After - A Review

After - Amy Efaw
Checked out from my local Library

Synopsis:

An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there's only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible— she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon's unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.

My thoughts:

This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions and I think that was her intent. One second my heart went out for Devon and the next, I wanted to throttle her. I spent most of the book trying to come to terms with why and what would cause Devon to do what she did. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I was horrified by what Devon had done and felt myself making judgments before I really had all the facts. By the end of the book, I was still horrified by her actions but at the same time I had a clearer picture of what might make someone do what she did. I say might because my mind still doesn't want to wrap itself around what Devon did.

I still want to deny that it happens at all. But the sad truth is, it does. I think it's an important subject and like eating disorders and such, one that doesn't get enough attention until it happens to another baby somewhere in some city.

Even with the rough subject of the book, I really enjoyed it. Amy did a wonderful job writing it. I was instantly pulled in and I didn't want to put the book down. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about reading it.