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After

by Amy Efaw (Goodreads Author), Rebecca Soler

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 8,751 ratings · 1,312 reviews

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.

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Published August 13th 2009 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published August 11th 2009)

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Nov 09, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Devon is a young, athletic girl with a bright future as a soccer player. The Olympics have even been linked to her name. How could a girl like this end up doing something as horrible as throwing a newborn baby in the trash along with other refuse from around the house?

While canvasing the apartment building looking for information about the abandoned baby, a police officer finds his way to Devon's door. Her mother, recently home from a night shift a...more

7 likes · like · see review

Apr 25, 2009 Steph (Reviewer X) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Steph by: Plugged into Reading

**A PSEUDO REVIEW FOR THOSE WONDERING WHAT THIS IS ABOUT**

(The publisher asked for a review to be posted around the pub date, which is in August, which means I won't get around to it for a while. But here you have a bit of a preview!)

It's about this girl, Devon, who dumps her baby in the trash. She's fifteen. The book opens with her mom coming home from her bartending job and Devon lying in the couch almost unconscious. Her mom's kind of flaky, so she doesn't even notice how sick Devon is, just...more **A PSEUDO REVIEW FOR THOSE WONDERING WHAT THIS IS ABOUT**

(The publisher asked for a review to be posted around the pub date, which is in August, which means I won't get around to it for a while. But here you have a bit of a preview!)

It's about this girl, Devon, who dumps her baby in the trash. She's fifteen. The book opens with her mom coming home from her bartending job and Devon lying in the couch almost unconscious. Her mom's kind of flaky, so she doesn't even notice how sick Devon is, just semi-chastises her for missing school and launches into a story of how they'd found a baby in the dumpster just outside their apartment complex. A few minutes later, a police officer comes knocking on the door with his partner, because they're canvassing the place. He asks the mom if she'd heard anything or knew of anyone who'd been pregnant lately. She says she had JUST gotten home, and said Devon might know something, all the while flirting with the officers.

So they come in and see Devon there on the couch, losing consciousness. Her mom gets annoyed that she won't get up and begins tugging on her to do so. Then she yanks the big, bulky blanket Devon was under, and they all see all this blood around her legs and lower stomach. The officers arrest her, her mom goes crazy, and she loses consciousness.

The book chronicles what happened before and after that -- some flashbacks explaining how Devon, this super devoted, serious student and über talented soccer player, became pregnant and came to dump her baby, and the court process. It's a truly compelling read. What I truly loved is that it doesn't get overbearing or try to justify the crime itself, but rather explains how Devon - or any girl, really - might get there. There wasn't any condescending or overly sympathetic tone in the narrative, no interruption from the author, absolutely nothing--very straightforward.

I will say the ending sort of disappointed me, but I'd still recommend this book in a heartbeat.

(Will I have anything for a proper review now? :P)(less)

21 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2011 Hope rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, cover-love, heroines-i-love, made-me-cry, thought-provoking, greatest-writing-and-voice, 2011-reads, reviewed

The first thing I feel the need to address would be my eyes’ constant state of “watering” while reading this book.
I don’t know if it’s the time of year? Do I have a cold or something? It seemed like every time I’d pick this up, my eyes would start over-moisturizing and I’d be blinking in a constant, mighty effort to keep the page from swimming into an unreadable blur.

description

What else could it have been but a cold? I don’t cry easily. No.

And yet, there I was, at the end of chapter 4, curled up on the...more

16 likes · like · see review

Jan 20, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, young-adult, juvenile-detention

At 15, Devon Sky Davenport was a high school soccer star, she volunteered with youth soccer and held one-on-one training sessions with young players, she worked as a babysitter, and she maintained top grades and took honors classes. She also hid an unwanted pregnancy, gave birth in her bathroom, and threw the baby away in a garbage bag that she put in the trash can behind her apartment. The baby was found alive and Devon was found, barely conscious, bleeding on her living room couch by the polic...more

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May 05, 2010 Devon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I rated it a little higher because I was in between like and really like so I gave it the benefit because I did get into it. I don't consider this a "omg I can't put down" book but I was intrigued by it and wanted to see what would happen. The writing style is enjoyable, I loved the flashbacks that were involved that's what kept me entertained. Anyways, I would suggest this book for nice relaxful days or an airplane trip or whatever.

