Before the Ever After is another stunning story from Jacqueline Woodson. ZJ is the only son of a pro-football hero. His dad, Zachariah, is loved by his family, community, and the legions of fans, but things have been changing at home. Zachariah’s forgetting things more and more frequently, and is almost constantly suffering from severe migraines. He can’t do anything the way he used to, and the doctors don’t have answers. ZJ wants his dad back, and it seems like everything is just slipping farther and farther away for his family.

In Before the Ever After, Woodson makes the long-term consequences of repeated concussions painfully real and personal. ZJ is a completely believable character, at least from the viewpoint of someone who does not frequently interact with preteens. To paraphrase ZJ, it’s a book of real fiction: real people, in real world situations, with real world uncertainties and no magic resolution. The themes of family, friendship, identity, and following your dreams will resonate with many readers, sports fans or not. Highly recommended for middle grade readers, and a good choice for those who have left their middle grade years behind as well.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I have read many books by Jacquline Woodson and love each one more than the next. I understand why so many authors hold her work as the gold standard. This middle grade novel will appeal to my students especially my reluctant readers.

Wow, this book is so heartbreakingly good. Looks at the implication of concussions on football players, not from players stand point, but from the son of a professional player.

I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Woodson captures the gamut of emotions for a family after a parent suffers a head injury. In this case ZJ's dad is a professional football player who suffers from CTE. Though it was not yet diagnosed in 1999 when the story begins, the symptoms were already occurring.
Told through poetry to capture the moods and emotions swirling for this family. ZJ's dad has good days and days where he's a completely different person with no memory of his life. His mom's commitment is encouraging to see.
As always, Woodson brings this situation to life with real people and real methods to deal with situations. ZJ has his extended family - related and through friendship, as well as his group of friends that stay connected and supportive. She doesn't include a feel good ending; his dad is still struggling with blinding headaches and confusion as well as other symptoms connected with his football career.
The underlying message of finding your passion show through ZJ's music and the composing he did with his dad.

I adore Jacqueline Woodson and this book is no exception. Full of heart, it tackles a subject I've never read about in mglit before - Chronic Traumatic Encephalpathy. This book shows how this condition impacts the family of a well known football player, and how important the love and support from family and friends can be during difficult times.

Wow. I think I could literally hang onto every word Woodson writes, and this book was no different. However, very unique is the novel in verse storyline about a young boy, ZJ, who is dealing with his father’s (who is a professional football player) serious behavior changes.
This novel will tug at your heart and remind you that true family is those people who are there for you when you need it most.
My only critique is that I wish it were longer and there was more of an “answer” at the end, but that’s not always how things are.

It is something, to be pulled into a kitchen, feel the cold tile floor and hear the tea kettle whistle; see the mother’s head bent and I imagine her shoulders slumped. I can hear her voice soft and slow, and see her son’s eyes eager for reassurance. It isn’t just this scene. It is every single one that Woodson paints with a brush so powerful that I’m pulled into the canvas and surrounded by the characters. So it comes as no surprise when my heart races and I find myself pleading, trying desperately to make deals as if the ending hasn’t already been written. I want to hug ZJ and share a mug of coffee with Mom and rest my hand on hers, tell her I understand if she needs to yell. I want to offer a smile to Zachariah, but know I will not be able to stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. I almost wish Woodson wasn’t this good, that her words couldn’t break through the invisible shield protecting my heart. But she is this good. And this book, it is a beautiful masterpiece of words and emotion, tragedy and hope, and family and love. And love.

I read this in one sitting. An absolutely beautiful middle grade novel by the amazing Jacqueline Woodson, published by Nancy Paulsen. The story of a young boy as he navigates the changes in his father and in turn his family due to the effects of too many hits as a professional football player. It’s a favorite book of 2020.

Woodson has gone in a new direction with this father/son family story that highlights the dangers of football, but also the love of family and friends. It had been cool to be the son of a pro-football player, but now ZJ's dad is missing things, including games - either because he is forgetting or because of horrible migraine headaches. ZJ's mom is determined to learn what is going on -- especially when she learns other professional football players are having similar issues. Of course, we now know about the dangers of head injuries, but in 1990, this was still new -- and being buried by the team owners. #BeforetheEverAfter #NetGalley

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51988656-before-the-ever-after" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Before the Ever After" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589833024l/51988656._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51988656-before-the-ever-after">Before the Ever After</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/74640.Jacqueline_Woodson">Jacqueline Woodson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3429414602">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Woodson has gone in a new direction with this father/son family story that highlights the dangers of football. It had been cool to be the son of a pro-football player, but now ZJ's dad is missing things, including games - either because he is forgetting or because of horrible migraine headaches. ZJ's mom is determined to learn what is going on -- expecially when she learns other professional football players are having similar issues. Of course, we now know about the dangers of head injuries, but in 1990, this was still new -- and being buried by the team owners. #BeforetheEverAfter #NetGalley
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4221159-lies-garner

Compelling, fast-read about a 12 year old boy, ZJ, who's Dad is suffering from CTE after being a running back on a professional football team. Dad is already symptomatic when the book begins; the story is told through current life events and flashbacks to "better days." Story also revolves around ZJ and his group of friends; a group of boys who have been friends since 2nd grade, have different interests, but always have each others' backs. Original subject matter-this book will appeal to football fans and anyone who likes realistic fiction and family drama. Easy pace for kids who like a faster read, but enough content to please a more advanced reader. Another hit from Jacqueline Woodson!

