After by Amy Efaw

Yeah I know this book doesn't come out until August but It was sooo amazing and I can't help myself. So here ya go!

****After by Amy Efaw****

Originality- 19/20

Characters- 19/20

Remembrance- 10/10
Quote-ability- 9/10

Entertainment- 20/20

Ending- 10/10

Recommend to read- 10/10

TOTAL- 97/100

Grade- A

Who would leave their own baby in the trash to die?

Certainly not someone like Devon--a straight-A student, soccer player with Olympic dreams, more mature than her own mother. But desperation and panic drover her to do what most people can't even imagine. Now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, charged with attempted murder. If she's tried as an adult, she faces life in prison.

Does Devon deserve that punishment? Your answer depends on whether you believe her story--that she didn't even know she was pregnant. Was she buried in a denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly obvious signs of pregnancy? Or were her actions the result of a more devious, premeditated plan?

After was completely amazing! I'll be honest and say that I've always been disgusted with people attempting to murder their babies, I never even stuck around to see what happened after. But After changed my perspective. I still don't think it's okay, but it doesn't mean the mothers are horrible people all of the time. I've never read something that hit me so hard. This was probably the first time I was completely engrossed in a novel without having to laugh once.

At times After was a bit gory with the descriptions of the birth, and afterward. This, to me, just added to the reality. Devon was a pretty good character. I loved that she was completely developed. I got into her past and especially her future. I was able to sympathize but still get angry when she refused to talk about what happened.

I really liked the brief flashbacks. We got a glimpse of her only sexual relationship without it overwhelming the story. We also got to piece together everything that happened on the night of the birth, the events showing her denial, and her path leading up to being alone.

Overall I would say that After was a very compelling read that I would recommend to every teenage girl. You definitely won't regret reading this.

-Amanda