Its about a 15 year old girl w...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We see these stories all the time but we never really get to know the girl. I know whenever I read stories like these in the paper I think," How cruel! How can someone do such a thing?" After reading this book, I am glad that I got a good insight on what goes on in the minds of these young women who dump their baby in the trash, I don't know who they are, and what they are thinking.

As the reader, we really see into Devon's mind and how she went through things, I felt for her because of her probl...more

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May 14, 2010 Sandra Alonzo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the writing in this book. I was able to connect with the characters, which is something I've had difficulty doing in recent reads. Great subject matter (teenage pregnancy) handled in a most appropriate and empathetic manner by Amy Efaw. A few reviews I've read have had issues with AFTER's ending, and without creating a spoiler, let me say that I did not find it to be weird or out of line at all. Devon, the m.c., needs to show character growth, not an easy thing to do when you've wrapped...more

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May 20, 2012 lin-lin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, drama, teen-lit, realistic-fiction

Benernya real life drama bukan jenis buku favorit saya, mungkin karena dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, kita udah punya banyak drama dalam kehidupan kita dan kita lebih ingin buku yang "entertain". Tapi sebenarnya buku real life drama lebih banyak mengajarkan arti kehidupan dibanding katakanlah genre fave saya, fantasy atau romance, heheheh

Oke, langsung aja review saya mengenai buku ini.

Pertama dari sinopsis kita sudah tau buku ini mengangkat persoalan kehamilan remaja di luar nikah, atau lebih tep...more Benernya real life drama bukan jenis buku favorit saya, mungkin karena dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, kita udah punya banyak drama dalam kehidupan kita dan kita lebih ingin buku yang "entertain". Tapi sebenarnya buku real life drama lebih banyak mengajarkan arti kehidupan dibanding katakanlah genre fave saya, fantasy atau romance, heheheh

Oke, langsung aja review saya mengenai buku ini.

Pertama dari sinopsis kita sudah tau buku ini mengangkat persoalan kehamilan remaja di luar nikah, atau lebih tepatnya akibat kehamilan remaja di lur nikah. Dan apa saja akibatnya? kalau dalam buku ini akibatnya adalah membuang bayi yang baru lahir di tong sampah, karena si remaja tidak menginginkan bayi itu.

Sejak bab awal kita sudah melihat ada "sesuatu" yang tidak beres mengenai Devon. Misal ketika Devon diam saja saat ibunya berbicara dengannya dan juga bagaimana Devon yang tidak ada reaksi saat ada dua orang polisi masuk ke rumah dan bertanya padanya. Devon seperti hidup dalam pikirannya sendiri, dan dalam sekejap ketika ibunya mengangkat selimut yang menutupi tubuh Devon, maka kita pun tau kalau dia sedang terluka pasca melahirkan dengan banyaknya darah di celananya yang mungkin menyebabkan dia "stunned" (bengong).

Lalu cerita pun berlanjut seputar hari-hari Devon di penjara, dan juga kilasan-kilasan kehidupan Devon sebelum "malam itu". Saya tidak akan menceritakan mengenai cerita detilnya, tapi ada sesuatu yang menarik, seperti :
1. Devon seolah tidak pernah merasa bersalah dengan apa yang dia lakukan, atau tidak mengeti mengapa dia ada di penjara, adegannya dideskirpsikan dengan keheranannya saat berada di penjara bersama anak-anak bengal, mengingat dia termasuk murid teladan.

2. Bagaimana dia pelit & sukar bekerja sama dengan pengacaranya untuk menceritakan mengenai dirinya dan "lupa" akan kejadian2 yang membuat dia masuk penjara.

3. Devon selalu menyebut bayinya dengan kata "itu". Seolah bayi iu hanya benda tidak penting yang sangat menggangu.

Oke, pasti awal-awal hingga pertengahan baca buku ini, kita sebal setengah mati sama Devon. Terutama bagaimana Devon mengambarkan dirinya innocent setelah semua kejadian itu, lalu saya paham (pengaruh nonton NCIS, CSI, Criminal MInds) bahwa dia bukan menganggap dirinya innoncent, lebih tepatnya dia menyangkal akan semua yang pernah terjadi.

