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After Opal: A Biliran Girl Story

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In "After Opal," we experience the dramatic transformation of Amara Delgado from a dedicated college student to a worldwide climate activist. Amara comes from Bilirán Province in the Philippines. Her personal losses from a typhoon motivate her to fight tenaciously for climate justice.
Amara's tale is an inspiring look at the human capacity for overcoming adversity. She has to overcome numerous obstacles and hostile forces as she moves forward in her activist career. Her path has been fraught with ups and downs as she has dealt with everything from online climate change doubters to powerful officials motivated by corporate greed.
In parallel with Amara's mission, we dive into the experiences of people all over the world who are dealing with the impacts of climate change in their own ways. These linked accounts emphasize the importance of a coordinated response to the climate catastrophe, which affects people all over the world.
There is a human cost to climate change, and "After Opal" is a compelling and thought-provoking story that shows us just how urgent it is for the world to take action. This book is a rallying cry, promoting the idea that each individual can make a difference in the fight against climate change. A vital read for anybody interested in learning more about the climate catastrophe and how their own actions might spark positive change.

430 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2023

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for James Pelkmans.
Author 4 books13 followers
October 20, 2023
Like it or not, the climate crisis is real. This story does a fantastic job of examining the human cost, especially in places that will feel the most direct impact while lacking the resources to respond adequately.

We experience the impact firsthand through the eyes of Amara, a young Filipina woman. Although not from a privileged background, hard work and diligent studies give her an opportunity to be successful in the business world. Economic globalization brings growth and opportunity to developing companies all over the world, including her home in the Philippines.

Ironically, the same "growth and profits above all else" mentality fueling the globalization to which she owes her new career has another impact on her home that she never imagined. In the wake of a devastating storm, her whole world is turned upside down, and she begins to realize the immediacy of the danger facing not only her, but her entire generation as well.

If you think these are spoilers, trust me; I'm leaving out the best details. How does a powerless young woman from the Philippines get ensnared in global politics, drawing the ire of the most powerful men on the planet? Read the book to find out. I promise you won't regret it.

I would have given the book a five, but for the overabundance of "purple prose" in the opening chapters. While it can be quite distracting, it does taper off into a more straightforward narrative style towards the middle, making the book overall very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Carmel Audsley.
Author 14 books21 followers
October 21, 2023
The author’s passion for nature, inspired by centuries-old tropical rainforest and the ever-changing coastline of his home in Costa Rica, has sown the seeds for this uplifting story about saving our environment. Amara is a lowly-paid worker and student, with dreams of a better life, who refuses to be a victim. She lives a serene island life in Biliran Province in the Philippines until a typhoon devastates her community. The fury of the typhoon ignites a force within her to spread the word about climate change and its catastrophic consequences. Inspired by real events, the book is a work of fiction but it shines a light on our changing climate and the need for action. The story is very long and needs a good edit. There is an overuse of metaphors and flowery descriptions, and it is hard to focus on the core story because of the detailed description and meanderings. It took a while for the action to get started, but it’s a story with a message and worth a read.
Profile Image for Louise.
1,531 reviews20 followers
November 16, 2023
Written in fiction, the story is inspired by real events around climate change. This is a descriptive, plot-driven story as readers delve into various lives around the world attempting to survive the climate crisis. This is a lengthy story and not a casual read as there are plenty of characters to follow as the perspectives switch every chapter.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews