A moving story about a family dealing with the effects of CTE before it became widely known as an issue among athletes and football players. ZJ is struggling to understand the changes he sees in his father. Get those tissues ready!

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson, 176 pages. Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin), 2020. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When ZJ was 10yo, his family started seeing the first effects of the multiple concussions his father, a tight end on a professional football team, suffered. At first the memory lapses are a bit embarassing, but now, 2 years later, the effects are debilitating – and everyone knows that Zachariah 44 will never be back on the field.

Set in 1999, before the devastating effects of concussions were acknowledged, Woodson takes us through the descent of one man. She is a master of unfolding the emotional tidal wave. I didn’t even mind that it is written in free verse.

Another masterpiece by Woodson! She is just amazing and beyond talented! I loved this book; it made me laugh, cry, and ponder the deep truths about what it is to be family .

The audio version came recommended (I no longer remember from where), and coming in under 2.5 hours, this was a tightly delivered story. The main focus is ZJ, a young not-yet-teen, clearly privileged in many ways as his father is a football star. But the indoor basketball court doesn’t matter much as ZJ watches his father lose his memory, his skills, and his personality.

ZJ’s dad is suffering from something, but what? It’s not until later that the pieces are put together and his condition would be known as CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. In the meantime ZJ’s family is trying to hold it together as best they can and their friends are trying to support them. The story falls back into memory, as ZJ processes that how things used to be is not how they will continue to be. It is about as hard as you would expect to read about a twelve-year-old watching his father distort and disappear before his eyes, with no known cause — or no admitted cause, anyway.

Clearly this is a relevant and timely topic, but the story also resonates wider as it would with any child watching their parent or loved one slowly degenerate.

Also received an eArc through NetGalley.

I have to be upfront and say I'm pretty biased towards author Jacqueline Woodson. I've loved everything written by her so I knew going into this story that it would be another wonderfully written & enjoyable story . My expectations weren't wrong.

In *Before the Ever After* readers are brought into the world of ZJ and the conversation around injuries in football. Media has definitely talked about the dangers of playing football and for a little while there was a lot of talk around the scientific studies surrounding concussions in football players. Will Smith even played in a movie about the topic: Concussion. But Woodson takes us beyond the conversations and immerses us into the intimate realities of CTE. She shows us how families deal with the ramifications of CTE in an up-close & personal way through the eyes of ZJ, the son of a former professional football star.

This story has it's sad moments, but I wouldn't call it a sad story. It's more of a resilience story — about ZJ adjusting to the new reality of his father's injury and the impact it has had not only on himself, but his family, friends and community. I really loved how Woodson portrays ZJ and how she chose to showcase this topic through his eyes. The character development is spot-on just like the storyline itself. I really felt like I got to know ZJ and feel what he was feeling through Woodson's words.

The story is written in verse which I really like, but I know some people struggle with. I don't think this particular story would be hard to read via this format. I found it easy to digest. Overall, it's a pretty fast read since it's a shorter story. However, the length definitely doesn't take away from the impact of the story or emotions being shown. It leaves you thinking, feeling and questioning. It definitely leaves its mark.

In the end, I couldn't recommend this story enough. From the characters, to the writing, to the conversation being had through the storyline, *Before the Ever After* drew me in and left me with all the feels. It captured my attention and took me on a much needed journey into ZJ's perspective and family. This is definitely a must-read for anyone looking for a great character driven story, but also for sports fans. It's a story about resilience, heart, & the strength of family & true friendships. It's a story you should pick up if you can!

It feels arrogant to say anything about this book besides it's really, really good. An important subject I was only starting to know about before reading this book. Woodson's words are perfect. Her characters are heartbreakingly real. It's really, really good.

Jacqueline Woodson has created another wonderful story that puts the reader right inside the family and gives them another point of view. You don’t have to be a sports fan to love and appreciate this title. I am looking forward to sharing this with my students.

While the book was well-written (of course, it's by Jacqueline Woodson), and it is about an interesting topic--head injuries due to football, there's not much plot in this book. It's a deep dive into a kid's life as his dad declines, and it will have some appeal to some kids, but it's not going to have wide appeal. The target age is probably 4th-5th grade, and kids that age tend to like more plot driven stories.

I can't review this book without getting personal because my dad has Alzheimer's. This book hit me hard. ZJ was a fantastic character who had to face very real problems very young. His dad has CTE and can't remember how to perform every day tasks, loses his memories, suffers serious headaches and mood swings. The story is, over all, about how ZJ's family deals. It's a fantastic book and I will recommend it frequently.

This was an amazing book by Jacqueline Woodson. It was a very real topic that many are dealing with today. It was a quick read and written in verse.

I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Told in verse, a family figures out how to move forward after multiple concussions causes the breadwinner long term damage and the inability to function. Sad, enlightening, impactful and so much more. Great read! #netgalley, #BeforeTheEverAfter #JacquelineWoodson

I am so sorry that I cannot do a review. I read this book for consideration for the Schneider Award. While I am allowed to give starred reviews, I cannot give analysis reviews. But thank you for allowing me the chance to read it!

ZJ's father is no longer able to play football. He was once the ebullient center of the household, but now ZJ can't predict his moods and behavior so avoids bringing friends home. Before the Ever After, a novel in verse, describes the changes in the household and the difficult adjustments ZJ has to make due to the medical effects of repeated head injuries his father has suffered. In this year of no library budget, this is a title that I bought with my own money for my school. The combination of subject matter, presentation, and writing has already transformed two students into readers. An essential purchase. I need another copy.

See my review on YALSA's The Hub for this Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee:

http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2020/11/06/best-fiction-for-young-adults-bfya2021-nominees-round-up-november-6-edition/

Woodson poignantly captures the agony of a family dealing with the repercussions of football related brain injuries. Zachariah loves football, was born to play football, so it is heartbreaking to watch this wonderful father, husband and young man as his mind deteriorates. Doctors can't figure out what is happening, the family struggles to figure out how to help and Zachariah can no longer play. Once again, Woodson has written a beautiful story about an important topic.

This was SO good and made it in my top 10 books for 2020. Definitely worth reading and bring your kleenex along for sure.

This review is based on an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Jacqueline Woodson has done it again. This is a breathtaking novel that focuses on healing during a time of trauma. She eloquently depicts the relationship of a family going through a tough trauma and the bonds they have are built stronger. The family struggles to figure out where to go from here and how to cope with the future but they rally around those they love and find healing. The beautiful verse tells this story of healing.

Jacqueline Woodson is a master storyteller, and this novel-in-verse is another work of art. She gives ZJ a real, honest voice as he describes his love for his dad, a professional football player. Their relationship is the heart of this book and it is beautiful - and then ZJ's dad begins to face the aftermath of too many concussions, to the point that he doesn't seem like the same person anymore. Heartbreaking and yet hopeful., Before the Ever After is an important story about fathers and sons, children and parents, and unconditional love.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

I listened to this book and it was so amazing to hear the story unfold. Told from a child’s perspective, trying to understand something that even adults didn’t understand. Woodson wrote a beautiful story about a family’s love for one another.

Jacqueline Woodson’s latest middle grade novel, “Before the Ever After” (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin, $17.99), uses verse to explore the bond between father and son, as well as the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury. ZJ is used to people admiring his dad, a former pro football star. Lately, though, his dad is often angry, and sometimes forgetful — which his mom says is because of all the football tackles. The 2020 MacArthur Fellow and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature eloquently depicts how much ZJ cares for his father, even though he’s confused and hurt by his behavior. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking and important read. (Ages 8-12)