s binder. Sometimes, when I’m sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing’s coming to me, I remember my fifth grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said “This is really good.” The way, I — the skinny girl in the back of the classroom who was always getting into trouble for talking or missed homework assignments — sat up a little straighter, folded my hands on the desks, smiled and began to believe in me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,691 reviews
March 2, 2021
I like football.
This is somehow both one of the most embarrassing and most surprising things about me. I am doomed to an existence of not only knowing the names of coaches and players on my favorite team (cough, go Birds, cough), but of being eternally condescended to when every single man I have ever encountered finds out I know these names.
I receive the equivalent of a pat on the head and a Dum-Dum pop, every time.
Anyway. I do enjoy football, perhaps too much, but it is the worst sport in existence and I am ashamed of it. Not only does it make extremely bigoted, extremely white, extremely old men richer and richer, it also continues to employ misogynists and violent criminals. And as if that weren't enough, it quite literally destroys the brains of everyone who plays it.
And yet, I and millions of other people keep watching.
I picked this book up because I have a 100% success rate with Jacqueline Woodson books. I did not read the synopsis because of a little thing called TRUST. And I'm glad I didn't. Because this book is about a football player and his family dealing with the effects of CTE, and out of willful ignorance, if I had known that, I likely wouldn't have picked it up.
But I'm glad I did.
Bottom line: Jacqueline Woodson does it again!
----------------
pre-review
i think if i had read the synopsis of this, i probably wouldn't have picked it up - which is exactly why it was something i needed to read.
review to come / 3.5 stars
----------------
currently-reading updates
don't mind me, just slowly but surely trying to read every Jacqueline Woodson book i see
This is somehow both one of the most embarrassing and most surprising things about me. I am doomed to an existence of not only knowing the names of coaches and players on my favorite team (cough, go Birds, cough), but of being eternally condescended to when every single man I have ever encountered finds out I know these names.
I receive the equivalent of a pat on the head and a Dum-Dum pop, every time.
Anyway. I do enjoy football, perhaps too much, but it is the worst sport in existence and I am ashamed of it. Not only does it make extremely bigoted, extremely white, extremely old men richer and richer, it also continues to employ misogynists and violent criminals. And as if that weren't enough, it quite literally destroys the brains of everyone who plays it.
And yet, I and millions of other people keep watching.
I picked this book up because I have a 100% success rate with Jacqueline Woodson books. I did not read the synopsis because of a little thing called TRUST. And I'm glad I didn't. Because this book is about a football player and his family dealing with the effects of CTE, and out of willful ignorance, if I had known that, I likely wouldn't have picked it up.
But I'm glad I did.
Bottom line: Jacqueline Woodson does it again!
----------------
pre-review
i think if i had read the synopsis of this, i probably wouldn't have picked it up - which is exactly why it was something i needed to read.
review to come / 3.5 stars
----------------
currently-reading updates
don't mind me, just slowly but surely trying to read every Jacqueline Woodson book i see
September 20, 2020
4.5 Stars. I'm telling ya'll Jacqueline Woodson can do no wrong
Before the Ever After is such a short novel (under 200 pages) but holy crap does it pack a punch. I first became aware of CTE after watching Concussion with Will Smith. When I realized that Woodson was telling a fictionalized account of CTE I knew that it would be a book that I needed to pick up. However, what is so interesting about this book is that Woodson takes the opportunity to show the reader how CTE affects family members specifically children. ZJ slowly watches his father deteriorate from CTE and has to somehow manage to continue to live as normal of a life as possible. It was heartbreaking. Woodson has the ability to write in such a poetic manner that forces you to truly connect with plight of her characters. My heart broke for ZJ because while his father continued to change, ZJ never stop loving his father and he used some of their best memories to keep himself going.
There are also some great secondary characters including ZJ's friends. It was the epitome of friends supporting another friend that was going through a tough time. They were capable of supporting ZJ without even bringing up specific details about his father which was great because ZJ wasn't in a place where he felt comfortable talking about it. It was great to see him so supported without ever having to directly ask for it. There was also this element of familial support. Not everyone was nice to ZJ's family, but I think that it was important that ZJ was able to decipher who was willing to support his family during this tough time.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It was great, but I expect nothing less from Woodson. I listened to this on audio and would highly recommend it. The author does a wonderful job capturing the emotion that ZJ experiences as he watches his father struggle with CTE. I know there were a couple of times that he made my eyes water.
Before the Ever After is such a short novel (under 200 pages) but holy crap does it pack a punch. I first became aware of CTE after watching Concussion with Will Smith. When I realized that Woodson was telling a fictionalized account of CTE I knew that it would be a book that I needed to pick up. However, what is so interesting about this book is that Woodson takes the opportunity to show the reader how CTE affects family members specifically children. ZJ slowly watches his father deteriorate from CTE and has to somehow manage to continue to live as normal of a life as possible. It was heartbreaking. Woodson has the ability to write in such a poetic manner that forces you to truly connect with plight of her characters. My heart broke for ZJ because while his father continued to change, ZJ never stop loving his father and he used some of their best memories to keep himself going.
There are also some great secondary characters including ZJ's friends. It was the epitome of friends supporting another friend that was going through a tough time. They were capable of supporting ZJ without even bringing up specific details about his father which was great because ZJ wasn't in a place where he felt comfortable talking about it. It was great to see him so supported without ever having to directly ask for it. There was also this element of familial support. Not everyone was nice to ZJ's family, but I think that it was important that ZJ was able to decipher who was willing to support his family during this tough time.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It was great, but I expect nothing less from Woodson. I listened to this on audio and would highly recommend it. The author does a wonderful job capturing the emotion that ZJ experiences as he watches his father struggle with CTE. I know there were a couple of times that he made my eyes water.
January 31, 2025
Before the Ever After relayed the story of a child of a retired professional football player before his world upended when his father was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
I always have had a mixed relationship with poetry, but I know that I am always a fan of prose that was written as a story. Woodson presents fascinating people for whom readers will feel strongly. As they confront the heartbreaking fact that football fame, which was once a distant fantasy, has now become the great undoer. The story is straightforward and never complex, yet it conveys the experience of being perplexed by life's unexpected and unexplainable happenings. Readers struggling with physical or mental illness in the family may find this book useful. It was heartfelt, hopeful, and informative as well.
This was such a unique experience and an excellent book for provoking thoughts. Aside from opening the door to a greater conversation about CTE and athletes, it also provides a mosaic of the deep truths about what it means to have a family and to be fortunate enough to have friends who stand by you through good times and bad.
While I understand it wouldn't gravitate many readers, as I was saying, this is still beautiful reading despite becoming a little heartbreaking at times.
I always have had a mixed relationship with poetry, but I know that I am always a fan of prose that was written as a story. Woodson presents fascinating people for whom readers will feel strongly. As they confront the heartbreaking fact that football fame, which was once a distant fantasy, has now become the great undoer. The story is straightforward and never complex, yet it conveys the experience of being perplexed by life's unexpected and unexplainable happenings. Readers struggling with physical or mental illness in the family may find this book useful. It was heartfelt, hopeful, and informative as well.
This was such a unique experience and an excellent book for provoking thoughts. Aside from opening the door to a greater conversation about CTE and athletes, it also provides a mosaic of the deep truths about what it means to have a family and to be fortunate enough to have friends who stand by you through good times and bad.
While I understand it wouldn't gravitate many readers, as I was saying, this is still beautiful reading despite becoming a little heartbreaking at times.
September 20, 2024
This book talks about the late 90s and early 2000s and tells the story of ZJ whose father is a popular football player in those times.
His dad began losing his memories, started losing his abilities to perform his daily activities gradually. He began experiencing severe headaches, mood swings, confusion, depression and aggression which became very difficult for young ZJ and his mother to cope.
But I love how ZJ's mother being the strong woman she's, never letting the situation disrupt the family's harmony and playing a strong parent for ZJ.
I love how the words in verse described the pain and agony of not only gradually losing the prestige, the popularity, the adoration for someone who used to be so popular as experienced by the father who's suffering from Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition unknown during those days.
I love how supportive the friends, the relatives and the community are in the story. ZJ's friends are the best! Love how adorable these kids are!
A heart-wrenching but a beautiful, hopeful read I definitely am putting this book in my list of best middle grade books ever!
I love the author's note towards the end of the book describing the condition ZJ's father was going through, the same brain disease affecting boxers.
CTE, a degenerative brain disease is generally found in sportsmen who have suffered repeated blows to the head. There's still no cure but yes, thorough research throughout the years have shown some clarity to the condition.
Such an insightful and informative read. Amazing middle grade book!
One of the best 2020 releases 💯
His dad began losing his memories, started losing his abilities to perform his daily activities gradually. He began experiencing severe headaches, mood swings, confusion, depression and aggression which became very difficult for young ZJ and his mother to cope.
But I love how ZJ's mother being the strong woman she's, never letting the situation disrupt the family's harmony and playing a strong parent for ZJ.
I love how the words in verse described the pain and agony of not only gradually losing the prestige, the popularity, the adoration for someone who used to be so popular as experienced by the father who's suffering from Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition unknown during those days.
I love how supportive the friends, the relatives and the community are in the story. ZJ's friends are the best! Love how adorable these kids are!
A heart-wrenching but a beautiful, hopeful read I definitely am putting this book in my list of best middle grade books ever!
I love the author's note towards the end of the book describing the condition ZJ's father was going through, the same brain disease affecting boxers.
CTE, a degenerative brain disease is generally found in sportsmen who have suffered repeated blows to the head. There's still no cure but yes, thorough research throughout the years have shown some clarity to the condition.
Such an insightful and informative read. Amazing middle grade book!
One of the best 2020 releases 💯
August 30, 2020
The calendar is about to turn to September. Leaves are starting to fall from the giant tree in our front yard, days are slowly becoming shorter, and in the mornings there is a crisp feel in the air marking an upcoming change in season. That can only mean one thing: football season. In this unprecedented year with sports adapting to changes as well as every facet of society, the NFL is about to embark to play a complete season. There are political undertones that make this year feel different, but the fan in me is giddy in anticipation for another season of football Sundays. To get me in the mood during this time of year when baseball and football overlap, I turned to a familiar author whose words should be mandatory reading for all Americans. Jacqueline Woodson has written a book about football, about the long term toll physical and mental health injuries take on families, and the place of retired athletes in society. While not your typical football book, Woodson’s writing is must read for me, so I knew I’d have to indulge in her latest poetry in motion before the season kicks off.
Zachariah Johnson, Jr., ZJ, is a typical twelve year old kid living in Maplewood, New Jersey. He is an aspiring song writer who enjoys experimenting with new tunes on his guitar and spends all of his free time with his boys Daniel, Darry, and Ollie. Yet, ZJ is not your typical twelve year old kid in that his father his star tight end Zachariah Johnson #44, the best his team (most likely the Giants [boo] ) ever had. The Johnson’s Maplewood home has a swimming pool, indoor basketball court, and a sprawling yard with oak, birch, pine, and fruit trees, all creature comforts of what a professional sports salary can buy. The Johnsons dote on ZJ, their only child, yet remain as humble as possible in their suburban community where Zachariah stands out as an NFL star. Everyone wants his autograph, all the boys want him to play in their touch football games as all time quarterback, and most kids at school gape in awe of ZJ when they find out who his dad is. Yet, ZJ is a kid who loves his mom’s maple pancakes and lemon cakes, Saturday mornings with his boys, and rap sessions with his dad. His dad might have won a Super Bowl and plays on Sunday night football, but to ZJ, Zachariah is his dad first, and a football star next. He is his father’s little man, and in their joint rap sessions, the two show deep love and admiration for each other as they create poetry in motion.
On New Year’s Eve of the new Millenium, ZJ’s world turns upside down as his dad starts forgetting things and experiencing excruciating headaches on a daily basis. By the time the new football season starts, Zachariah sits out every game. The headaches and moodiness become increasingly worse, and doctors do not know what is the matter. Whispers from his mom’s friends, other football wives, are rumors that Zachariah’s symptoms are becoming more and more common around the NFL, but no one knows what this disease or it’s cause is. It was not until 2016 that Dr Bennet Omalu published his findings in Concussion, linking repeated concussions and traumatic hits to the head to the brain disease known as CTE that is unfortunately now common in football players. Today all professional sports have a concussion protocol that their players have to pass to be allowed to play, with a battery of tests that football players must complete in order to be allowed back on the field. Many players have voluntarily cut their careers short after even one concussion because their long term health is more important to them than the fame and glory of an NFL career. This information was hardly a blip on the horizon twenty years ago, and players like Zachariah shuttled from doctor to doctor in hopes of finding what made their minds foggy. In the interim, their families coped with the new reality that their fathers/husbands were no longer everybody’s hero but men struggling to get through their lives.
While Zachariah becomes a shell of his former self, ZJ gives up tackle football for good after seeing what has happened to his dad. His boys got his back and they find plenty of other activities to take the place of football. This is more common today as even well known professional athletes have stated publicly that they do not want their children playing contact sports. ZJ finds an outlet in his music, poetry, and walks in the woods. Woodson writes this book in prose, and I have yet to find many writers who are as adept as she is at creating complex characterizations in a short amount of words. This book, at 160 pages, might be geared toward older, middle grade readers, exposing sports fans to poetry, but also a joy for adult readers who have long enjoyed Woodson’s work. As I have struggled to find many wholesome books for my kids over the years, Woodson has a knack for creating friendships where kids genuinely have their backs and there is little competition or tension between them. Her books are a throwback to books I read growing up where I knew that all of the protagonists, even if they coped with real life issues, were all friends and would get through life together. While ZJ and his friends move full speed toward their teen years, at a time where kids can be plain mean, Woodson has the fantastic four of ZJ, Daniel, Darry, and Ollie always supportive of each other through thick and thin. Their relationship brought a smile to my face as ZJ and his mom navigate the new life as care givers to their father/husband ahead of them.
With the NFL season hopefully starting in less than two weeks without a hitch, I have much to look forward to. My favorite player is on a new team and hopes to get back to the Super Bowl for an unheard of tenth time. That should keep my excitement level on high for the next five months; however, even with rules on the books to protect quarterbacks, brutal hits are always a possibility. Even the stars know that each game could be their last, something fans try not to think about. Jacqueline Woodson has crafted a story about the early days of CTE research in a way that kids can see the fine line between athlete and person, and mature readers can appreciate the love of writing she brings to each story. Woodson is truly a gift to this generation of readers of all ages. Each story is as exquisite as the last and I know that it will not be long until she births her next one. Anticipating her next book should keep me as giddy as I feel on a typical NFL Sunday.
4+ 🍁 🏈 🍂 stars
Zachariah Johnson, Jr., ZJ, is a typical twelve year old kid living in Maplewood, New Jersey. He is an aspiring song writer who enjoys experimenting with new tunes on his guitar and spends all of his free time with his boys Daniel, Darry, and Ollie. Yet, ZJ is not your typical twelve year old kid in that his father his star tight end Zachariah Johnson #44, the best his team (most likely the Giants [boo] ) ever had. The Johnson’s Maplewood home has a swimming pool, indoor basketball court, and a sprawling yard with oak, birch, pine, and fruit trees, all creature comforts of what a professional sports salary can buy. The Johnsons dote on ZJ, their only child, yet remain as humble as possible in their suburban community where Zachariah stands out as an NFL star. Everyone wants his autograph, all the boys want him to play in their touch football games as all time quarterback, and most kids at school gape in awe of ZJ when they find out who his dad is. Yet, ZJ is a kid who loves his mom’s maple pancakes and lemon cakes, Saturday mornings with his boys, and rap sessions with his dad. His dad might have won a Super Bowl and plays on Sunday night football, but to ZJ, Zachariah is his dad first, and a football star next. He is his father’s little man, and in their joint rap sessions, the two show deep love and admiration for each other as they create poetry in motion.
On New Year’s Eve of the new Millenium, ZJ’s world turns upside down as his dad starts forgetting things and experiencing excruciating headaches on a daily basis. By the time the new football season starts, Zachariah sits out every game. The headaches and moodiness become increasingly worse, and doctors do not know what is the matter. Whispers from his mom’s friends, other football wives, are rumors that Zachariah’s symptoms are becoming more and more common around the NFL, but no one knows what this disease or it’s cause is. It was not until 2016 that Dr Bennet Omalu published his findings in Concussion, linking repeated concussions and traumatic hits to the head to the brain disease known as CTE that is unfortunately now common in football players. Today all professional sports have a concussion protocol that their players have to pass to be allowed to play, with a battery of tests that football players must complete in order to be allowed back on the field. Many players have voluntarily cut their careers short after even one concussion because their long term health is more important to them than the fame and glory of an NFL career. This information was hardly a blip on the horizon twenty years ago, and players like Zachariah shuttled from doctor to doctor in hopes of finding what made their minds foggy. In the interim, their families coped with the new reality that their fathers/husbands were no longer everybody’s hero but men struggling to get through their lives.
While Zachariah becomes a shell of his former self, ZJ gives up tackle football for good after seeing what has happened to his dad. His boys got his back and they find plenty of other activities to take the place of football. This is more common today as even well known professional athletes have stated publicly that they do not want their children playing contact sports. ZJ finds an outlet in his music, poetry, and walks in the woods. Woodson writes this book in prose, and I have yet to find many writers who are as adept as she is at creating complex characterizations in a short amount of words. This book, at 160 pages, might be geared toward older, middle grade readers, exposing sports fans to poetry, but also a joy for adult readers who have long enjoyed Woodson’s work. As I have struggled to find many wholesome books for my kids over the years, Woodson has a knack for creating friendships where kids genuinely have their backs and there is little competition or tension between them. Her books are a throwback to books I read growing up where I knew that all of the protagonists, even if they coped with real life issues, were all friends and would get through life together. While ZJ and his friends move full speed toward their teen years, at a time where kids can be plain mean, Woodson has the fantastic four of ZJ, Daniel, Darry, and Ollie always supportive of each other through thick and thin. Their relationship brought a smile to my face as ZJ and his mom navigate the new life as care givers to their father/husband ahead of them.
With the NFL season hopefully starting in less than two weeks without a hitch, I have much to look forward to. My favorite player is on a new team and hopes to get back to the Super Bowl for an unheard of tenth time. That should keep my excitement level on high for the next five months; however, even with rules on the books to protect quarterbacks, brutal hits are always a possibility. Even the stars know that each game could be their last, something fans try not to think about. Jacqueline Woodson has crafted a story about the early days of CTE research in a way that kids can see the fine line between athlete and person, and mature readers can appreciate the love of writing she brings to each story. Woodson is truly a gift to this generation of readers of all ages. Each story is as exquisite as the last and I know that it will not be long until she births her next one. Anticipating her next book should keep me as giddy as I feel on a typical NFL Sunday.
4+ 🍁 🏈 🍂 stars
March 27, 2024
This was so good and totally heartbreaking. Highly recommend the audio version.
May 9, 2021
A short, 161 page book written in verse. This is narrated by ZJ, the son of a professional football player suffering from a neurodegenerative disease after a career filled with concussions. Quick read aimed for a middle grade audience, full of heart and hope.
November 15, 2020
Heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a story of a resilient family coping with change and loss due to the father's CTE. The story is told through the perspective of the son, ZJ. He recalls memories of happier times and talks of coming to terms with the circumstances of what is now. I loved how the mom cared for the dad and encouraged ZJ to find a new way to connect with his dad through music.
February 22, 2022
This is a middle grade written in verse. Books written in verse is hit or miss for me. I did not love this one, but I did not hate this one. This was a super quick read. I love the topic/storyline, but I feel it did not go deep enough in the story line.
November 20, 2020
"Before the Ever After" is a 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards finalist in the Best Middle Grade & Children's category.
Woodson's novel-in-verse tells the story of a young boy, ZJ, (aged approx. 9 - 12 throughout) who's struggling to understand his father's descent from star NFL player to man suffering from traumatic brain injury. Author Woodson was wise to set it in the '90s, when not much was known about the chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by hard-hitting days playing (American) football. That makes it easy for the reader to relate to ZJ as his young mind tries to piece together what is happening to his dad.
A book about football brain injuries isn't something I'd normally pick up, but Woodson makes the subject approachable through her lyrical prose. Time with her writing is always well spent.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Woodson's novel-in-verse tells the story of a young boy, ZJ, (aged approx. 9 - 12 throughout) who's struggling to understand his father's descent from star NFL player to man suffering from traumatic brain injury. Author Woodson was wise to set it in the '90s, when not much was known about the chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by hard-hitting days playing (American) football. That makes it easy for the reader to relate to ZJ as his young mind tries to piece together what is happening to his dad.
