Before the Ever After
by
Jacqueline Woodson
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Penguin Random House
Imprint
Nancy Paulsen
ISBN
9780399545436
Awards and Honors
2021 Coretta Scott King Author Award
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
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?Author’s note.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Details
Format
Page Count
176
Trim Size
8 3/10" x 5 /12"
Dewey
F
AR
4.5: points 3
Genre
Fiction
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Dec 2020
Book Genres
Novels in Verse, Realistic Fiction
Topics
Novels in verse. Brain diseases. Best friends. Friendship. Fathers and sons. Memory. Football. Concussions. African Americans. Family life.
Standard MARC Records
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
“Woodson’s latest novel in verse conveys that not all success stories have a fairy-tale ending. Readers will feel an immediate connection to ZJ and his group of authentic, complex friends and family…A unique take on sports and fame told from an unexpected perspective, and another incredible read -delivered by Woodson."
Horn Book
“In lyrical verse, Woodson conveys the confusion and loss that many families feel as they try to figure out what is wrong with their loved one…Woodson reminds readers that life’s challenges are more easily faced with the support of friends and family.”
School Library Journal
Gr 4 Up-What happens after all your dreams come true? ZJ's dad always wanted to be a football player. Through hard work, he achieved his goal and became an NFL player and hero to many. Unfortunately, his football fame came with a price. Now he experiences debilitating headaches, mood swings, and forgetfulness brought on by one too many concussions. ZJ remembers a time before his father changed; when his father would laugh, play with him and his friends, and support him with his music. That was the before-now he lives in the after. All ZJ has is memories of the incredible man his father was, and the fear of the unknown issue causing his father's problems. Set in the early 2000s when concussion research on NFL players was at its inception, Woodson's latest novel in verse conveys that not all success stories have a fairy-tale ending. Readers will feel an immediate connection to ZJ and his group of authentic, complex friends and family. The idea of showing the dark side of fame through the experiences of a young family member is a unique perspective that will resonate with readers of all ages. ZJ's story will stay with the audience long after the last page is read. VERDICT A first choice for all collections. A unique take on sports and fame told from an unexpected perspective, and another incredible read delivered by Woodson.-Ashley Leffel, Griffin M.S., Frisco, TX?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Grades 5-7
Upper Elementary & Junior High
For Grades 5-7
The perfect literary mix for your middle-grade readers. Featuring subject matter a bit more complex and multi-dimensional, this category is packed with captivating novels and fascinating nonfiction. Expect the 12 books offered in tis category to fly off the shelf.
12 books per Year
$236.64 per Year
Interests
Clean Books,Chapter Books/Novels,Fiction,Reluctant Readers,Transitional Readers,Realistic Fiction
Grades 5-7
Upper Elementary & Junior High
12 books per Year
$236.64 per Year