Jacqueline Woodson has given us another book to treasure. This is the story of ZJ, a young boy with good friends, a wonderful, safe haven of a home, and parents he adores. His father is unraveling; some days he is his former self, other days he stares out the window seemingly at nothing. ZJ's hero is his father, but he does not want to follow in the path of his father's career choice; his dreams are not the same as his father's, and he is learning his own way.

The story is simple, sweet, kind, full of love and compassion. ZJ's life is a continual change, yet there is so much he finds to appreciate and to learn each day. I love stories written in prose, or in narrative verse, and this one really works. I am a lover of words, but as a librarian, I can also appreciate that for some children the lengthy, wordy books I loved as a child can be intimidating. The reader of Before The Ever After will understand the story without lengthy passages highlighting each moment in time. Jacqueline captures ZJs story and emotions and then presents it beautifully in this poignant look at a very hard topic.

What an achingly beautiful book. The rollercoaster of ups and downs that ZJ and his family experience is painful, yet hopeful. I’ll be spending a lot of time thinking about this book.

Twelve-year-old ZJ has looked up to his football hero father all his life. Suddenly his dad starts to become angry and complain about severe headaches, and can’t play football anymore. At times he acts normal, but most times he’s a stranger who forgets ZJ’s name. Though he goes to multiple doctors, no one can figure out what’s going on. Knowing that he has his music to rely on and his three close friends keep ZJ going through the uncertainties of his dad’s mysterious ailment.

This poignant story of a young boy who doesn’t understand why his father is losing his memory to CTE will leave an impression on its readers.

Recommended for ages 10-14.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A potent novel in verse about the son of a legendary NFL player now suffering from severe head trauma after taking too many hits on the field. Woodson does a great job showing life before and after this beloved dad’s condition developed and worsened. The writing is absolutely striking throughout emphasizing mood. This is an issue book with something powerful to say: football fans may love the action, the hits. But this all comes at a cost to the players and their families and friends.

I like the writing style of this book. It was a quick engaging story about a controversial topic. I loved this book.

Excellent story about a family dealing with the dad, a pro football player, who is suffering from headaches, pain, and forgetfulness. Friends and family help support them as they try to discover what’s happening with the dad.

ZJ’s life is changing quickly as his famous football-playing father leaves the game and starts experiencing the effects of traumatic brain injury. Like in so many of her books, Woodson clearly and poignantly demonstrates love, heartbreak, and the importance of family.

Thank you Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for sharing this eARC book with me in exchange for an honest review.
I DEVOURED this book y'all! I cannot even tell you the last time I sat and read a book in one sitting...now, this one was in 2 sittings, but that is good for me lately! I devoured the first half in the morning, then the second while cooking lunch and then eating lunch.
Why did I love it? Well, Woodson is a wordsmith with her poetry. Oh it is beautiful. I marked so many lines to share with my writing teachers as a mentor text. Also, I loved the story line. I had not read something about concussions and football in middle grade books before! I loved that the dad was a celebrity (reminded me of Solo by Kwame Alexander in that aspect) and I loved/hated watching the dad through the story. It broke my hear.

Read this book!

Before the Ever After is such a poignant and emotional book aimed for middle grade readers and older. My husband and I are football fans and have seen real players exhibit the same signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) that Zachariah Jr's father does in this novel. What this book does extremely well is show how these side effects of a well-loved sport impacts not just the player, but their families and friends. I truly can't imagine watching your father or a family member with a condition like this fade in and out of your presence at such a young age.
I appreciated the Author's Note at the end of the novel that explains CTE and how doctors have only just recently admitted or confirmed the link between various sports to CTE. I do wish, though, that the book took place in more current times so that the CTE link could be further explored for the kids that will read this book. I do believe that there is a stigma surrounding CTE and football players that needs to be talked about instead of trying to tuck it away simply to keep promoting the muti-billion dollar industry that football is. This book is a step in the right direction for children that are starting to explore their interest in football or other hard contact sports. I don't know that it would appeal to the majority of middle-schoolers, especially those with no sporting interest but I do think that this book would create great conversation regardless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for giving me this uncorrected ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this so much. First of all, it's such an important topic and one I've never seen covered in children's books, so props to Woodson for that alone, but the tenderness between ZJ and his parents is remarkable. So good., so touching.