After: Reading Response

 

   After is a book that from the beginning I have loved to hate. Centered around a fifteen year old girl who hides her pregnancy and after giving birth to her baby alone in her apartment, throws her daughter away in a black plastic bag with the days garbage.  From the very first moment I opened it, After has had my undivided attention and frustration. The idea of someone throwing out her baby is horrific and truly hits home for me. The main character Devon lives with her mom, and is an exceptional soccer player with an amazing honors class track record. Devon is that kid every parent wants, with her hard work ethics and clean slate when it comes to rule breaking it is easy to see why.

   The book starts off with Devon half conscious on her living room couch when her mother walks in home from work. Devon is drifting through thoughts and is extremely sick. When her mother tries to have a conversation about the scandal that she passed while coming up to their apartment, Devon cannot keep focus. Even when police officers enter Devon doesn’t have a full grasp on what is going on. Only until after Devon doesn’t respond to an officer and her mother rips the blanket off Devon does she come through. But then again if anyone’s mom uncovered their bloody body in front of a police officer, they would start to pay attention too.

   I haven’t finished the book but so far Devon has been put in a juvenile correction facility, with several interesting individuals also incarcerated there. Devon goes through extensive meetings with many people who have her best interest at heart. Devon is learning about what she is expected to do, about herself, and slowly about her daughter….  

Quote:

“Devon? Are you okay?" For the first time, Dom's voice sounds unsure.
Devon sats nothing, not one word. She pushes herself up. She slides the papers toward herself. She slowly folds them into quarters. She closes her hand around them.
Devon lifts her face to Dom's.
Is she "okay"?
Will she ever, ever be okay?”
― Amy Efaw, After