Dan diakhir buku, psikolog di penjara remaja, Dr Bacon menjelaskan kalau Devon memang menyangkal semua yang pernah terjadi padanya (hubungan seks, kehamilan, melahirkan). Dan penyangkalan itu merupakan "mekanisme pertahanan diri" yang muncul akibat hal-hal yang tidak menyenangkan yang terjadi pada diri seseorang agar seseorang itu tidak stress, maka dia menganggap semua hal itu tidak ada atau tidak pernah terjadi.

Jadi lumayan bisa belajar psikologi juga kan :D

Anyway, inti buku ini emang sesuai dengan taglinenya "penyangkalan dan memaafkan diri sendiri" bukan tentang perjuangan, jadi jangan mengeluh kalau protagonis annoying, karena buku ini lebih bersifat psikologi dan kita seolah diajak menyelami keadaan psikologis Devon yang sedang "labil". (less)

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Nov 28, 2011 Alma Bucio rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One morning some policeman’s found an infant in the trash can. They go to each apartment that is near that trash can looking for anything suspicious. In an apartment there was a girl named Devon that stayed from school sick, she told her mom. The policeman’s had knocked on Devon's door and her mom had answered it. They came in and asked Devon some questions but she wasn’t feeling well to understand what they were asking her. Her mom had pulled the blanket that was over Devon so she can show res...more

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Mar 31, 2011 ♫ נєηη - ѕσυℓ σƒ ѕσυη∂ ♫ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: covers-i-♥, novel

I don’t know why, but I actually enjoyed After. Although it wasn’t enough for me to run to the book as soon as I got home, it was enjoyable enough. When I read it during the free periods that I had during school, I was constantly intrigued, reading at least 50 pages per sitting. After captured the confusion and distress of Devon amazingly, and I was totally feeling everything that Devon was feeling, there! Seriously. Only a few flaws were screaming in my face. And my face is so delicate, you see...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Kenny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone Who Can Stand It

Shelves: favourites

This book taught me a lot of things abbout the way people work. It taught me about how denial can be so strong that the lies become the truth. It taught me that no matter what you say or do, they all have consequences. I learned that it's not only the so-called 'bad people' who do these types of things, but the perfectly 'normal' and average people. That anyone can fall and that it's important to get back up again. It taught me that panic is fear and vice versa. It taught me that trust in onese...more

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 26, 2009 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-audio-books, 2009-fiction

After, by Amy Efaw, narrated by Rebecca Soler, produced by Penguin Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

This is another book I learned about on an NPR Weekend Edition show. Devon Davenport was a girl who was considered always to be responsible, mature, a straight A student, a gifted soccer player, and totally self reliant because her mother was immature and always looking for a man. But one morning, a neighbor finds a newborn baby wrapped in a garbage bag and put in the trash-and the baby is still...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Annemarie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: maybe-read

Im definetly going to be judgemental on the contents of this book, like the author said at the end how she can't fathom what desperation would lead a woman to throw away her baby? Efaw failed for me to feel any sympathy towards Devon, the constant pointing out how smart she was, AP honor roll, leader of her soccer team. Not sexually active, just a 1x thing and she was so disgusted she'd be like her mother that she denied being pregnant? What about school? She was 5'8 slim, athletic!! Come on! Sh...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 21, 2012 Donnette rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love love love this book!! The story idea was so original, but the author put an amazing new side to the story! I cried and felt the pain and fear of what Devin was going through. Even though i completely disagree with what she did, i understand why she did it.

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Dec 11, 2010 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

This book is gripping. It's been a quick read also, and after I told them the premise, my students are excited to read it.

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Oct 11, 2010 Erica - Bonner Springs Library rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, audiobook, high-school, teen-issue, ya

4 1/2 stars! So good. I've been recommending it to everyone.

An excellent audiobook narrated by Rebecca Soler, who also narrated Lock Key by Sarah Dessen. Devon was an honors high school student until the morning that everything changes. The police find a newborn baby abandoned in a trash dumpster near Devon and her mother's apartment. Devon is home sick that morning. It's obvious that she's just given birth.

