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Aftermath
Three years after losing her brother Luka in a school shooting, Skye Gilchrist is moving home. But there's no sympathy for Skye and her family because Luka wasn't a victim; he was a shooter.
Jesse Mandal knows all too well that the scars of the past don't heal easily. The shooting cost Jesse his brother and his best friend--Skye.
Ripped apart by tragedy, Jesse and Skye can't resist reopening the mysteries of their past. But old wounds hide darker secrets. And the closer Skye and Jesse get to the truth of what happened that day, the closer they get to a new killer.
Jesse Mandal knows all too well that the scars of the past don't heal easily. The shooting cost Jesse his brother and his best friend--Skye.
Ripped apart by tragedy, Jesse and Skye can't resist reopening the mysteries of their past. But old wounds hide darker secrets. And the closer Skye and Jesse get to the truth of what happened that day, the closer they get to a new killer.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2018
232 people are currently reading
6868 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
293 books33.6k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 542 reviews
May 24, 2018
4.5 STARS
"I didn't HAVE to," she says. "I chose to. Sometimes, showing compassion for others means doing things that are painful for us."
Folks, this is a book that will stay with me indefinitely. One of the more beautiful aspects of YA fiction is how it can completely take you by surprise by simultaneously sweeping you off your feet and doubling you over with a punch to the gut. This is such a book. I finished Aftermath days ago and my emotions are persisting in their wide range of feelings. Obviously the subject matter is delicate, but even the sub-stories within that deal with race, culture, and family dynamics proceed to dig their way below the surface. I felt the emotional equivalent of being struck by an arrow that pierces the skin and isn't able to be just pulled out, because it's head is unable to be reversed the way it went in. It was a beautiful, painful experience, and here's why you should read it...
This is a YA novel written for everyone. Yes, I'm aware that a good bit of YA novels, even ones I enjoy from time to time, are a bit cheesy and underwhelming to most adult readers. Whether the dialogue is trying too hard or the content is flat out unrealistic, these cliches can make-or-break a book for those wanting to dabble in fiction that is aimed at a younger audience. Aftermath is a well written character study with a tinge of mystery and suspense, one that bypasses lingo that's trying too hard and sticks to content that matters and is relevant to readers of all ages. I flew through this book as I grew connected to Skye and Jesse/Jasser, because they felt like real, tangible people rather than a glossy magazine spread meant to resemble such.
The content is unsettling and disturbing, but far from graphic. Yes, there are a brief handful of moments with insight into the shooting itself, but these were mostly tame and developed through the emotions of our protagonists rather than relying on shock value and gory flashbacks. I not only felt this was more effective than telling the story the horror route, but also made the story age appropriate for a wider audience, especially those who may be a more sensitive reader wanting to read about a relevant plot so crucial to our current events in America. Please be advised though that this book IS disturbing, unsettling, and horrifying and each reader should take note before choosing to pick this one up.
Jesse's mom is the hero of this story, and the diversity is natural. Without delving into spoiler territory, I want to give you insight into one portion of the story which deserves all the attention and credit due. One of our POVs is from Jesse, given name Jasser, who comes from a muslim family. His father is an engineer and his mother is a doctor, but his family still deals with racism and harassment on a regular basis. Armstrong noted in the acknowledgements that she developed this fictional family with the help of a similar one in real life, because she was so determined to have proper representation. Jasser's mom is, in fact, the glue that holds all of the broken people in this story together. She exudes love, support, grace, and understanding, even to those who do not deserve it. She is a classy, upstanding citizen with a wicked sense of humor and a burning deep in her soul to be involved in her children's lives. She is a protective mama bear, not only of her children but of those who don't have a mother to fight in their corner. The Mandals are a family that I grew to feel a part of, and I feel an odd sense of displacement now that the story is over because they felt so... real.