A book about football brain injuries isn't something I'd normally pick up, but Woodson makes the subject approachable through her lyrical prose. Time with her writing is always well spent.
3.5 stars rounded up.
October 7, 2020
5 stars!
Jacqueline Woodson is a renowned author whose works I’ve been wanting to read for a long time, but unfortunately, never got around to doing so. Luckily for me, a few days ago, my library hold for Woodson’s newly published novel, Before the Ever After , came through, so I decided to clear my schedule and read it immediately. Since I jumped into this one so quickly, I didn’t realize it was novel-in-verse format until I opened up to the first page. I had just finished Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X last month, which was my very first time reading a novel-in-verse, and seeing how much I loved that experience, it made me even more excited to get into this one.
At the center of this story is 12-year-old Zachariah Johnson Jr., or ZJ, as he is known to all his friends and family except his dad, whose special nickname for him is “Little Man.” As a charismatic and talented pro football superstar, ZJ’s dad is everyone’s hero -- a man beloved and admired by millions of people, from sports fans across the country to the neighborhood kids in the Maplewood, New Jersey town where the family lives. ZJ loves and adores his dad, but at times, he can’t help but feel that he is living in his dad’s shadow, even though his interest is in music and creating songs rather than playing pro ball like his dad. Aside from his parents, the only other people who see and love ZJ for who he is are “his boys”: best friends Darry, Ollie, and Daniel -- together, they are the Fantastic Four and no matter what happens, they are there for each other. Everything is going well – until it doesn’t. ZJ starts to notice his dad behaving strangely – he gets headaches a lot and seems to be angry or agitated all the time, but worst of all, he’s gotten forgetful to the point that he has trouble remembering his son’s name. ZJ’s mother explains that his dad’s behavior is due to all the head injuries from his football career, though his dad’s doctors seem to be trying to figure things out still. When his dad’s condition starts to fluctuate more frequently – one minute, he is the dad who sings with ZJ and always has a big grin for his Little Man, but the next minute, he is staring into space and is unable to remember his surroundings – ZJ struggles to come to terms with the realization that this is his family’s new “ever after.” As ZJ tries desperately to hold on to the happy memories of the past, he gradually learns to face this new reality with the love and support of his family and friends.
I’m not a sports fan whatsoever — in fact, my knowledge in this area is so limited that I can barely tell one athlete apart from another (my friends who are into sports often tease me about getting teams and players mixed up, sometimes even across disciplines). Given this, I normally would not pick up a sports-related book to read, but in this instance, I decided to go for it because 1) the author is Jacqueline Woodson (see first paragraph for further explanation) and 2) the premise sounded interesting, plus this is a short book (less than 200 pages) so it would be a quick read for me. In the end, I didn’t have to worry, as the story turned out to be more about the sports players and their families rather than the intricacies of the sport itself (though with that said, without football as the central theme, the story probably would not have worked as well as it did).
Those who are familiar with my book reviews know that I can be quite stingy when it comes to rating a book 5 stars. I sometimes go with gut reaction, but more often than not, it takes a lot of careful reflecting and pondering (and at times, agonizing) on my part to reach the “this deserves 5 stars” point. Well, this book captured my heart from the start! I loved nearly everything about this book — from the moving story to the endearing characters to the realistic depictions of society and human interactions (ie: the sacrifices we make for our loved ones to live a better life), to the struggles of having to deal with a debilitating illness from the eyes of children, etc. what I especially loved though was the Fantastic Four — the friendship between the four boys was so genuine and sweet — the way they were always there for each other regardless of what happens, how no words need to be spoken, just being who they are and keeping each other company, their friendship warmed my heart and always managed to put a smile on my face! At the same time, this book also made me cry, with ZJ watching his beloved father deteriorate right before his eyes and losing all the memories of their happy times together — the scene where ZJ’s dad forgets who his son is, and ZJ’s emotional reaction to it, absolutely broke my heart!
Jacqueline Woodson has won many awards for her works and now after finally having read one of her books, I definitely understand why. With this book being novel-in-verse, the writing is sparse, yet still packed such a punch. I admire the way Woodson is able to craft such a heartfelt, emotionally poignant story populated with endearing, unforgettable characters so beautifully, yet also sparingly. While I wait for Woodson’s next book, I can’t wait to go back and explore as much of her backlist as possible!
Jacqueline Woodson is a renowned author whose works I’ve been wanting to read for a long time, but unfortunately, never got around to doing so. Luckily for me, a few days ago, my library hold for Woodson’s newly published novel, Before the Ever After , came through, so I decided to clear my schedule and read it immediately. Since I jumped into this one so quickly, I didn’t realize it was novel-in-verse format until I opened up to the first page. I had just finished Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X last month, which was my very first time reading a novel-in-verse, and seeing how much I loved that experience, it made me even more excited to get into this one.
At the center of this story is 12-year-old Zachariah Johnson Jr., or ZJ, as he is known to all his friends and family except his dad, whose special nickname for him is “Little Man.” As a charismatic and talented pro football superstar, ZJ’s dad is everyone’s hero -- a man beloved and admired by millions of people, from sports fans across the country to the neighborhood kids in the Maplewood, New Jersey town where the family lives. ZJ loves and adores his dad, but at times, he can’t help but feel that he is living in his dad’s shadow, even though his interest is in music and creating songs rather than playing pro ball like his dad. Aside from his parents, the only other people who see and love ZJ for who he is are “his boys”: best friends Darry, Ollie, and Daniel -- together, they are the Fantastic Four and no matter what happens, they are there for each other. Everything is going well – until it doesn’t. ZJ starts to notice his dad behaving strangely – he gets headaches a lot and seems to be angry or agitated all the time, but worst of all, he’s gotten forgetful to the point that he has trouble remembering his son’s name. ZJ’s mother explains that his dad’s behavior is due to all the head injuries from his football career, though his dad’s doctors seem to be trying to figure things out still. When his dad’s condition starts to fluctuate more frequently – one minute, he is the dad who sings with ZJ and always has a big grin for his Little Man, but the next minute, he is staring into space and is unable to remember his surroundings – ZJ struggles to come to terms with the realization that this is his family’s new “ever after.” As ZJ tries desperately to hold on to the happy memories of the past, he gradually learns to face this new reality with the love and support of his family and friends.
I’m not a sports fan whatsoever — in fact, my knowledge in this area is so limited that I can barely tell one athlete apart from another (my friends who are into sports often tease me about getting teams and players mixed up, sometimes even across disciplines). Given this, I normally would not pick up a sports-related book to read, but in this instance, I decided to go for it because 1) the author is Jacqueline Woodson (see first paragraph for further explanation) and 2) the premise sounded interesting, plus this is a short book (less than 200 pages) so it would be a quick read for me. In the end, I didn’t have to worry, as the story turned out to be more about the sports players and their families rather than the intricacies of the sport itself (though with that said, without football as the central theme, the story probably would not have worked as well as it did).
Those who are familiar with my book reviews know that I can be quite stingy when it comes to rating a book 5 stars. I sometimes go with gut reaction, but more often than not, it takes a lot of careful reflecting and pondering (and at times, agonizing) on my part to reach the “this deserves 5 stars” point. Well, this book captured my heart from the start! I loved nearly everything about this book — from the moving story to the endearing characters to the realistic depictions of society and human interactions (ie: the sacrifices we make for our loved ones to live a better life), to the struggles of having to deal with a debilitating illness from the eyes of children, etc. what I especially loved though was the Fantastic Four — the friendship between the four boys was so genuine and sweet — the way they were always there for each other regardless of what happens, how no words need to be spoken, just being who they are and keeping each other company, their friendship warmed my heart and always managed to put a smile on my face! At the same time, this book also made me cry, with ZJ watching his beloved father deteriorate right before his eyes and losing all the memories of their happy times together — the scene where ZJ’s dad forgets who his son is, and ZJ’s emotional reaction to it, absolutely broke my heart!
Jacqueline Woodson has won many awards for her works and now after finally having read one of her books, I definitely understand why. With this book being novel-in-verse, the writing is sparse, yet still packed such a punch. I admire the way Woodson is able to craft such a heartfelt, emotionally poignant story populated with endearing, unforgettable characters so beautifully, yet also sparingly. While I wait for Woodson’s next book, I can’t wait to go back and explore as much of her backlist as possible!
September 6, 2020
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
A beautiful and heartbreaking story told in verse about a professional football player experiencing degenerative symptoms of CTE from repeated head injuries and the impact it has on his son. Told through the perspective of ZJ we experience what this is like for a child seeing his father change, forget things, experience mood swings, and become unpredictable. Woodson's prose is stunning and poignant, telling a story of the impact the lack of transparency surrounding this issue on professional athletes has had on families. The authors note at the end offers context and info on how this finally came into the light so that people can get more help. This may be brief, but it packs a punch and I would recommend it and the audiobook is very well done. I received an audio review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A beautiful and heartbreaking story told in verse about a professional football player experiencing degenerative symptoms of CTE from repeated head injuries and the impact it has on his son. Told through the perspective of ZJ we experience what this is like for a child seeing his father change, forget things, experience mood swings, and become unpredictable. Woodson's prose is stunning and poignant, telling a story of the impact the lack of transparency surrounding this issue on professional athletes has had on families. The authors note at the end offers context and info on how this finally came into the light so that people can get more help. This may be brief, but it packs a punch and I would recommend it and the audiobook is very well done. I received an audio review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2020
Wow, what can I say as far as Jacqueline Woodson’s forthcoming middle grade novel that will get across just how incredible it is? Because I had to sit and hold it for awhile last night when I finished it, because I could so deeply feel the confusion and longing from ZJ, because I could feel the love surrounding him from his friends, because I knew as a reader what was happening to his dad and how devastating it is, and yet, this book is about love, family, hope, football, and everything else that fills in the gaps of what becomes our lives. I think this will be a must read in my classroom this year, this is perfect for so many ages. One of the best books of the year, preorder now #pernillerecommends
December 1, 2020
5 stars
Not unlike the rest of Woodson's books, I rate this one highly. Woodson tends to write about up-to-date issues that affect people. This book is written in verse - similar to many individual connecting poems that tell one continual story.
ZJ lives through the process of his Dad losing his football career to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, better known as CTE. He sees his Dad go from a hero to a man he barely knows, and much less understands. It tells how the family adapts to a change that they never saw coming.
Not unlike the rest of Woodson's books, I rate this one highly. Woodson tends to write about up-to-date issues that affect people. This book is written in verse - similar to many individual connecting poems that tell one continual story.
ZJ lives through the process of his Dad losing his football career to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, better known as CTE. He sees his Dad go from a hero to a man he barely knows, and much less understands. It tells how the family adapts to a change that they never saw coming.
Read
August 15, 2020This is a special book. And I say that as a member of Jacqueline Woodson's Newbery Committee for Brown Girl Dreaming, so you know that all her books are special to me. This book is special.
ZJ misses his dad. His dad isn't gone, but lately his head has been hurting and he's been confused and sometimes aggressive. Sometimes he can't remember who ZJ is. He hasn't been able to play on his football team for a long time. He had the career he always dreamed of, got to be a famous football star, but at what cost?
This is a story, told in exquisite verse, of a boy coming to grips with the fact that life's not okay right now. That there's hope that things will get better, but that now is not yet that time. It's a story about the emotional lives of boys and about the relationships you build that are stronger than bad times. It's about the friends who will always be there no matter what and the way family comes together to help cope when disaster strikes. It's about memory and loss and hope and joy and grief, all wrapped up in one.
ZJ misses his dad. His dad isn't gone, but lately his head has been hurting and he's been confused and sometimes aggressive. Sometimes he can't remember who ZJ is. He hasn't been able to play on his football team for a long time. He had the career he always dreamed of, got to be a famous football star, but at what cost?
This is a story, told in exquisite verse, of a boy coming to grips with the fact that life's not okay right now. That there's hope that things will get better, but that now is not yet that time. It's a story about the emotional lives of boys and about the relationships you build that are stronger than bad times. It's about the friends who will always be there no matter what and the way family comes together to help cope when disaster strikes. It's about memory and loss and hope and joy and grief, all wrapped up in one.
October 23, 2023
I love poetry and try to get at least one poetry read in April each year. This novel in verse is suitable for middle-school-aged children but deals with a serious issue – brain injury resulting from multiple concussions while participating in contact sports.
ZJ is the only child of professional football star Zachariah Johnson, but to ZJ, his father isn’t a star, he is “Just my dad.” The action takes place beginning in 1999, before doctors had clearly identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the role that repeated blows to the head played in development of this degenerative brain disease. ZJ and his parents struggle to make sense of what is happening to the formerly strong, happy, loving father and husband. ZJ is helped by his best buddies: Darry, Ollie and Daniel. These boys comfort and distract ZJ when things get tough.
I am in awe at how much information Woodson can convey in so few words. The poetry format allows the author to get straight to the emotion of the situation. But make no mistake, she paints some vivid pictures and fully realized characters.
At the end of the story, Woodson includes a note about CTE and the efforts of the medical community (and professional sports organizations) to combat it. I recall recently seeing a news article about a newly designed football helmet specifically for quarterbacks.
ZJ is the only child of professional football star Zachariah Johnson, but to ZJ, his father isn’t a star, he is “Just my dad.” The action takes place beginning in 1999, before doctors had clearly identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the role that repeated blows to the head played in development of this degenerative brain disease. ZJ and his parents struggle to make sense of what is happening to the formerly strong, happy, loving father and husband. ZJ is helped by his best buddies: Darry, Ollie and Daniel. These boys comfort and distract ZJ when things get tough.
I am in awe at how much information Woodson can convey in so few words. The poetry format allows the author to get straight to the emotion of the situation. But make no mistake, she paints some vivid pictures and fully realized characters.
