Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Date of publication: September 20th, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic Fiction

Purchase Links: Amazon | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | Alibris | Powells | Indiebound | Indigo

Goodreads synopsis:

When Caroline’s little brother is kidnapped, his subsequent rescue leads to the discovery of Ethan, a teenager who has been living with the kidnapper since he was a young child himself. In the aftermath, Caroline can’t help but wonder what Ethan knows about everything that happened to her brother, who is not readjusting well to life at home. And although Ethan is desperate for a friend, he can’t see Caroline without experiencing a resurgence of traumatic memories. But after the media circus surrounding the kidnappings departs from their small Texas town, both Caroline and Ethan find that they need a friend–and their best option just might be each other.

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3 Things I Liked About Afterward

The characters: Ethan, Caroline, and Dylan.
I loved all three of them, and my heart broke for each in different ways. They all respond to the trauma of the kidnapping differently, which felt incredibly real. We especially see Dylan’s experience through Caroline’s eyes, and that perspective made it hit even harder.

The storyline itself.
Be prepared for tears—starting on page one. This is not an easy book to read, but it pulls you in anyway. The author did an incredible job handling the story with care while still making it emotionally powerful.

The ending.
I won’t give anything away, but the ending couldn’t have been better. It was powerful and hopeful in a quiet, realistic way. It really shows how much healing can happen in the year following a traumatic event.

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3 Things I Disliked About Afterward

Caroline’s parents.
Oh my lord. I couldn’t stand them. They blame Caroline for Dylan’s disappearance, completely miss the fact that she’s spiraling, and fail to get Dylan the help he needs after he’s found. I understand that the author intentionally wrote them as a contrast to Ethan’s parents, but they got under my skin in a big way.

Ethan’s flashbacks and anxiety attacks.
These were incredibly hard to read—not because they were poorly written, but because they were so accurate. I cried during his first flashback and ended up sobbing through several others. As someone with moderate anxiety, his panic attacks felt painfully honest. I actually had to pause and do breathing exercises because they started triggering my own anxiety.

When Ethan remembers his abuse.
This is never something you want to read about, but the author handled it with great care. It was alluded to rather than described graphically, which made it no less devastating—but very thoughtfully done.

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The author also includes several vital resources in the author’s note, which I really appreciated, including organizations that support missing and exploited children, survivors of sexual assault, and families affected by trauma.

I would recommend Afterward to readers over 18 who are prepared for a deeply emotional, heavy—but ultimately meaningful—story.