I feel I should mention that the mystery surrounding Skye's brother and the details of the shooting actually takes a backseat to the exquisite character study that exists here. We do get some answers at the end, but I was left unsure of the reason that the shooting happened in the first place. Regardless, we receive enough answers to put our detective cap aside and let it be. If you enjoy novels that bring forth a well of emotions, both happy and sad, this one's for you. This book is important and focuses on so many necessary themes, such as forgiveness, reconciliation, family bonds (both by blood and those that we choose), and many others I won't mention simply so that you can experience them first hand. Highly recommended and I can't wait to chat about this book with others once they've read it.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
"I didn't HAVE to," she says. "I chose to. Sometimes, showing compassion for others means doing things that are painful for us."
Folks, this is a book that will stay with me indefinitely. One of the more beautiful aspects of YA fiction is how it can completely take you by surprise by simultaneously sweeping you off your feet and doubling you over with a punch to the gut. This is such a book. I finished Aftermath days ago and my emotions are persisting in their wide range of feelings. Obviously the subject matter is delicate, but even the sub-stories within that deal with race, culture, and family dynamics proceed to dig their way below the surface. I felt the emotional equivalent of being struck by an arrow that pierces the skin and isn't able to be just pulled out, because it's head is unable to be reversed the way it went in. It was a beautiful, painful experience, and here's why you should read it...
This is a YA novel written for everyone. Yes, I'm aware that a good bit of YA novels, even ones I enjoy from time to time, are a bit cheesy and underwhelming to most adult readers. Whether the dialogue is trying too hard or the content is flat out unrealistic, these cliches can make-or-break a book for those wanting to dabble in fiction that is aimed at a younger audience. Aftermath is a well written character study with a tinge of mystery and suspense, one that bypasses lingo that's trying too hard and sticks to content that matters and is relevant to readers of all ages. I flew through this book as I grew connected to Skye and Jesse/Jasser, because they felt like real, tangible people rather than a glossy magazine spread meant to resemble such.
The content is unsettling and disturbing, but far from graphic. Yes, there are a brief handful of moments with insight into the shooting itself, but these were mostly tame and developed through the emotions of our protagonists rather than relying on shock value and gory flashbacks. I not only felt this was more effective than telling the story the horror route, but also made the story age appropriate for a wider audience, especially those who may be a more sensitive reader wanting to read about a relevant plot so crucial to our current events in America. Please be advised though that this book IS disturbing, unsettling, and horrifying and each reader should take note before choosing to pick this one up.
Jesse's mom is the hero of this story, and the diversity is natural. Without delving into spoiler territory, I want to give you insight into one portion of the story which deserves all the attention and credit due. One of our POVs is from Jesse, given name Jasser, who comes from a muslim family. His father is an engineer and his mother is a doctor, but his family still deals with racism and harassment on a regular basis. Armstrong noted in the acknowledgements that she developed this fictional family with the help of a similar one in real life, because she was so determined to have proper representation. Jasser's mom is, in fact, the glue that holds all of the broken people in this story together. She exudes love, support, grace, and understanding, even to those who do not deserve it. She is a classy, upstanding citizen with a wicked sense of humor and a burning deep in her soul to be involved in her children's lives. She is a protective mama bear, not only of her children but of those who don't have a mother to fight in their corner. The Mandals are a family that I grew to feel a part of, and I feel an odd sense of displacement now that the story is over because they felt so... real.
I feel I should mention that the mystery surrounding Skye's brother and the details of the shooting actually takes a backseat to the exquisite character study that exists here. We do get some answers at the end, but I was left unsure of the reason that the shooting happened in the first place. Regardless, we receive enough answers to put our detective cap aside and let it be. If you enjoy novels that bring forth a well of emotions, both happy and sad, this one's for you. This book is important and focuses on so many necessary themes, such as forgiveness, reconciliation, family bonds (both by blood and those that we choose), and many others I won't mention simply so that you can experience them first hand. Highly recommended and I can't wait to chat about this book with others once they've read it.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
July 2, 2018
There’s grief, too, but I bury that even faster. You aren’t allowed to grieve for someone like Luka. It doesn’t matter if he was an amazing brother. Luka Gilchrist was a monster. Write it on the board a hundred times and don’t ever forget it.
I can't deny being apprehensive about reading this book due to the school shooting subject matter. I am happy I ended up giving it the shot the book deserved. Aftermath is an extremely relevant book handling a sensitive subject in an empathetic way.