What Devon never expected that morning was that she would be considered an attempted mur...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Deborah Takahashi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-fiction

Devon Davenport is an all-around student who has a lot going for her. Despite her lousy upbringing, and irresponsible mother, Devon does the best she can to take care of herself and her future. However, when the incident occurred on "That Night," Devon needs more than her mother--she needs a time machine. After being arrested for abandoning her child, Devon is devastated and scared. Moreover, in juvenile detention, Devon constantly thinks that she is not like any of the other detainees because s...more Devon Davenport is an all-around student who has a lot going for her. Despite her lousy upbringing, and irresponsible mother, Devon does the best she can to take care of herself and her future. However, when the incident occurred on "That Night," Devon needs more than her mother--she needs a time machine. After being arrested for abandoning her child, Devon is devastated and scared. Moreover, in juvenile detention, Devon constantly thinks that she is not like any of the other detainees because she is a good person who has never done anything illegal and is a model student. However, the flashbacks of her time with him are becoming stronger as she looks back on the brief moment with him. How could she not know that she was pregnant? Why hasn't it sunk in that what she did was a crime? Is she really capable of murder? All of these questions haunt Devon during her time in Juvenile Hall, but, at the same time, it is during these moments that Devon slowly learns more about herself and that with every decision comes consequences.

After is an incredibly compelling of a teenager who did the mos unspeakable thing: she threw her baby away in a dumpster. As an adult, reading this story, it was very hard for me to read because all I could see was a scared little girl who did something very bad. Moreover, her mother is self-centered and lacks common sense, which conveys that she should have never had her child. However, Devon's attitude, at times, not only shows her naivety, but it angers readers because she just doesn't get it...how could she do that to her child? As the story unfolds, not only will readers learn about Devon, but the circumstances that led to this terrible decision. Not a lot of stories like this one are available for teens to read, but, nevertheless, it is a powerful tool that teens can learn valuable lessons such as forgiveness, trusting others, and not being afraid to talk to someone in times of need. Although this is a heart-wrenching story, Devon makes a decision that will not only free her from this nightmare, but lead her down the path to salvation. (less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Justice Blocker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After by Amy Efaw tells a tragic story that most female teens or adults would enjoy this book a lot. The book focuses on the life of a 15 year old named Devon. People might say that this book is like reality in this world which I agree it is.

Devon says she is feeling homesick while at school so, her mother picks her up from school. Devon eventually tricks her mother so that she can stay home by herself. Devon stays home for weeks. A few weeks later the police came by her house asking her mother...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Crystal rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had passed this book while skimming shelves a couple of times, so I decided to get it and try sometihng new. The beginning of the book got me into reading just a little more, and then a little more, laying out the story of a 15 year old girl named Devon who left her newborn baby in a trashcan outside of her home. My first thoughts were of course WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THAT?! How could anyone possibly do such a thing to a living, breathing human being? and if that was not enough, their own CHILD?...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Winnie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review on After by Amy Efaw
I believe this book by Amy Efaw called After was worth reading. Although I didn’t love the book, I just simply liked it since there were a few flaws which were poking me. I felt that there were areas which made want to shut the book and stop reading it. However, after those parts pasted by, the book started to started to grow on me again. I felt a strong connection with each character, as I could place myself in their shoes and understand why certain things occurred. I...more Review on After by Amy Efaw
I believe this book by Amy Efaw called After was worth reading. Although I didn’t love the book, I just simply liked it since there were a few flaws which were poking me. I felt that there were areas which made want to shut the book and stop reading it. However, after those parts pasted by, the book started to started to grow on me again. I felt a strong connection with each character, as I could place myself in their shoes and understand why certain things occurred. I was able to reflect my life upon afterwards, as there were many themes in the novel which caused me to reflect back to our society and my own personal life.
One of the biggest flaws which I encountered was the beginning of the novel. I felt that the book was too gruesome; the detailed descriptions describing the blood, the umbilical cords and giving birth. “...the now wet and sticky pillow she hoped would absorb all the mess.” (Efaw, 11) I wished that the description of the events would have been toned down, so that it wouldn’t be that graphical. It scared me when I read it and I was shocked at what happened it was as if something was splattered to my face all at once. The beginning took me a while to absorb all the information together, before I could continue on with the book.
On the other hand, the first part of the book that caught my attention was the book cover. If you notice the book cover, there was a reflection. I loved the contrast between reality and the world in Devon’s mind, where she was pregnant and where she wasn’t pregnant. It gave me an idea of what was going on in Devon’s mind.
I loved this book because it was realistic; Amy Efaw did her research on dumpster babies for nine years. She knew that there was a baby dumped each day in America without being found. This made the plot realistic and the characters too. I was able to place myself in Devon’s shoe. For example, in the beginning of the book, I remembered that I felt her embarrassment when her milk started to leak in court. I wanted to hide in a hole, just like Devon wanted too.
The plot was so well thought out, I could reflect upon the many influential themes which were presented in this novel. For example, a theme I encountered was “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I could have never imagined Devon, a girl who gets good grades, plays sports could end up in jail for attempt of murder. Another theme that was presented was “Think Before you Act”. I started to think about teen age moms, did they make the right choice of having sex. Devon didn’t think about the results such as the baby when she had sex, nor when she threw her baby in the trash can.
After reading this book, it affected me as a person. I saw things in a different perspective such as ANYONE can go to jail. This book may not fit everyone’s reading style, however I think the message brought across should raise people’s awareness of social justice. I would recommend this book for mature girls and perhaps guy. The description and imagery within the book gave me an everlasting memory of the book.
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Dec 11, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: girl, realistic, problem, teen

