Lucy, protagonist of Emily Barth Isler's AfterMath, has lost her beloved little brother, Theo. He was just months old when he began to show signs of the birth defect that would claim his life. But despite his frequent hospital stays and the medical paraphernalia he was hooked up to he had a vibrant personality. His absence has left a gaping hole in his family, one they tiptoe around.
Lucy's mother has decided that what the family needs to heal is a fresh start--a new home in a new town. So she's starting seventh grade in a new school with a very unusual group dynamic. Four years ago her classmates, then only eight-years-old, were the survivors of a school shooting. They saw friends murdered. They had to run for their lives. They bear inward, if not outward scars.
The other students shun the only girl who is friendly to Lucy. It turns out that her now dead brother was the shooter.
And Lucy can't turn to her parents for help. They've retreated into individual coping methods--ones that depend on her keeping up the appearance of being fine...
...even though she very much isn't.
Lucy has been a long term fan of math. The formulas are are logical, the answers consistent.
Too bad life is nothing like that.
On a purrrsonal note, this is a big homework weekend for me. I'm very happy to be spending most of it in my nice warm home.
A great big shout out goes out to my faithful wing 🐈 Tobago.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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