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25th out of 30 books
—
2 voters
After Eli
by
Rebecca Rupp
When Daniel’s brother Eli is killed at war, Daniel considers the history of unusual fatalities to determine what makes a death — or a life — matter.
Some people die heroically, others accidentally. When Daniel Anderson’s older brother dies, he wonders which category Eli’s death falls into. In an attempt to understand, Danny creates a Book of the Dead — an old binder that he...more
Some people die heroically, others accidentally. When Daniel Anderson’s older brother dies, he wonders which category Eli’s death falls into. In an attempt to understand, Danny creates a Book of the Dead — an old binder that he...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
August 14th 2012
by Candlewick Press
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Very touching. Don't know how a kid makes sense of losing his brother in war. It was an insightful journey watching Danny and his family wade through the grieving process. I highlighted a bunch of lines to remember. There are some very cool messages lurking in the pages of this book.
The book is told from Danny's POV and his voice is authentic and endearing.
One issue: the cover makes this book look like it's....younger--5th grade-ish?-- and less serious than it is. Don't be misled. There is so...more
"After Eli" is a wonderfully written, heartfelt story about a summer of magic and death for a teenaged boy. After his brother is killed, Daniel tries to sort out his life and his family, along with the school genius dork, a lovely and intriguing girl visiting for the summer, some hippie-type organic farmers, and always Eli, always his big brother guiding him via his memories.
A quick, wonderful read, that is more fun than you might think from reading the synopsis. Recommended. (I wrote a long, a...more
A quick, wonderful read, that is more fun than you might think from reading the synopsis. Recommended. (I wrote a long, a...more
After his older brother Eli does in Iraq in 2004, Danny Anderson finds it hard to stop thinking about his loss and why Eli had to die. And no wonder! As his parents sleepwalk through life with his mother hiding from the world and his father filled with anger, Danny feels as though they barely even notice him. He begins keeping his own Book of the Dead filled with anecdotes about how others have died. Each chapter in the book begins with birth and death dates and cause of death. When he meets Isa...more
Danny's brother Eli was killed overseas in the war (he enlisted after 9/11). Since then, the family's fallen apart. His dad's gotten meaner, his mom's checked out and Eli just misses his brother. He's started a "Book of the Dead," a list of famous people and how they died.
And then one summer, he meets Isabelle. She and her family (parents and younger twin siblings) have moved into town while her dad works on a project and her mom paints. Danny falls for Isabelle pretty much immediately. She's g...more
And then one summer, he meets Isabelle. She and her family (parents and younger twin siblings) have moved into town while her dad works on a project and her mom paints. Danny falls for Isabelle pretty much immediately. She's g...more
You can always visit me at my blog
3.5-4.0 stars
9/11 happened and Eli wanted to help at ground zero but Eli’s dad said no. Feeling that he had to do something to help he enlisted in the army instead. About a year or so after he dies in Iraq while on duty. Eli’s death has left Danny alone, his dad even less sociable and mom has checked out. While coping with the death of his brother, Danny begins the “Book of the Dead” a book where he records famous people and the cause of their deaths.
I think th...more
3.5-4.0 stars
9/11 happened and Eli wanted to help at ground zero but Eli’s dad said no. Feeling that he had to do something to help he enlisted in the army instead. About a year or so after he dies in Iraq while on duty. Eli’s death has left Danny alone, his dad even less sociable and mom has checked out. While coping with the death of his brother, Danny begins the “Book of the Dead” a book where he records famous people and the cause of their deaths.
I think th...more
When Danny's brother, Eli, is killed in Afghanistan, his world begins to crumble. Losing someone you love, especially when it's unexpected, is never easy. Imagine having to process this grief when you are a middle-schooler, dealing with hormones, social status and just trying to make sense of life in general. As a coping mechanism, Danny puts together a "book of the dead", filling the pages with pictures of stories of people who died and what their life purpose was.
Told over the course of a sing...more
Told over the course of a sing...more
This book was an accident. Meaning that I hadn't planned on reading this book. I picked it up in Barnes n Nobles to kill some time while I was waiting and got hooked after the first two chapters. Then I ended up buying it just so I could finish what I had started. And it was amazing! Well worth the $15 I spent on it. Danny's struggle deals not only with his brothers death, but also with his friends and fitting in, etc. I think the overall message of this book is about growing up, and moving on,...more
Daniel's brother is killed in Iraq, and Daniel's way of grieving is to make a "book of the dead," where he records deaths of famous people and random people from the local cemetery. Meanwhile, his mother is taking his brother's death hard, and Eli feels like he's invisible now that his brother is gone.