At the end of the story, Woodson includes a note about CTE and the efforts of the medical community (and professional sports organizations) to combat it. I recall recently seeing a news article about a newly designed football helmet specifically for quarterbacks.
August 31, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up!
I was blown away when I read Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson earlier this year, so when I heard about Before the Ever After, I jumped at the opportunity to read it.
A lyrical novel written in verse, this middle grade novel follows the life of 12 years old ZJ who is the son of Zachariah the professional football player.
The story starts off as ZJ reminiscing all of the amazing memories he has of his dad playing football and interacting with him and his friends. However, the story quickly devolves into the tragic personality changes and memory loss associated with CTE, which is common in athletes who endure too many concussions.
This story is eye-opening and heartbreaking, but what amazes me most is ZJ’s hope. This is definitely one of those books that isn’t age specific. We all have something to learn in these amazing words.
Thank you to Penguin Kids for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I was blown away when I read Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson earlier this year, so when I heard about Before the Ever After, I jumped at the opportunity to read it.
A lyrical novel written in verse, this middle grade novel follows the life of 12 years old ZJ who is the son of Zachariah the professional football player.
The story starts off as ZJ reminiscing all of the amazing memories he has of his dad playing football and interacting with him and his friends. However, the story quickly devolves into the tragic personality changes and memory loss associated with CTE, which is common in athletes who endure too many concussions.
This story is eye-opening and heartbreaking, but what amazes me most is ZJ’s hope. This is definitely one of those books that isn’t age specific. We all have something to learn in these amazing words.
Thank you to Penguin Kids for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
August 18, 2020
This new novel in verse from Jacqueline Woodson does not disappoint. Definitely one of my favorites and ranks right up there with "Brown Girl Dreaming" for me.
We come from the mountain, living on the mountain. Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.
Zachariah watches his once invincible father deal with CTE. He questions his own identity if his own father can't remember him. Wishes for "used to be" when his daddy was whole. Rejoices in the friendship of Ollie, Darry, and Daniel -- his boys. Writes songs for his daddy to sing with him on the good days. Watch this one. It is going to be an award winner, starting with the Newbery list in 2021.
Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
We come from the mountain, living on the mountain. Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.
Zachariah watches his once invincible father deal with CTE. He questions his own identity if his own father can't remember him. Wishes for "used to be" when his daddy was whole. Rejoices in the friendship of Ollie, Darry, and Daniel -- his boys. Writes songs for his daddy to sing with him on the good days. Watch this one. It is going to be an award winner, starting with the Newbery list in 2021.
Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2022
Such a beautifully written quick read. I think it's a YA novel as it's really short. However, that doesn't take away the lessons and heartbreak I felt while reading this book. I cried. It's such a moving story and I loved how the author wrote it in a verse format to really keep you reeled in but poetically story told.
July 1, 2023
6/25/23 3.5 stars. This is a reread. Z.J's dad isn't the same; he has headaches and forgets things. What can Z.J. and his Mom do to help him? Give this one to fans of realistic fiction .
3/21/21 Tweens who like football, realistic fiction or novels in verse will want to give this story about ZJ whose father's career in the NFL is cut short due to continual hits to the head a try. What is really wrong with ZJ's father? Will he ever get better or be able to play football again?
3/21/21 Tweens who like football, realistic fiction or novels in verse will want to give this story about ZJ whose father's career in the NFL is cut short due to continual hits to the head a try. What is really wrong with ZJ's father? Will he ever get better or be able to play football again?
February 2, 2021
Referred by the GR list that was associated to the Nic Stone book, Dear Justyce, while its well written it bears little resemblance. A young boy copes with the injuries dealt his father in pro football while leaning on his best friends and family for support. Written in a lyrical style, it's short and to the point but pales in comparison to 'Dear Justyce' which is a 5 star, top notch story.
"And that's all I'm going to say about that".. Forrest Gump
"And that's all I'm going to say about that".. Forrest Gump
May 8, 2022
By the time Before the Ever After made its way onto bookstore shelves in 2020, Jacqueline Woodson had long ago become a legend. Winner of more major awards than I can recall—including four Newbery Honors between 2006 and 2015—Ms. Woodson is one of the most celebrated children's and YA authors of her era, a master of poetic, emotionally charged narrative. As twelve-year-old ZJ Johnson reflects back on the past two years, he can see when his old life started to go awry. Everything seemed so innocent when his dad was king of the neighborhood: a stout, strong tight end who caught passes for championship teams in the National Football League. Everybody wanted a piece of the big football star, but he belonged to ZJ, who felt like the envy of every kid on earth. A budding young musician and songwriter, cheering as his dad dominated professional sports on television, ZJ had it good...but couldn't see just how good until the shine began to fade. What he wouldn't give now for a return to those days.
Pro football is a harsh game for the frail human body. Severe, lingering headaches are the norm, but ZJ's family gets the idea his father's problems are more serious when he can't shake the headaches for months at a time. He isn't even thirty-five years old, but his memory is slipping. He repeats himself, forgets people's names, and boils over in anger if anyone questions him about it. After his NFL team puts him on leave so he can have an extended rest period, the ailing football star languishes around the house, his head hurting so badly some days that his moaning disturbs the neighbors. ZJ's three best friends—Daniel, Darry, and Ollie—used to hang around his house all the time, playing football in the yard, having fun with ZJ's dad when he'd come home during the season as a surprise. These days, they don't come around so much; they're unnerved by ZJ's dad, who has developed a short temper no one wants to trigger. More pieces of the good old days just keep on eroding.
Before the Ever After is set at the turn of the twenty-first century, so chronic traumatic encephalopathy (ECT) isn't a diagnosis on the tip of anyone's tongue. Years of bone-crushing hits on the gridiron seem to be the culprit for ZJ's dad's suffering, but the only real treatment is to let him have rest and quiet, and hope he won't be in torment forever. ZJ always loved music more than ball, searching for the right lyric to smooth out his newest song, but now he's more wary of football than ever. At the pro level, it's a game of action, drama, and high stakes, but what is the price paid for playing? What about life after retirement, when the bright lights of fame fade away? Is a few years of exhilaration worth spending the rest of your life in pain, your muscles and bones not working right, brain deteriorating until there's nothing left? Whatever the future holds, ZJ loves his daddy. If there's a version of happily ever after for that man, ZJ wants to help guide him there.
Some play pro sports for money, some for fame. ZJ's dad plays because he loves the game and can't imagine doing anything else. The textured weight of the football on his fingertips after a clean catch; the euphoric roar of the crowd as he grabs the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds; miracle comebacks and disappointing defeats, locker room speeches and long, grueling practice sessions. Playing football at the highest level has always been ZJ's father's dream, but his life is different than when he was fifteen or twenty years old. His wife and son count on him, not just for an income but to still be there for them after he hangs up his cleats the final time, as every athlete eventually must. Youth ends sooner or later, sad as it is to leave it behind. Some who have the talent to play pro football decline to do so; the losses aren't worth the gains, so they find another career, probably for a lot less money. Others gladly take to the field despite the health risks. They want to live to maximum capacity while they can, even if the jarring hits they absorb now come at devastating cost later. The choice is every man's to make for himself, but you won't know if you chose right until years down the road.
