Before the Ever After is such a great book! It’s a novel in verse and it’s by Jacqueline Woodson so you can’t go wrong. Hand to students who enjoyed Dragon Hoops, Crossover, and Harbor Me.

I have written about Jacqueline Woodson's work before, for Kirkus Reviews and TIME Magazine, but I was not able to find the appropriate outlet to pitch this beautiful, quiet and lovely important middle grade novel. It has all the hallmarks of her at the height of her craft -- the sensitive lens, the tender appreciation of a young boy's perspective as his father deals with the head injuries that have impacted his football career and their family's life.

Woodson’s latest book will find readership among football fans as well as those who are drawn to those bittersweet realistic fiction works that leave a mark on hearts. “Before the Ever After” addresses the dangers of one of America’s most popular pastimes by putting 12 year old ZJ squarely in the midst of the pain and personality changes that repeated hits on the gridiron can cause football players, even Super Bowl ring wearer icons like his dad. As Zachariah, Sr. is forced to leave the sport he loves and battles declining health and slipping memory, ZJ clings to the memories of “Before,” his 3 best friends and those who haven’t left just because the star isn’t shining so brightly anymore. Terrific middle grade read will allow readers to create their own ever after ending and hopefully send them to do a little extra research on the subject

A realistic portrayal of a family dealing with illness. A young boys family deals with the effects of his fathers successful football career when his dad starts having signs of CTE. The main character is dealing with the changes in his father physically and mentally while also navigating his evolving friendships.

Woodson is a phenomenal talent so I was very much looking forward to reading her new book in verse Before the Ever After. It centers around 12 yr old ZJ, son of former NFL star Zachariah Johnson. As the story unfolds ZJ relates how his father's career has begun to impact their family. Dad suffers from a traumatic brain injury as a result of years playing football.

I loved getting to know ZJ and all his friends and how they supported and loved one another. ZJ is a very articulate 12 year old who is able to express himself with his words and lyrics all the things his family is suffering. I particularly liked the recurring use of trees in the story. Even as we witnessed the father's decline, his fascination with the trees remained. ZJ's mom was a model of a patient, caring love we seldom see described.

Despite the wonderfully relatable characters of ZJ and his boys, the one character I cannot let go is Everett. I am haunted by the boy, whose dream, like ZJ's father, was to play football. ZJ himself didn't share his father's love for the game, but Everett does. It makes me wonder if Everett ever made it to the NFL and if so, is he any better protected that Zachariah was when he played?

My reluctant readers always seem to be drawn in by a book in verse, and this one at under 200 pages, wouldn't disappoint.

Jacqueline Woodson's novel in verse, Before the Ever After, explores the effects of head injuries in sports through the eyes of a son as he watches his father struggle with memory loss, mood swings, and the lack of support from the sports' organizers. The crisp writing, so characteristic of Woodson, speaks to kids and tweens perfectly. While this may not be a book that young readers gravitate to independently, this would be an excellent choice for family or classroom reading. Recommended!

ZJ’s father is a professional football player. As his headaches and memory loss increase and his ability to play decreases, his family must lean on each other and their close friends as they try to find out what’s happening, how to heal, and how to move forward. Touching, painful, and all too real. Wonderfully insightful story.

Jacqueline Woodson defies gravity with writing that is succinct, timely and out of this world. She tackles the topics that need to be talked about and brings depth, clarity, and vulnerable characters to readers through these stories. In her newest book, the devastating and life changing effects of concussions on a family is explored. Powerful and thought provoking.

T.J. idolizes his dad. Who wouldn't when your father is a Tight End in the NFL? A friendly giant, he's the dad that everyone wants to be around. That was the Before. Now T.J.'s dad is forgetful, quick to anger and confused, but no one has answers for his family. Will things ever go back to normal? T.J.'s circle of friends become his constant in this time of uncertainty. These friendships light up this book and make it whole.

It has been a long time since I have devoured a book in one sitting. Longer than I can remember. But if there was ever an author to keep me awake all night - it is Jacqueline Woodson.

A great MG novel about family, friendships, heroes and loyalty. Before the Ever After will quickly be added to the long list of Woodson classics.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Penguin/Paulsen books for an early review copy.

This is an obvious must buy for all libraries. I think books in verse are such a great avenue to reach reluctant readers. This book is a tender look at boys emotional lives and an area that is often not explored. None of Jacqueline Woodson's books are light but that doesn't mean they are too heavy for the targeted age group. Ultimately this story is about love, family, friendship and hope.