Devon was a little too perfect, pre putting her baby in the trash. Quick read, thought provoking. I agree with the Booklist review.

Booklist Reviews
Efaw assigns herself a seemingly impossible task—creating sympathy for a teen mother who tosses her newborn baby into a trash bin—yet somehow pulls it off in this successful button pusher. Devon is a sophomore soccer star charged with the unsavory crime, and the story picks up with the police doing a routine search for clues and finding Devon covered...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Franzi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mordversuch an dem eigenem (frisch geborenem) Säugling ist etwas so grausames. Man kann nicht verstehen wie man so etwas tun kann und selten versucht man auch aufrichtig die Mutter zu verstehen ohne Vorurteile zu haben. "Eine Tat wie diese" zeigt ein mal die tragische Geschichte aus der Sicht der Mutter, die dazu auch erst 15 ist. Die Situation von Devon und ihre Gedanken sowie Gefühle werden gut dargestellt, auch wenn ich bei der ein oder anderen Situation ihre Gefühle und Gedanken nacht ganz n...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Emma W. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This suspenseful, emotion filled book is sure to keep you wanting to know more about Devon, who at first was an ordinary fifteen year old girl. She got straight A’s and did an incredible amount of extra curricular activities such as being the starting goalie for three separate soccer teams. She was a team player, a great leader, and a role model to everyone around her even without the support of her single mother who worked two jobs to make ends meet. Devon soon realizes one mistake can change y...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Alysia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Attempted
By Alysia Campbell
AFTER
By Amy Efaw

Amy efaw is a great writer; this is the first I have ever read of her books. Amy has written other books like “BATTLE DRESS”, “The WATER STONE”, and “how to help the one you love”. I chose to read AFTER because the description on the back and the cover seemed like it would be a good book. Being accused of something probably feels bad, and the feeling in your gut hurts you because you may be guilty. Some people are just at the wrong place at the wrong...more Attempted
By Alysia Campbell
AFTER
By Amy Efaw

Amy efaw is a great writer; this is the first I have ever read of her books. Amy has written other books like “BATTLE DRESS”, “The WATER STONE”, and “how to help the one you love”. I chose to read AFTER because the description on the back and the cover seemed like it would be a good book. Being accused of something probably feels bad, and the feeling in your gut hurts you because you may be guilty. Some people are just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I never want to be accused of attempted murder, people will look at you wrong everybody will know about you and change their opinion on you. Your reputation will be bad. Read on to see what this article is about.

This book is about a girl named Devon being charged with attempted murder of killing her new born. This book will leave you wanting to read on a little later on and on, you will want to find out things. The teenage girl Devon is charged with attempted murder. Did she do it? Did she go to jail? You will want to know all these answers and it won’t take long in to the book to figure it out. How does devons mom Jennifer help her through these tough times? Is her mom there for her while she’s going through this? These are the questions you will want to find out in the book. Devon has something wrong with her body she bleeds a lot through her private area. What’s wrong with her?

