After Isaac

by Avra Wing

Aaron Saturn, 16, is an emotional zombie—stuck in grief for his little brother, Isaac, who died. Aaron longs for an escape, and thinks he’s found one when he meets Kim, a girl living on the streets of New York City’s East Village. But the real upheaval in his life hits closer to home. When his parents reveal a startling plan to change their family, Aaron goes into a tailspin. He needs to learn that running away won’t heal him. For that to happen, Aaron must be willing to let love back into his life. Love that may lead him to a real adventure. "Avra Wing is a remarkably astute writer. In After Isaac she handles the weightiest material—life and death, birth and loss—with the lightest of touches. Aaron Saturn and his lovely, heartbroken family will stay with you long after this novel's pitch-perfect ending.”—Ben Dolnick, author of I Know Who You Are and Zoology

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2013

About the author

After Isaac, my new young adult novel, won a gold medal for YA fiction in the 2013 Moonbeam Awards for Children's Books. Publishers Weekly called it "an emotionally complex story of life, love, grief, and recovery." My first novel, Angie, I Says, a New York Times notable book, was made into the movie Angie starring Geena Davis and James Gandolfini. I have also published essays in the Times. My collection of poems, Recurring Dream, won the 2011 Pecan Grove Press chapbook competition, and I have published poems in several journals, including Hanging Loose and Michigan Quarterly Review. For 10 years I was an adjunct professor of English at Kingsborough Community College, and for the past four years I have been a writing workshop leader for the New York Writers Coalition.

Reviews

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I have to say that I won this for free from Goodreads...

Now I can say that I LOVED this book! Maybe because I too have experienced the death of my brother, but I found the narrator easy to connect with and relate to. My heart ached for him, as I felt I was experiencing his grief and struggles with him. The authors descriptions were spot on with what I went through- it was clear she did her research (or has experienced it herself). When my own brother passed away, I remember thinking that it's true what they say: everyone handles their grief differently. But what they don't say is that you have to live with others as they handle their grief differently than you do. The author nailed that.

I cannot say enough about this book. Except maybe that I couldn't put it down. I read it in four sittings- all in the same day. I couldn't go to bed without finishing it.

Very very good book.

[NaTaya Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I won this book through First Reads Giveaways*

[May Contain Spoilers]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a heartbreaking story of a teen's struggle to deal with life after the death of his little brother. He's sad, angry, damaged, and hopeless. He goes into an ever-more-depressing spiral and hits rock bottom when he meets a homeless runaway and takes ecstasy with her after finding out that his parents are planning to adopt a new child.

The writing style is excellent and the narration style is evocative of Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking story of loss and renewed hope.

[David Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Isaac, this is my thirty-fourth book that I have received and read from Goodreads. This story is about a family that lost their eleven year old son, he dies in his sleep with no apparent cause for his death. Aaron his thirteen year old brother, they share their bedroom and do every thing together, Aaron feels he is at fault for not seeing signs that night and saving his brothers life. Aaron cannot get over his brothers death and is seeking a psychologist for this problem. In the story mom and dad are doing different things to get over the loss of their son. Aaron sees what his parents are doing is totally wrong and rebels against them. Mom meets an Asian lady and become good friends and thru this friendship she finds out how much babies girls need adoption in China. Aaron rebels but finally he sees that his parents are not forgetting and replacing Isaac,but the need to move on. I found this book to be very interesting and you wonder how many families go thru something similar in real life. I would recommend this book to anyone, a real enjoyable read. I would like to thank the author Avra Wing for taking the time to sign and write a note to me

[Tiekun · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Isaac by Avra Wing is a deep and thoughtful book about a teenage boy, Aaron Saturn, and his family in the aftermath of the sudden and unexpected death of his younger brother, Isaac. It is a profound story exploring the emotional distraught and grief as a result of losing a loved one, and it is about letting go of the blame on oneself, moving on, and living. I liked the use of little references to foreshadow the event that gives the family hope and a reason to ‘live’. Also the stories of the people around the family, such as the going-ons of Emma’s family, the Millers, Owen, and Kim, are intact to add to the emotional journey that Aaron embarks. Which also serves to teach him understanding, and finally allows him to live again.

[Mary Sanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The intimate scenes Avra Wing presents here, of a family in the midst of recovery after a tragedy, have stayed with me. The protagonist, Aaron Saturn, one day musing on bodhisattvas in a museum, says "Maybe, and I know this sounds cheesy, we can all be bodhisattvas in a small way. Maybe even me. Someday. It's not easy. Maybe wanting to try is the first step."

This line sums up his attitude about life "After Isaac." We watch the family come to the point where they want to try, where they take those first steps. The work is stunning in its stark purity of emotion. I think of Aaron pushing beyond the clouds of grief, and thank Avra Wing for sharing with us and with young readers, this green shoot.

[☆Joycedale☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really sweet story told by Aaron a 16 yr old boy. 3 yrs ago his 11 yr old brother suddenly dies leaving his family in heartbreak. His story takes place over about a yr time frame 2 yrs later. The family still haven't really learned to cope with losing Isaac.
He tells of all the good and bad decisions made by him and his parents trying to overcome the obstacles to being happy again. He learns to trust in his friends, the one that has always been there and some new ones.
I like the ending. It says that you don't always get the happy ending you planned on but it can still be just as good.

I received this book from goodreads first reads.