Jacqueline Woodson's best books—I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This, If You Come Softly, Last Summer with Maizon, Feathers, and several others—are more emotionally compelling, but Before the Ever After retains the lyrical magic that sets Ms. Woodson apart from other authors. The story raises complex issues without trying to do the reader's thinking for him or her, but it's the delicate poetry of the words that leads me to round my two-and-a-half-star rating to three. I like the page header on page one hundred three; surely it's a nod to After Tupac and D Foster, one of the author's Newbery Honor recipients. Stephanie Singleton's cover art for the original edition of this book, a boy riding high on his father's shoulders as autumn leaves swirl around, evokes the wistful feel of the story before you even reach page one. It's among the more memorable covers I've seen. Love football or hate it, you'll identify with how the characters in this book feel, and that has always been Jacqueline Woodson's strength. Hers is a wondrous talent.
Pro football is a harsh game for the frail human body. Severe, lingering headaches are the norm, but ZJ's family gets the idea his father's problems are more serious when he can't shake the headaches for months at a time. He isn't even thirty-five years old, but his memory is slipping. He repeats himself, forgets people's names, and boils over in anger if anyone questions him about it. After his NFL team puts him on leave so he can have an extended rest period, the ailing football star languishes around the house, his head hurting so badly some days that his moaning disturbs the neighbors. ZJ's three best friends—Daniel, Darry, and Ollie—used to hang around his house all the time, playing football in the yard, having fun with ZJ's dad when he'd come home during the season as a surprise. These days, they don't come around so much; they're unnerved by ZJ's dad, who has developed a short temper no one wants to trigger. More pieces of the good old days just keep on eroding.
Before the Ever After is set at the turn of the twenty-first century, so chronic traumatic encephalopathy (ECT) isn't a diagnosis on the tip of anyone's tongue. Years of bone-crushing hits on the gridiron seem to be the culprit for ZJ's dad's suffering, but the only real treatment is to let him have rest and quiet, and hope he won't be in torment forever. ZJ always loved music more than ball, searching for the right lyric to smooth out his newest song, but now he's more wary of football than ever. At the pro level, it's a game of action, drama, and high stakes, but what is the price paid for playing? What about life after retirement, when the bright lights of fame fade away? Is a few years of exhilaration worth spending the rest of your life in pain, your muscles and bones not working right, brain deteriorating until there's nothing left? Whatever the future holds, ZJ loves his daddy. If there's a version of happily ever after for that man, ZJ wants to help guide him there.
Some play pro sports for money, some for fame. ZJ's dad plays because he loves the game and can't imagine doing anything else. The textured weight of the football on his fingertips after a clean catch; the euphoric roar of the crowd as he grabs the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds; miracle comebacks and disappointing defeats, locker room speeches and long, grueling practice sessions. Playing football at the highest level has always been ZJ's father's dream, but his life is different than when he was fifteen or twenty years old. His wife and son count on him, not just for an income but to still be there for them after he hangs up his cleats the final time, as every athlete eventually must. Youth ends sooner or later, sad as it is to leave it behind. Some who have the talent to play pro football decline to do so; the losses aren't worth the gains, so they find another career, probably for a lot less money. Others gladly take to the field despite the health risks. They want to live to maximum capacity while they can, even if the jarring hits they absorb now come at devastating cost later. The choice is every man's to make for himself, but you won't know if you chose right until years down the road.
Jacqueline Woodson's best books—I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This, If You Come Softly, Last Summer with Maizon, Feathers, and several others—are more emotionally compelling, but Before the Ever After retains the lyrical magic that sets Ms. Woodson apart from other authors. The story raises complex issues without trying to do the reader's thinking for him or her, but it's the delicate poetry of the words that leads me to round my two-and-a-half-star rating to three. I like the page header on page one hundred three; surely it's a nod to After Tupac and D Foster, one of the author's Newbery Honor recipients. Stephanie Singleton's cover art for the original edition of this book, a boy riding high on his father's shoulders as autumn leaves swirl around, evokes the wistful feel of the story before you even reach page one. It's among the more memorable covers I've seen. Love football or hate it, you'll identify with how the characters in this book feel, and that has always been Jacqueline Woodson's strength. Hers is a wondrous talent.
September 24, 2020
Trust Jacqueline Woodson, national treasure that she is, to have you smiling and crying within moments of the other and leave you feeling hopeful even in the most dire of circumstances. Her latest, Before the Ever After, explores the story of a family affected by CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Written in the verse format she's come to be known for, Woodson's beautiful words take readers on a journey of how it feels to watch your world crumble through a child's eyes.
As Zachariah "44" Johnson, Super Bowl champion tight end, struggles with gaps in his memory and feelings of not quite being himself, his son ZJ struggles with watching the father both he and his friends adore become a stranger. Where his dad once joked around with and encouraged ZJ's friends, he's become an angry man who yells without provocation. Woodson gives words to Zachariah's inner thoughts, as well as those he expresses out loud. And those thoughts are important because that's where readers can see how frightened he is at who he's becoming.
Woodson gives ZJ a strong support group that I truly treasured because so often Black boys aren't portrayed as boys. There's a tendency to forget that they're children, but ZJ's mother, Lisa, at one point reminds him to enjoy being a child for a while longer. So as ZJ's world is crumbling around him, he has Ollie and Darry and Daniel to fall back on. When one of them calls for a meeting at the trail, it's understood that their friend needs them and they show up for each other. It's such a beautiful friendship that even with everything going on in ZJ's life, I left the story feeling confident his friends would get him through whatever obstacles he and his family were faced with.
As Zachariah "44" Johnson, Super Bowl champion tight end, struggles with gaps in his memory and feelings of not quite being himself, his son ZJ struggles with watching the father both he and his friends adore become a stranger. Where his dad once joked around with and encouraged ZJ's friends, he's become an angry man who yells without provocation. Woodson gives words to Zachariah's inner thoughts, as well as those he expresses out loud. And those thoughts are important because that's where readers can see how frightened he is at who he's becoming.
Woodson gives ZJ a strong support group that I truly treasured because so often Black boys aren't portrayed as boys. There's a tendency to forget that they're children, but ZJ's mother, Lisa, at one point reminds him to enjoy being a child for a while longer. So as ZJ's world is crumbling around him, he has Ollie and Darry and Daniel to fall back on. When one of them calls for a meeting at the trail, it's understood that their friend needs them and they show up for each other. It's such a beautiful friendship that even with everything going on in ZJ's life, I left the story feeling confident his friends would get him through whatever obstacles he and his family were faced with.
March 24, 2021
4.5 stars
This poetry middle grade book made me feel things. That last poem actually made me tear up at work. I can only imagine what it was like to live with the unknown illness like CTE was at the time period this book takes place. Thankfully it’s known about AND recognized as a serious side effect that boxing and football athletes suffer from. Hopefully in the future, we’ll have more information on treatment, lifespan care, and preventative measures on this horrible neurological issue. After so much joy and excitement that athletes give us, they deserve to know they and their families will be taken care of if something happens to them.