Three years ago, both Skye and Jesse lost their brothers in a school shooting. Skye’s brother was a shooter, while Jesse’s was a victim. The story is told from both Skye and Jesse’s perspectives. Skye moved away after the shooting, but now she has to move back to live with her Aunt May. It doesn’t take long for Skye to realize no one wants her there. The gossiping has started. There is a petition going around saying she shouldn’t be allowed to attend the school for the safety of others. There are threats and mysterious notes showing up. Oh and seeing Jesse is painful because they used to be best friends.
This book ends up being part contemporary character study, part mystery with a hint of romance and heavier dose of suspense. The story shows how different people can be affected in different ways by tragedy, while also showing we all cope with grief in our own ways.
It takes talent to take a timely, sensitive topic and handle it so well while turning it into an entertaining thriller.
The disturbing scenes are kept to a minimum making this readable for most readers. Although, you should keep in mind the subject matter.
May 21, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This book was truly great. I have to admit that when I first saw that this book would involve a school shooting I was really nervous about reading it. Did I really want to read a book about such a terrible event especially in the current climate? I really wasn't sure but I decided to add this book to my reading schedule because I wanted to see what Kelley Armstrong could do with such a terrible event. I haven't read too many books written by Kelley Armstrong but I have really enjoyed the ones that I have read so I trusted that she would deliver a story worth reading. This book ended up being one of those books that are almost impossible to put down. I am so glad that I decided to give this one a try.
As previously mentioned, this book does involve a school shooting so I was really afraid that it would be one of those books that would break my heart to pieces. In some ways, I guess it did because I hated everything they had gone through but it wasn't the traumatic reading experience that I had feared it would be. The focus of this book is Skye, the sister of one of the teens responsible for the school shooting that tore her hometown apart just a few years earlier. Skye is forced to move back home with her Aunt and go back to the school with the same kids who knew her brother and what he did.
Jesse was Skye's best friend and was possibly becoming more when everything happened. His brother was one of the victims and his life is completely different than it was before the shooting took place. Jesse not only lost his brother but also his best friend when Skye's family quickly left town. Jesse isn't really sure what to think about Skye's return to their hometown.
This book was a whole lot about the characters. Spending time with both Skye and Jesse as they work through their thoughts and feelings about everything going on was very eye opening. This book was also a really well done thriller. I think I might have actually missed the fact that there was some new issues when I first read the book's summary but I was quickly caught up in the events surrounding Skye and Jesse. I had a few suspects but I was never quite sure who was responsible for all of the things going on and I found myself completely glued to the pages. I really liked how Skye and Jesse were able to reconnect as they worked to figure things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a thought provoking page turner filled with wonderful characters. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Children's - Crown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed this rather exciting book. This story wasn't what I thought it would be. It was a lot better than I expected. I had no idea this would be a thriller but once things started happening, I didn't want to put the book down. I liked Syke and Jesse and was really hoping that things would work out for them. I was able to guess a few things that happened in the book but I was still completely entertained.
This book was truly great. I have to admit that when I first saw that this book would involve a school shooting I was really nervous about reading it. Did I really want to read a book about such a terrible event especially in the current climate? I really wasn't sure but I decided to add this book to my reading schedule because I wanted to see what Kelley Armstrong could do with such a terrible event. I haven't read too many books written by Kelley Armstrong but I have really enjoyed the ones that I have read so I trusted that she would deliver a story worth reading. This book ended up being one of those books that are almost impossible to put down. I am so glad that I decided to give this one a try.
As previously mentioned, this book does involve a school shooting so I was really afraid that it would be one of those books that would break my heart to pieces. In some ways, I guess it did because I hated everything they had gone through but it wasn't the traumatic reading experience that I had feared it would be. The focus of this book is Skye, the sister of one of the teens responsible for the school shooting that tore her hometown apart just a few years earlier. Skye is forced to move back home with her Aunt and go back to the school with the same kids who knew her brother and what he did.