My opinion on this book was in the middle of good and bad, because I didn’t understand some things in the story just happened to fast. I would recommend this book to others; the audience would be for teenagers. You can learn from this book. Stuff happens every day like the stuff that happened in this book. It’s not too long and it’s not short. My dislikes on this book is in the first chapter if it’s not catchy or wanting me to read more than sometimes I might not read it and I had to wait until the third chapter to start liking, the chapters are long though. I really don’t get the book everything is just happening to fast. Over all I liked this book and I think others might enjoy it!

I would rate this book a 4/5, because it was kind of hard for me to understand. I liked it, it wasn’t bad at all. I thought I wasn’t going to like it but it ended up turning out good. I think other people enjoy this book more than I did. When I looked at the cover I thought it was going to be a mystery novel, but not so much.

The theme of this story is do the right thing and stay out of trouble and you won’t have to go through anything bad. Basically the reason for that theme is Devon is getting charged with attempted murder and she should have done the right thing and she wouldn’t have been in this situation. The setting is modern day; the main characters are Devon, her mom Jennifer, and the doctors. Devon’s is in high school, she is a straight A student, she plays soccer, and is more mature then her own mother! Devon’s mom is childish, seems like she is more into guys then she is her own daughter, she has a night job at Safeway, and she has blond hair. Devon needs to fix the issues between her and her mom, it’s just them to Devon has no other brothers or sisters. Jennifer isn’t really there for Devon when she goes to court and stuff, and deep down that hurts Devon.

Amy efaw said “coping with teenage pregnancy is never easy. This book provides a poignant and realistic look into the mind of a desperate teenager girl who was charged with attempting to kill her newborn baby.”

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Sep 28, 2012 Samara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As crazy of a book After is, I love the characters. They all had such contrasted personalities, you could definitely tell which one was talking, and how it formed the story. The characters were very well developed because they all kind of had a back ground story, and their characteristics just made them very believable and well rounded as well. The plot felt very realistic for what type of book it is. You could definitely believe the characters as it went on. The plot had so many unexpected twis...more As crazy of a book After is, I love the characters. They all had such contrasted personalities, you could definitely tell which one was talking, and how it formed the story. The characters were very well developed because they all kind of had a back ground story, and their characteristics just made them very believable and well rounded as well. The plot felt very realistic for what type of book it is. You could definitely believe the characters as it went on. The plot had so many unexpected twists and turns that made it so intense you had to keep reading to figure it out. I did though feel like some parts were dragged on, and that the story ended too soon, the author could add more to the story then what she did.
The author wrote in the main characters eyes. And that’s what I liked, usually you’re in the eyes of someone who was a victim, but this time you are the in the eyes of someone who was more of a predator instead of its prey. The author wrote pretty simplistic too, it was easy to understand what was going on throughout the whole story and since it made sense, its altitude of crazy that happens in the story made you read on no matter what. I felt that the author did underdeveloped a lot of what goes on in the book, I feel she should’ve added more especially to the end so you can see how she is after the court. But in a sense that’s what made it a great finish to the book, but I still wanted to see the ending verdict from the judge. I felt that the dialogue was very realistic, that I could see this happening on the news.
I am not overly sure what people are supposed to get out of this book honestly. But one thing I have learned is that, you can always judge people on what you hear about what they have done. Because no matter what, you wouldn’t want some stranger to judge you that way would you? At the end of the book 2 people came in and were up talking about how good of a person Devon was. They said these things especially after the fact they found out she had thrown out her baby after giving birth. I feel that throughout this book, I was so mad at the main character just knowing little information about what had happened, but then reading the rest of the story in her eyes I realized that there was more to some people than that meets the eye. And we should not judge people because of it. If we have not walked a mile in their shoes, who are we to say about the decisions they make? We don’t know their reasoning; we don’t know who they are. Judge and be judged. I would definitely recommend this to people who need an eye opening, those who have a habit of judging people without meaning to, and everyone who enjoys a suspense thriller.
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Aug 27, 2012 Avi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, boring, didn-t-like, teenage-crap