(Tis the Damn Readathon: Book #7 completed. Read a five star prediction for Taylor Swift’s “Lover” album. This book wasn’t quite a 5 star for me but it was really good and would recommend it.)
This poetry middle grade book made me feel things. That last poem actually made me tear up at work. I can only imagine what it was like to live with the unknown illness like CTE was at the time period this book takes place. Thankfully it’s known about AND recognized as a serious side effect that boxing and football athletes suffer from. Hopefully in the future, we’ll have more information on treatment, lifespan care, and preventative measures on this horrible neurological issue. After so much joy and excitement that athletes give us, they deserve to know they and their families will be taken care of if something happens to them.
(Tis the Damn Readathon: Book #7 completed. Read a five star prediction for Taylor Swift’s “Lover” album. This book wasn’t quite a 5 star for me but it was really good and would recommend it.)
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September 16, 2020Now that the NFL is back in action, here is a book that packs an extra punch. This new novel in verse from Jacqueline Woodson does not disappoint. Definitely one of my favorites and ranks right up there with "Brown Girl Dreaming" for me.
We come from the mountain, living on the mountain. Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.
Zachariah watches his once invincible father deal with CTE. He questions his own identity if his own father can't remember him. Wishes for "used to be" when his daddy was whole. Rejoices in the friendship of Ollie, Darry, and Daniel -- his boys. Writes songs for his daddy to sing with him on the good days. Watch this one. It is going to be an award winner, starting with the Newbery list in 2021.
* Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge *
We come from the mountain, living on the mountain. Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.
Zachariah watches his once invincible father deal with CTE. He questions his own identity if his own father can't remember him. Wishes for "used to be" when his daddy was whole. Rejoices in the friendship of Ollie, Darry, and Daniel -- his boys. Writes songs for his daddy to sing with him on the good days. Watch this one. It is going to be an award winner, starting with the Newbery list in 2021.
* Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge *
November 2, 2020
Absolutely phenomenal. I know 5th - 8th graders will be ALL OVER THIS verse novel and I can’t wait to booktalk it.
November 12, 2020
Thoughts have arrived. The prodigious talent that flows from Jacqueline Woodson’s pen is simply amazing. She is at the top of the class when it comes to writing in verse, because it so fits her unique, concise style of writing. I came away amazed that this story was executed in such a compressive way without ever naming the causative agent that contributes to the slow breakdown of pro football player Zachariah Johnson, and the deterioration of family relations.
It doesn’t take long for the reader to figure out his impairment is something closely resembling CTE, and Woodson treads lightly, not indicting any parties but focused more on how this can effect those inflicted and those who love the sufferer. Your heart breaks for ZJ Jr. but you are also jovial about the support he receives from friends and family who treat him with a knowingness born of apathy, not sympathy. This is a tough but tender read and could/would be helpful for anyone dealing with watching the decline of a family member. Wow, can’t find enough adjectives to express the wonders of this novel. Highly recommended to all!
It doesn’t take long for the reader to figure out his impairment is something closely resembling CTE, and Woodson treads lightly, not indicting any parties but focused more on how this can effect those inflicted and those who love the sufferer. Your heart breaks for ZJ Jr. but you are also jovial about the support he receives from friends and family who treat him with a knowingness born of apathy, not sympathy. This is a tough but tender read and could/would be helpful for anyone dealing with watching the decline of a family member. Wow, can’t find enough adjectives to express the wonders of this novel. Highly recommended to all!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
Jacqueline Woodson's newest book Before the Ever After is a masterpiece. ZJ and his family and friends will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Football may be the hook but the characters and the poetic language are the true touchdown in this beautiful book. I cannot wait to share it with kids soon!
March 19, 2021
Que livro lindo e triste.
A história de ZJ e de seu pai é muito comovente, a escrita da autora é algo surreal e ele ser escrito em prosa deixou tudo mais mágico e emocionante. Um amor de filho, amizades sinceras e bonitas, um futuro incerto e uma família prestes a ruir. Recomendo muito!
A história de ZJ e de seu pai é muito comovente, a escrita da autora é algo surreal e ele ser escrito em prosa deixou tudo mais mágico e emocionante. Um amor de filho, amizades sinceras e bonitas, um futuro incerto e uma família prestes a ruir. Recomendo muito!
October 12, 2020
This is the second book I’ve read of Jacqueline Woodson and like Red at the Bone, this too was a showcase of Woodson’s command of language and literary prowess.
“All those times he got knocked down and knocked out, my daddy kept getting up but maybe some part of him stayed on the ground.”
Written in lyrical verse, Before the Ever After follows the story of ZJ, dealing with the change that has been happening to his dad, Zachariah, a professional football player. ZJ’s dad, who was once a cheerful, energetic and affectionate man started behaving angrily, developing anxiety and forgetting stuffs. It is to be noted that the story was set in the late 90s, therefore the doctors had no idea what was wrong with ZJ’s dad. In the author’s note, it was mentioned that it was not until 2016 that the link between brain damage and the sport that is most loved by American was finally acknowledged.
Simultaneously touching and heartbreaking, the book explores the themes of love, grief, hope, growth and loss. It further delves into bigger themes such as the impact and challenges of a permanent disabling disease on a family, the importance of a support system during difficult times and the risk one should take for athletic success - is the love towards the sport worth the possibility of a lifetime brain damage?
Although this novel is aimed at a middle grade audience, I found it perfect for adult readers as well. As the adage goes “there is a kid within each of us” and thus I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially if you are a fan of American football and Woodson’s writing. Overall, Before the Ever After is a poignant addition to the collection of middle grade’s literature and one that I will definitely come back and savor again.
Thank you Times Reads for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
“All those times he got knocked down and knocked out, my daddy kept getting up but maybe some part of him stayed on the ground.”
Written in lyrical verse, Before the Ever After follows the story of ZJ, dealing with the change that has been happening to his dad, Zachariah, a professional football player. ZJ’s dad, who was once a cheerful, energetic and affectionate man started behaving angrily, developing anxiety and forgetting stuffs. It is to be noted that the story was set in the late 90s, therefore the doctors had no idea what was wrong with ZJ’s dad. In the author’s note, it was mentioned that it was not until 2016 that the link between brain damage and the sport that is most loved by American was finally acknowledged.
Simultaneously touching and heartbreaking, the book explores the themes of love, grief, hope, growth and loss. It further delves into bigger themes such as the impact and challenges of a permanent disabling disease on a family, the importance of a support system during difficult times and the risk one should take for athletic success - is the love towards the sport worth the possibility of a lifetime brain damage?
Although this novel is aimed at a middle grade audience, I found it perfect for adult readers as well. As the adage goes “there is a kid within each of us” and thus I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially if you are a fan of American football and Woodson’s writing. Overall, Before the Ever After is a poignant addition to the collection of middle grade’s literature and one that I will definitely come back and savor again.
Thank you Times Reads for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
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