After

by Amy Efaw

Dedication: "To 'Baby Nick' and 'Baby Vaughn,' and to the countless babies who were never found and have no names AND To the girls at Remann Hall"

First paragraph: "The TV's on, some lame morning show. The reception's lousy, and the sound's off. But Devon isn't really watching, anyway. More like staring blankly at the screen, the figures passing before her eyes in pantomime, signifying nothing."

Review: This book is about a fifteen year old girl dealing with her denial. Her denial that lead her to believe she was never pregnant and in turn, on the day she gave birth lead her to put her baby in a garbage bag and throw it away. This book is about her remembering her mistakes, and coming to terms with the consequences. Will someone believe her when she says she never knew or will she be tried as an adult and receive life in prison?

As soon as I started reading this book I thought "I don't know if I am going to be able to finish this. It's just so depressing". Not to mention that the last book I read was pretty depressing as well. I think I needed a little happy book in between. But, I'm glad I kept reading. This was actually a really great read. Once Devon starts acting slightly normal again it was easier to read - It was easier to be in her head.

The story is really sad. It's really hard to comprehend how someone could throw a baby away, their baby away. But this delves a little in to the psyche of one such person. At times you really feel badly for her. You wonder why she didn't just ask someone for help. Tell someone, anyone. But then you find out why. She couldn't even tell herself, how could she tell someone else.

Loved the writing style of this book and the educational value of it. It is a more depressing read but I am glad I read it all the same.

Click here for Amy Efaw's website.