Jesse was Skye's best friend and was possibly becoming more when everything happened. His brother was one of the victims and his life is completely different than it was before the shooting took place. Jesse not only lost his brother but also his best friend when Skye's family quickly left town. Jesse isn't really sure what to think about Skye's return to their hometown.
This book was a whole lot about the characters. Spending time with both Skye and Jesse as they work through their thoughts and feelings about everything going on was very eye opening. This book was also a really well done thriller. I think I might have actually missed the fact that there was some new issues when I first read the book's summary but I was quickly caught up in the events surrounding Skye and Jesse. I had a few suspects but I was never quite sure who was responsible for all of the things going on and I found myself completely glued to the pages. I really liked how Skye and Jesse were able to reconnect as they worked to figure things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a thought provoking page turner filled with wonderful characters. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Children's - Crown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed this rather exciting book. This story wasn't what I thought it would be. It was a lot better than I expected. I had no idea this would be a thriller but once things started happening, I didn't want to put the book down. I liked Syke and Jesse and was really hoping that things would work out for them. I was able to guess a few things that happened in the book but I was still completely entertained.
May 31, 2018
Aftermath is a story that’s relevant to current times. Living in the States, school shootings are sadly becoming more and more frequent. I’ve often thought of the family of the shooter, how they’re affected when one of their own commits such a horrible crime. Often the family is shocked, blindsided and branded as villains as well.
Aftermath is a fictional story centering on Skylar, the sister of one of the school shooters of a shooting that took place three years ago. My heart went out to her. The brother she knew would never have done what Luka did, and with him gone she’s been left to bear the brunt of hate aimed his way. More now than ever when she’s forced to return to her hometown where the shooting took place. Skylar expects hostility, but not the sinister pranks, bullying and phone calls she experiences. Is someone trying to punish her for her brother’s crimes or question his guilt?
I’ve enjoyed Kelley Armstrong’s writing for quite some time, lately with her Casey Duncan series. Love that series! While I liked Aftermath, I can’t say it wowed me. Skylar was a likable and sympathetic character and I liked Jesse as well, but their romance was a bit underwhelming. It was sort of a second chance romance and they both had gone through so much, so of course I wanted them to be together, there just wasn’t really any spark to it, IMaO. Kelley Armstrong usually has me on the edge of my seat with suspense, and there were a couple of tension filled moments in this story, but I think the danger was downplayed by the characters when the panic button should’ve been pushed! They didn’t feel the urgency (stupidly, IMO) and so I think the story didn’t feel as suspenseful. Maybe this was because the story is Young Adult? I don’t know. Still, I was entertained, and felt the need to push on and find out what exactly was going on.
A copy was kindly provided by Crown Books for Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Aftermath is a fictional story centering on Skylar, the sister of one of the school shooters of a shooting that took place three years ago. My heart went out to her. The brother she knew would never have done what Luka did, and with him gone she’s been left to bear the brunt of hate aimed his way. More now than ever when she’s forced to return to her hometown where the shooting took place. Skylar expects hostility, but not the sinister pranks, bullying and phone calls she experiences. Is someone trying to punish her for her brother’s crimes or question his guilt?
I’ve enjoyed Kelley Armstrong’s writing for quite some time, lately with her Casey Duncan series. Love that series! While I liked Aftermath, I can’t say it wowed me. Skylar was a likable and sympathetic character and I liked Jesse as well, but their romance was a bit underwhelming. It was sort of a second chance romance and they both had gone through so much, so of course I wanted them to be together, there just wasn’t really any spark to it, IMaO. Kelley Armstrong usually has me on the edge of my seat with suspense, and there were a couple of tension filled moments in this story, but I think the danger was downplayed by the characters when the panic button should’ve been pushed! They didn’t feel the urgency (stupidly, IMO) and so I think the story didn’t feel as suspenseful. Maybe this was because the story is Young Adult? I don’t know. Still, I was entertained, and felt the need to push on and find out what exactly was going on.
A copy was kindly provided by Crown Books for Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
November 4, 2018
Interesting read that chronicles the “aftermath” of a school shooting and the effect on two teens, one the sister of the shooter, the other the brother of a victim. More a mystery/love story than anything psychological.
