After
by Amy Efaw
Paperback, 350 pages
Published December 2nd 2010 by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated (first published August 11th 2009)
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.
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5 out 5 Stars
Goodreads
WOW! Again another great book I've read this year. Although at times this book was difficult to read. It upset me, made me feel disgust toward this poor teenager, and yet I felt so bad for her.
Devon is a 15 year old honor student, a star soccer player and over all a fantastic person. One wrong decision was made, to have unprotected sex.
As I write this review, I am still in tears. I felt like I was there with her as she went through this horrific and terrible experience. Going on with her life, trying to be normal when so much was going on inside of her. He childhood, her mother, brought her to denial. Denying the fact that she ever had sex, that she was actually pregnant.
For me, this story hits home, in a hard way. Going to get a little personal here, but this will explain my thoughts of this book.
I was pregnant when I was 23. Even then, I know I wasn't ready. But I made myself ready. I found out that I was not only pregnant, but pregnant with twins. Long story short, I ended up having a miscarriage. Being young, and at 23 you are still young. I didn't know fully what a miscarriage was like. All I remember was the pain, the confusion, and how very scared I was, not knowing what was going on.
Reading more of Devon's story, and what she did once she gave birth in her own bathroom, and her confusion, and how scared she was. I couldn't imagine going through that at 15. At first I was so disgusted and pissed off, that this child, wouldn't have said something to her mom. That she wouldn't just have this baby, and give it up for adoption. I was so upset, because I thought of my own situation. Which in now, I am unable to have have children.
I think that every teenager should read this book, every parent should read this book. Even if you talk about sex with your kids, they still have no idea what they will go through, what it will be like when they actually do get pregnant. How very scary it can be when you don't know what to expect, and when you don't talk to someone.
As I read the rest of the book, I felt for Devon, I wish that I could reach out and hug her, tell her to say something, and really, smack the crap outta her mom!
I have to say, the ending of the book had me crying for the last hour of reading. Devon's decision and the outcome of everything she has gone through hurt my heart. My heart really goes out to all those teenagers, and even young adults that ever had to go through something like what Devon went through, even if it wasn't as bad as what the character had to go through. being in jail, not knowing fully why she was there or what really happened. It's sad that this really does happen.
Before I write a novel instead of a review (lol) I am so glad that the author wrote about this. As hard as it was to read, it was a phenomenal story.