I have had this book for awhile now. 2 years at least, but I neve got around to reading it. It has just sat in a tote in my closet full of un-read books that seemed semi-interesting..
Well I finally got around to reading it, and now I know why it took me 2 years to read this. Simply put, it was boring.
Sure the plot about a responsible, hardworking, straight-A student, and star soccer player has sex with her summer boyfriend and after the first time she becomes pregnant, but
throughout her pregnan...more I have had this book for awhile now. 2 years at least, but I neve got around to reading it. It has just sat in a tote in my closet full of un-read books that seemed semi-interesting..
Well I finally got around to reading it, and now I know why it took me 2 years to read this. Simply put, it was boring.
Sure the plot about a responsible, hardworking, straight-A student, and star soccer player has sex with her summer boyfriend and after the first time she becomes pregnant, but
throughout her pregnancy she lives in denial and pretends like a child is not growing inside of her and continues on with life while lying to people close to her and shutting them out.
Eventually she does give birth, in her bathroom and decides to dump the baby in the dumpster. Seemed like it might be a good book considering that this sort of thing has been
happening a lot in the U.S. ... but unfortunately this wasn't the case.

There were a few things I didn't like this book. First is the writing. It was not written very well and the narration was annoying. I couldn't really connect with Devon.
Second complaint I have was with Devon. Putting aside the fact that she just dumped a newborn in the dumpster, her personality was just bland and at times incredibly annoying.
She was not a likeable character at all. And I did not like how the author was trying make the reader have sympathy for this awful girl.
She was constantly listing her "good" qualities over and over in the book, and how it was her mother's fault that Devon chose to live in denial about the pregnancy and the underage sex because if she admitted it then
she would be just like her mother. *eye roll* please... It's everybody's fault but Devon's. One thing I did like was (view spoiler)
My third complaint, and it's not really that big of a deal, but I would of liked to know more about Karma. She was creepy but really intriguing and I wanted to know more. I was even hoping to see her and Devon "bond" a little
in the story. It did seem like the author hinted at a possible truce between the two at the end, but nothing more then that.

All in all it was an okay. Not bad for the $2.97 I paid at BAM for it. But not anything I would read again. (less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Erin Gilbert rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Definitely tough subject matter! It's about a 15-year-old girl, Devon, who secretly has a baby and throws it in the trash. She's discovered immediately in Chapter 1 and is sent to a detention home by way of the hospital. Throughout the book, Devon begins to piece together memories of "That Night" and "IT" that she has seemingly blocked out. As she meets with counselors and her lawyer, attends class, and meets other girls, Devon flashes back to her life as perfect student and soccer player. She r...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Lara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Eine zwischen 1989 und 1998 vom 'Center of Disease Control and Prevention' in den USA durchgeführte Studie kam zu dem Ergebnis, dass "die Gefahr ermordet zu werden, am ersten Lebenstag zehn Mal größer ist als zu irgendeiner anderen Zeit des Lebens".
So ein Auszug des Nachwortes der Autorin, das die Thematik wiedergibt: eine 15jährige, aufstrebende Schülerin wird des versuchten Mordes an ihrem Baby angeklagt, auf der Rückseite wird ein überraschendes Ende versprochen.

Meine Meinung zu diesem Buch...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

First off, what an amazing concept for a book! That was what attracted me to the novel to start with, I’ve read a lot of books with very serious and intense themes, however I’d never seen anyone try to tackle such a huge problem as the ‘dumpster baby’ phenomena, and I think Efaw needs applause for that!

I think however, that this book won’t stay with me as much as I would have liked for it too have. Its not particularly well written in my opinion, I don’t like the way she has narrated it, I would...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Grace rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: haunting, can-t-get-it-out-of-my-head, disappointing-ending, reviewed

2.5 stars

This book absolutely broke my heart.

It was almost unbearable reading it, because the plot was just so disturbing, nothing like what I've read before. I had a hard time figuring out Devon, mainly because she held back a lot, but despite her crime I still felt like she was a good person. And even when I knew that this book was a work of fiction (but incidents like this do happen in real life), I just felt so sad for Devon, and the vulnerability she felt during this whole story. Goodness,...more

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“She can paint a pretty picture but this story has a twist. The paintbrush is a razor and the canvas is her wrist.” — 192 people liked it

“In case you didn't know, dead people don't bleed. If you can bleed-see it, feel it-then you know you're alive. It's irrefutable, undeniable proof. Sometimes I just need a little reminder.” — 74 people liked it

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