Trigger warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Trigger warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
May 21, 2018
There really isn't a whole lot that Armstrong can't write, in virtually any genre.
The very fact that she combined a very sensitive topic with a mystery and somehow made it both mysterious and heartfelt make it work, is truly a talent not a lot of authors have.
I love that this kept me on the edge of my seat wondering exactly if the main character wasn't slightly unhinged herself or if she really was being bullied and pranked by those that really didn't want her there.
Truly a great stand alone read that fans of Armstrong are going to love and new fans will be glad they took a chance on.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
The very fact that she combined a very sensitive topic with a mystery and somehow made it both mysterious and heartfelt make it work, is truly a talent not a lot of authors have.
I love that this kept me on the edge of my seat wondering exactly if the main character wasn't slightly unhinged herself or if she really was being bullied and pranked by those that really didn't want her there.
Truly a great stand alone read that fans of Armstrong are going to love and new fans will be glad they took a chance on.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
May 1, 2018
Oh man, this was amazing.
I loved Skye and Jesse. They’ve both gone through a horrible tragedy, but they’re at different sides of the event. I loved getting both sides of the story and reading them figuring out how to go forward. And Jesse’s mom was one of the best parts.
Plot wise, it was everything I wasn’t expecting. There were definitely some heartbreaking moments, but a major part of this story is a mystery and it’s absolutely delicious. There are a lot of creepy moments and I spent a good portion of the time reading wondering if everything was in Skye’s head. It was fantastic.
Overall, it was a quick read filled with tension. It had me second guessing everything and everyone and I can’t wait to read it again.
**Huge thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Skye and Jesse. They’ve both gone through a horrible tragedy, but they’re at different sides of the event. I loved getting both sides of the story and reading them figuring out how to go forward. And Jesse’s mom was one of the best parts.
Plot wise, it was everything I wasn’t expecting. There were definitely some heartbreaking moments, but a major part of this story is a mystery and it’s absolutely delicious. There are a lot of creepy moments and I spent a good portion of the time reading wondering if everything was in Skye’s head. It was fantastic.
Overall, it was a quick read filled with tension. It had me second guessing everything and everyone and I can’t wait to read it again.
**Huge thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers for providing the arc free of charge**
February 18, 2021
2.5 stars. That wasn't what I was expecting and I'm disappointed.
The synopsis drew me in immediately. We always tend to view murderers as monsters who shouldn't be missed, but it's not as easy or simple as that. They had entire lives and loved ones before they did the unthinkable. We never hear about those innocent loved ones though, especially without projecting blame onto them. ("How did you not notice they were up to something?" "Couldn't you have stopped this?!")
The idea of a book that explores the thoughts of people who mourn for murderers while also acknowledging the horrific pain and terror they caused was really interesting. That kinda just goes out the window here, though. (Obviously not talking about the people who idolize murderers and mourn after the fact, but rather the people who loved them before they committed any crimes. Family members, childhood friends, etc.)
It's also kind of... out there and unbelievable. The adults are incapable of doing anything properly, the performance art installation is weird as hell, and I wrongly assumed the whole story would be less focused on the romance side of the story. But it's YA, so maybe I should have seen that coming.
Can't say it wasn't entertaining, though. I also can't help but assume "All Time Five" is the book's version of All Time Low, and I loved that.
The synopsis drew me in immediately. We always tend to view murderers as monsters who shouldn't be missed, but it's not as easy or simple as that. They had entire lives and loved ones before they did the unthinkable. We never hear about those innocent loved ones though, especially without projecting blame onto them. ("How did you not notice they were up to something?" "Couldn't you have stopped this?!")
The idea of a book that explores the thoughts of people who mourn for murderers while also acknowledging the horrific pain and terror they caused was really interesting. That kinda just goes out the window here, though. (Obviously not talking about the people who idolize murderers and mourn after the fact, but rather the people who loved them before they committed any crimes. Family members, childhood friends, etc.)
It's also kind of... out there and unbelievable. The adults are incapable of doing anything properly, the performance art installation is weird as hell, and I wrongly assumed the whole story would be less focused on the romance side of the story. But it's YA, so maybe I should have seen that coming.