Meh. This book was not nearly as good as it should have been. The first 80% of the book was Eli's random life, including his love for Isabelle and the time he spent with her and the twins, interspe...more
Meh. This book was not nearly as good as it should have been. The first 80% of the book was Eli's random life, including his love for Isabelle and the time he spent with her and the twins, interspe...more
I loved this book. Very well written with an authentic male voice. Strong appeal for both boys and girls because it deals with all sorts of issues. It tells the story of Danny, a boy who looses his brother Eli in the war in Afghanistan. He is much younger than Eli and is 11 when it happens. However, most of the book centers around Danny's early years in high school. His mother has never properly dealt with Eli's death and his father is a cranky automaton. Danny begins keeping a Book of the Dead...more
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Oct 30, 2012
Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Mallory Anne-Marie by:
Great Minds Think Aloud
Shelves:
october-2012-reads
“After Eli” is a sort of coming-of-age novel, but it’s about the kind of maturation that can come at any point in life. Young Danny loses his much older brother Eli to the Middle East Wars; then his mother withdraws almost completely and his father can find nothing to say to Danny that is not complaints and predictions of failure. He finds “first love,” then loses it after watching the girl he loves lose hers; and he first betrays his new best friend, then grows up to realize that shallow friend...more
Smart and unique book.. Daniel's coping journey losing his big brother starts with writing a book of dead...history of different people of their cause of death...It sounds weird but I found the way narratives list different causes of death for different people is somewhat comical yet a part of circle in humanity. Making those death data as a matter-of-fact way is a way of coping from sadness not only Danie's big brother but other family members who are falling apart.. losing it.. It has a range...more
Eleven-year-old Danny's brother, Eli, dies while serving in Iraq and Eli's whole life turns upside down. Written in a great voice - Danny shows us a lot of the hidden thoughts of boys - from confused to sarcastic to sweet to wondering to anger. To deal with Eli's death, Danny creates a Book of the Dead and each chapter is a continuation of Danny's adventures (falling in love, learning how to choose the friends that matter, dealing with his parents who have not dealt with Eli's death at all) with...more
This book is about an adolescent boy whose brother is killed in Iraq. The ways in which each character - main character, parents - copes (and doesn't cope) with Eli's death are pivotal to the story. It's also about growing up and understanding how you fit into the world.
I was puzzled by the voice of the main character - a 14/15 year old boy. Even though the age of the narrator was mentioned in the book, the voice never sounded that old or mature to me. I know that you need to keep cover images o...more
I was puzzled by the voice of the main character - a 14/15 year old boy. Even though the age of the narrator was mentioned in the book, the voice never sounded that old or mature to me. I know that you need to keep cover images o...more
Sep 16, 2012
Jen Ryland
added it
Fascinating premise but I'm not sure what age range this is targeted toward. The narrative voice is a very young-sounding one. The POV character is supposed to be 14, but to me he and his friends seemed more like twelve, or even very bright ten or eleven year-olds. I spend a lot of time around teenagers, and these kids just didn't feel like authentic teenagers to me.
Since the book tackles subjects that seem a little mature for middle grade, I don't know that it would be a good fit for that age...more
Since the book tackles subjects that seem a little mature for middle grade, I don't know that it would be a good fit for that age...more
Danny has struggled with his brother's death for a while. His mother is prostrate with grief, and his father has become more brusque and demanding. Danny has kept a notebook filled with the various ways that people die, but when he meets a few new friends during summer break, he starts to move on. Geeky Walter turns out to be a much more interesting and supportive friend than the diehard jock Peter, and summer resident Isabelle and her frenetic twin siblings make Danny think about the world in n...more
Forgot to lot this one immediately after reading, so here's the summary from CIP: After the death of his older brother, Daniel Anderson became engrossed in recording details about dead people, how they died, and whether their deaths mattered but he is eventually drawn back into interaction with the living.
2 weeks later, don't have a clear impression of how much I liked it, but I remember being a little frustrated by the disconnect between the interest level (5th-6th grade) and the content/maturi...more
2 weeks later, don't have a clear impression of how much I liked it, but I remember being a little frustrated by the disconnect between the interest level (5th-6th grade) and the content/maturi...more
I found this novel subtly yet deeply haunting in its depiction of adolescent grief. There's a plain-spoken style to the first-person narration that provides deceptive cover for the emotional and existential depths of grieving Danny Anderson's internal journey toward acceptance of his brother Eli's death in war. If not as transcendent as A Monster Calls, it's nevertheless as realistic a depiction of the inner life of a grieving teenager - particularly a boy - as I know in YA: the morbid curiosity...more
After Eli by Rebecca Rupp was recommended by Paul Hankins on either Twitter, GoodReads, or Facebook (likely all three)! This did not disappoint. Daniel is trying to make sense of his brother’s death and growing up. His voice is thoughtful and honest, and brought me to tears a few times. This is the first complete book I’ve read on my new iP*d through NetGalley. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about reading on an e-device, but the story was so fantastic I barely noticed. Release date: Aug. 14, 2012
Apr 22, 2012
Paul Hankins
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
april-2012-reads,
middle-grade-fiction,
middle-grade-memorable-writing,
middle-grade-touching,
middle-grade-touching-poignant-dive,
middle-grade-touching-tender,
mr-hankins-says-don-t-miss,
middle-grade-coping-with-loss,
middle-grade-fiction-with-strong-no,
ladders-to-of-mice-and-men,
ladders-to-transcendentalism,
ladders-to-walden
Review to come as August approaches.
