Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

wow, I did not want this book to end. it was interesting from the beginning, and got better throughout the story. it was kinda hard to read, but nonetheless a story everyone should read.

November 8, 2021

Aishah

This was a good story, but I read it via audiobook and did not like the narrator at all.

December 27, 2021

Dale

I was quiet surprised by this book. Its written in verse which at first was a turn off but it actually works well. The subject matter was interesting as well. Seeing the change of ZJs father through his eyes was scary and powerful at the same time.

June 2, 2021

A

A really emotional read and just fantastic. A father & son story about the father's decline in health. The father was a pro-football player that experienced too much damage from tackle american football so his head injury results in memory loss. Our character has to navigate his feelings, friends, and family. There are striking moments in here that speak out, like the father and son writing and connecting through music. The struggle of good/bad days of the father's condition. The understanding of sharing his father with another and deciding to give away his dad's football to him, because he mentioned how connected they were as well and he had to share his own father. (The kindness of this...even though there was some bitterness. Really well done scene)

I just believe how short this story was and how it managed to pack so much meaning and feeling into it. Listen to the author's notes at the end to learn a little be more about the NFL cover ups of player's injuries and continue to support non-tackle football. Because there is a cost to these injuries.

The audiobook was fantastic! I recommend really to everyone, maybe especially those who need a little bit more understanding/connecting who may be going through this themselves.

Some additional reading on “punch drunk” and head injuries. I'm sure there are more articles out there as well.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/exactly-how-dangerous-is-football

March 10, 2022