Can't say it wasn't entertaining, though. I also can't help but assume "All Time Five" is the book's version of All Time Low, and I loved that.
March 28, 2023
Skye Gilchrist is returning to her hometown, where a school shooting occurred three years ago. Her brother Luka was one of the shooters, so Skye runs into resentment, blame, and hateful judgement from many when she goes back to the high school.
(Opening Line):"I will not say that the day Jesse Mandal asked me out was the best day of my life."
This book was released only three months after the high school shooting on 2/14/18 in Florida, so at first I was hesitant to start it. Horrifically, school shootings in America have become almost daily occurrences in 2018, so I thought,"Why read about another one, even fictionally?" Once I began the book I could not put it down! The author focuses on the lives of the shooters families after the crime, in particular Skye Gilchrist, whose brother was a shooter, but also died. When her aunt insists that Skye move in with her, back in the town where the tragedy occurred, Skye faces constant judgement and bullying from people who feel that she has no right to be there.
Memorable quotes/scenes:
(pg. 10)-"You aren't allowed to grieve for someone like Luka. He was a monster; write it on the board a 100 times and don't forget it."
(pg.79)- The scene in the passageway where Skye examines the memorial to the shooting victims
(Opening Line):"I will not say that the day Jesse Mandal asked me out was the best day of my life."
This book was released only three months after the high school shooting on 2/14/18 in Florida, so at first I was hesitant to start it. Horrifically, school shootings in America have become almost daily occurrences in 2018, so I thought,"Why read about another one, even fictionally?" Once I began the book I could not put it down! The author focuses on the lives of the shooters families after the crime, in particular Skye Gilchrist, whose brother was a shooter, but also died. When her aunt insists that Skye move in with her, back in the town where the tragedy occurred, Skye faces constant judgement and bullying from people who feel that she has no right to be there.
Memorable quotes/scenes:
(pg. 10)-"You aren't allowed to grieve for someone like Luka. He was a monster; write it on the board a 100 times and don't forget it."
(pg.79)- The scene in the passageway where Skye examines the memorial to the shooting victims
June 10, 2018
Loved this book!
July 15, 2018
A theme of books that I have always been fascinated with is school shootings, I know that makes me sound creepy, but I'm not honest. I guess living in New Zealand, we only hear about the shootings. Kelley Armstrong's book was a different take on your usual school shooting novel which takes place leading up to the shootings. This one features the siblings of victims and shooters three years later. Skye and Jesse were the best of friends until one day changed their lives forever. There has been a school shooting at the high school, and both their siblings died - one was the shooter and the other a victim. Skye moves away for the next three years until her mum suffers a mental breakdown which lands her hospitalized and Skye must move back to live with her aunt in the hometown where the school shooting happened. Skye starts school and is instantly targeted as the girl whose brother shot up the school. Things start happening to Skye, and soon she is being bullied, and someone wants her dead but not before they make her watch footage from the school shooting. As she learns more about the shooting, the evidence seems to come to light that not all was what it seemed and that her brother may have been innocent and others were to blame. This was a good read and also held the moral of not judging others for the actions of siblings or family members but that we are all different and just because a family member might do something, we aren't the same as them. I liked this part as growing up; I had a sibling who was the complete opposite and tried hard to prove I wasn't like them.
May 15, 2018
I had to give this one some thought prior to writing my review. I was conflicted.
I really like the author and I found the book was extremely suspenseful.
I also don’t know that I’m ready for the School Shooting YA sub-genre that seems to be on the horizon. My initial thought was…if it’s done well it should be okay.
This largely is. The focus isn’t so much on the shooting itself, but on the aftermath (hence the title). We see the turmoil for the friends and families of the victims, as well as the friends and families of the assailants. It’s horrible and heart-rending and you realize how terrible it is for both sides involved.
But…
The story dissolves into a romance, complete with the brooding hero. And our heroine is prone to utter stupidity. A good third of the book could have been avoided if she only had a brain.