Daniel (E.) Anderson collects stories of the dead in an attempt to make sense of his brother's death in the war. The book takes place over the course of a summer vacation. A very nice coming of age story that has plenty of "ladders" to spare.
If you are on NetGalley, request this book. Then we can talk before August.
Through some cosmic circumstance, I love that this book shares a namesake with another of my favorite Candlewick titles, ELI THE GOOD.
Daniel (E.) Anderson collects stories of the dead in an attempt to make sense of his brother's death in the war. The book takes place over the course of a summer vacation. A very nice coming of age story that has plenty of "ladders" to spare.
If you are on NetGalley, request this book. Then we can talk before August.
Through some cosmic circumstance, I love that this book shares a namesake with another of my favorite Candlewick titles, ELI THE GOOD.
14-year old Daniel is navigating both the social and emotional challenges of middle school and the loss of his brother, Eli, who was killed fighting in Iraq. To help deal with his raw and angry emotions, he begins writing a “book of the dead,” chronicling deaths throughout history. This is a strong portrayal of grief, friendship and first love. The cover is deceptively “young,” as this is best suited for middle school (and even high school) audiences.
Daniel is a younger high school student, who is missing his brother who died in the Iraq War. This thoughtful story is on the quiet side, but seems very realistic without being maudlin. He realizes he needs to do what he wants to do, and not live his life for his parents (especially his father) or even his brother. Good for a wide age range - 6th - 12th graders, who will relate to the story.
Mar 26, 2013
Alison
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
death,
death-of-a-sibling,
grief,
summer,
coming-of-age,
saying-goodbye,
letting-go,
depression,
family-dynamics,
first-love,
fitting-in,
friendship,
guy-lit,
middle-school,
realistic,
romance,
ya
After Eli is the story of a teenager named Danny whos older brother Eli is killed in Iraq. The book revolves around Danny attempting to cope with his brothers death and the friendships he makes over a summer that help him to do this. It is a very moving book of friendship, family and strength. It is one of the most moving books I've read in a while. Simple yet powerful.
Danny's family is frozen with grief after his brother is killed by an IED in Iraq. During the course of a summer, Danny falls in love, discovers that he really likes the weird kid in his class and that he might want to be a farmer. Touching, frequently funny and filled with interesting people--especially the twin siblings of the love interest.
Saw this just browsing the digital library catalog and loved it. Easy, quick read, but thoughtful and entertaining. It was really interesting to look at such a modern story of recovering from losing a family member to the war. The relationships in the book were well written and it didn't come across as fake or cheesy at all.
A coming of age story, framed by the loss of an older brother in the military. I'm a little worried because the tone rings older than the 9-12 age range listed on the back cover, but, if you have a mature 10 year old or an older reader interested in loss issues, it's a good read.
A decent read for me, not sure of its kid appeal. Of course, it depends on the kid. I feel, if not for the cover, it could easily be shelved in YA. Seemed somewhat didactic at times. Not overtly, it's quite subtle, but still contains an instructional tone somehow.
I'm a sucker for sad books and this is no exception. It tells the heart wrenching story of a boy learning to overcome the grief of losing his much older brother in the war; a grief that both him and his parents have held on to for too long. This book 'speaks' volumes about friendship; about true friends who accept and like you for who you are, not what they think you should be. This book would be a great choice for an upper-elementary or middle school child dealing with bullying, peer pressure o...more
3.5 stars. As far as books go about someone dying, if I had adored the main character more I might have felt more And liked it better. I think the end was pretty good - very realistic relationship with his parents. An okay read overall. :)
3 1/2 stars if I could.
Mixed feelings on this one. I liked most of it a lot. Good theme about true friendship and recognizing good in the people around you. There was some language and references that I don't like to see in a YA book, but it was relatively mild and probably pretty realistic (or even milder) for the average teenage boy living in the modern world.
Mixed feelings on this one. I liked most of it a lot. Good theme about true friendship and recognizing good in the people around you. There was some language and references that I don't like to see in a YA book, but it was relatively mild and probably pretty realistic (or even milder) for the average teenage boy living in the modern world.
Normally I don't care for "grief books" but this one was wonderful. There was quite a bit there about really living, and the people around Danny were interesting . Reminds me a little of a John Green book.
ALA ALSC Notable 2013
ALA ALSC Notable 2013
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Rebecca Rupp is the author of SARAH SIMPSON'S RULES FOR LIVING, JOURNEY TO THE BLUE MOON, THE DRAGON OF LONELY ISLAND and THE RETURN OF THE DRAGON. She lives in Swanton, Vermont.
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