ZJ tells the story of how football has changed his father’s brain. Before the Ever After was an easy book to read and is perfect for middle grade students who love sports. I was able to read this wonderful book in one sitting. The ending kept me wanting more. I love how the emotions are so authentic that readers are captivated.

While Jacqueline Woodson's novels for young readers are fiction, if someone asked me to describe her books in one word I would say, "true." Woodson might be creating the stories and the characters within them, but nothing about them seems made up. Whether she is addressing immigration, racism, police brutality, addiction, or day-to-day human existence, her books read as though the people within them are standing right there with us. Her language is immediate and evocative. This is especially true of her novels written in verse.

In Before the Ever After, Woodson writes from the perspective of ZJ who has grown up in a happy family with a father who means everything to him. His father is a professional football player, but his fame and talent are not what make him special to ZJ. Instead, it is the time they spend together, the way that his father seems to really see him for who he is. His father's passion is football and he lives and breathes it. He wants ZJ to find something that does that for him.

Unfortunately, sometimes the relationships we have with our passions are not reciprocal. Football does not love Mr. J the way that he loves the sport. He puts everything he is into the game and, as a direct result, he loses a part of who he is. Persistent concussions have damaged Mr. J's brain and they have changed his personality. ZJ's dad doesn't see him the way that he used to.

Adults are usually not prepared for their parents to lose cognitive function. To lose their memory of who they are and the people they raised. To deal with this as a child is unbelievably unfair. If you were to ask me which author should tackle this subject for young readers, the unequivocal response would be Jacqueline Woodson. She has surpassed expectations, yet again.

Woodson continues to know her audience so well that they'll have a tough time putting this down! Family relationships and the bond between parent and child are front and center in this new novel in verse.

Another gorgeous book by Jacqueline Woodson! This is a book about professional football- the excitement, enthusiasm and camaraderie, as well as the potential dangers of repeated injuries. It is also a book about family and friendship- the people that are there for you for the fun, easy times, as well as the challenging and difficult times. Additionally, it is a book about the love of music and poetry. It was a delight to read from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the relationships between ZJ and his dad and between ZJ and his friends. I loved that the book was written in verse; it really suited the story and added to it, especially considering ZJ's interest in music and poetry. I think this book would appeal to many readers- including those with no knowledge or interest in football/sports. For those that are football/sports fans, I think this will be a great book to discuss.

Jacqueline Woodson's writing is so incredibly powerful. Every word counts and they all fit together so wonderfully. The words sing from the page. ZJ also does some singing since music is his thing so it really fits with his personality and passion.

Aside from the awesome writing, the content is also fantastic. ZJ and his family are really dealing with some incredible challenges. Watching someone lose memories, has personality changes and is dealing with incredible pain is never easy. The beauty of this book though is the ways that friends and family pull in close and are there for ZJ and his family.

This is a heartbreaker of a book, but it's also a heart mender.

This is the story of ZJ and his pro football player dad. ZJ doesn’t look at his dad as a hero but just his dad. They have a great relationship. Things start to change between them as his dad becomes angry and forgetful. Is it drugs, alcohol or a result of too many concussions.

How do you grieve someone still alive? ZJ’s dad isn’t the same anymore. But he lives. ZJ navigates what that means for him, his music, his friendships. It’s a beautiful book.

Standing right alongside Alexander’s “Booked,” Woodson’s sports verse novel “Before the Ever After” is sure to be a hit. Centering around the onset of the identification of CTE, this book shows how the repeated head traumas endured by a pro football player impacts family and friends.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is rarely spoken about with children, yet thee are tens of thousands of children playing football across the US, many of them BIPOC.Woodson takes traumatic brain injury and makes it accessible to children by showing how the son of a pro football player sees the injury, how it affects his family, and his father’s relationships with each family member. It is honest, real, and accessible. Every child who wants to play football as well as every parent of those children should read this book.

This a very moving and lyrical book that really tackles issues of family, change, and grief.

For as long as he can remember, 12 year old ZJ's dad has been a professional football player. Now though, things are beginning to change. His dad has to take a break from football because he has bad headaches, and the doctors don't know what is wrong. Slowly, he starts to get worse, and ZJ has to come to terms with the way his father is now.

Woodson's lyrical free verse breathes life into this story of a boy whose father has CTE. The story was both moving and heartbreaking. This book will appeal to all different kinds of readers, as the verse seems to flow off the page. Once again, Woodson hits it out of the park.