Ultimately, the book left me just a little unsatisfied as it turned what could have been strong and powerful commentary into a popcorn teen romantic suspense novel.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
I really like the author and I found the book was extremely suspenseful.
I also don’t know that I’m ready for the School Shooting YA sub-genre that seems to be on the horizon. My initial thought was…if it’s done well it should be okay.
This largely is. The focus isn’t so much on the shooting itself, but on the aftermath (hence the title). We see the turmoil for the friends and families of the victims, as well as the friends and families of the assailants. It’s horrible and heart-rending and you realize how terrible it is for both sides involved.
But…
The story dissolves into a romance, complete with the brooding hero. And our heroine is prone to utter stupidity. A good third of the book could have been avoided if she only had a brain.
Ultimately, the book left me just a little unsatisfied as it turned what could have been strong and powerful commentary into a popcorn teen romantic suspense novel.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
April 23, 2018
Picking up this book I expected it to be emotional, I mean, it is about the aftermath of a school shooting, so I was expecting to bawl my eyes out. What I was expecting was the other emotions that I would feel while reading this book.
.
Anger that no one would listen, fear about what was happening now, and sadness for how things turned out for a certain character that I wish I could’ve known better.
.
I know that all sounds kind of vague, but trust me, it needs to be that way. You need to go into this book not knowing what to expect. You need to feel all those emotions like I did. It makes this story that much more powerful.
.
Aftermath was a book that I had a feeling I would like, but I ended up loving it. It’s a powerful book that will stay with me for a long time.
.
Anger that no one would listen, fear about what was happening now, and sadness for how things turned out for a certain character that I wish I could’ve known better.
.
I know that all sounds kind of vague, but trust me, it needs to be that way. You need to go into this book not knowing what to expect. You need to feel all those emotions like I did. It makes this story that much more powerful.
.
Aftermath was a book that I had a feeling I would like, but I ended up loving it. It’s a powerful book that will stay with me for a long time.
November 21, 2020
Rating: 4.25/5
Review to come!
Review to come!
February 4, 2020
"RIH Luka Gilchrist"
Skye Gilchrist, a "school shooter's" younger sister, has two choices: to flight or to fight. Ever since Luka "fired" a gun in North Hampton High, Skye has been in doubt, telling herself that her brother would NEVER kill or even hurt a soul. But at the same time, she KNOWS that her brother meant to hurt someone. How does she know? She doesn't. In fact, Luka wouldn't even go hunting with his own father.... As loving as Luka is, Skye still doubts what emotions and pain might be inside him. Is he two faced? Does he just want to go out there and kill people with 2 other boys? Was it even him...?
This is what happened: A shot rings out, and the school goes into lockdown. Luka walks out of the boy's bathroom holding a gun. When the police tells him to drop it, he doesn't. A stupid mistake, a slow reaction. Skye doesn't blame the police for shooting Luka, even if they made a mistake. They were looking for a person holding a gun. Luka was a person holding a gun. Skye falls down into the hole of depression and goes to live with her aunt Mae, a woman who tries hard to please Skye but doesn't receive enough credit and sympathy. Mae encourages her to go back to school, while still staying clear of the lines. When she finally decides to go back to school, she is forced to face the fears alone. As if she was a deer in headlights, Skye is cornered and targeted. During her stay at Riverside Collegiate, a school where most of the NHH kids ended up, she meets her childhood friend, Jesse. Jesse's brother, Jamil, was killed in the shooting. They want to clear Luka and find the real culprit.
"Aftermath" by Kelley Armstrong is by far one of my favorite books. This tear-jerking novel is about the aftermath of a school shooting. Who really was behind all this? Did Luka really mean to walk out of the bathroom with a gun? You can slowly connect the lines and understand who was behind it all. I strongly recommend this book to all mystery lovers. Face your fears and get over them. Prove that others are WRONG.
"I look down...
Blood. There is blood on the floor. I stumble back so fast I fall, and then I'm on the floor, staring at a wash of dark red, as if someone made a haphazard attempt to clean up...
To clean up...
I squeeze my eyes shut. Fake. This must be fake.
Then I life my gaze...and see the boy's bathroom."
*This book may be offensive or triggering to some individuals.*
Skye Gilchrist, a "school shooter's" younger sister, has two choices: to flight or to fight. Ever since Luka "fired" a gun in North Hampton High, Skye has been in doubt, telling herself that her brother would NEVER kill or even hurt a soul. But at the same time, she KNOWS that her brother meant to hurt someone. How does she know? She doesn't. In fact, Luka wouldn't even go hunting with his own father.... As loving as Luka is, Skye still doubts what emotions and pain might be inside him. Is he two faced? Does he just want to go out there and kill people with 2 other boys? Was it even him...?
This is what happened: A shot rings out, and the school goes into lockdown. Luka walks out of the boy's bathroom holding a gun. When the police tells him to drop it, he doesn't. A stupid mistake, a slow reaction. Skye doesn't blame the police for shooting Luka, even if they made a mistake. They were looking for a person holding a gun. Luka was a person holding a gun. Skye falls down into the hole of depression and goes to live with her aunt Mae, a woman who tries hard to please Skye but doesn't receive enough credit and sympathy. Mae encourages her to go back to school, while still staying clear of the lines. When she finally decides to go back to school, she is forced to face the fears alone. As if she was a deer in headlights, Skye is cornered and targeted. During her stay at Riverside Collegiate, a school where most of the NHH kids ended up, she meets her childhood friend, Jesse. Jesse's brother, Jamil, was killed in the shooting. They want to clear Luka and find the real culprit.
"Aftermath" by Kelley Armstrong is by far one of my favorite books. This tear-jerking novel is about the aftermath of a school shooting. Who really was behind all this? Did Luka really mean to walk out of the bathroom with a gun? You can slowly connect the lines and understand who was behind it all. I strongly recommend this book to all mystery lovers. Face your fears and get over them. Prove that others are WRONG.
"I look down...
Blood. There is blood on the floor. I stumble back so fast I fall, and then I'm on the floor, staring at a wash of dark red, as if someone made a haphazard attempt to clean up...
To clean up...
I squeeze my eyes shut. Fake. This must be fake.
Then I life my gaze...and see the boy's bathroom."
*This book may be offensive or triggering to some individuals.*
December 28, 2018
4.5*
This is, obviously, an incredibly tough novel to both read and review. It deals with such a prevalent and important topic, but it is a grievous one all the same, and - considering all of that - was brilliantly done.
This novel follows two characters. One, a boy who lost his brother in a school shooting, and who's life has since fallen off the rails. The other, a girl who lost her brother in the same school shooting. The two were best friends. Until the school shooting, because the girl's brother was the shooter. Years later, Skye (the girl) has moved back to the town of the shooting, and she's expecting some backlash. However, it's not long before she's being threatened, her safety in the balance - and nobody believes her but her ex(?) best friend. The boy who's brother her brother's shooting killed.
“Just growing up seems like an accomplishment. Not everyone gets that far.”
1) Writing
Armstrong's writing was good! She knew how to use semi-colons and commas to her advantage, and she knew how to weave emotions into the story. I don't specifically remember much about her writing, except that I really did enjoy it! This story had so many juxtaposing emotions, it was intense in some parts, viscerally heart-breaking in others, and even light, happy, and romantic sometimes. Armstrong's writing was able to cover all of that, and expertly too. You can see why she is a number one bestselling author, she writes everything very well.
Decrease: 0
Rating: 5 Stars
2) Characterization
The two main characters in this novel were absolutely incredible! I loved them, how they contrasted, how they felt about each other, everything was just so brilliant! The characters also felt wonderfully realistic. This felt like it was written about teenagers, and that was incredibly gratifying. I think this was a brilliant title for the Battle of the Books, it's one teens will really get something out of, because the characters are so realistic and raw and relatable. Skye. Skye is obviously not having a good time back at school, she is beyond bullied, she's threatened. Now, hopefully that's not something your average high schooler can relate to, but we can all understand what it's like to be bullied, and the emotion and trauma of that was real. I also felt that her grieving situation was so realistic. This grappled with the idea that her brother was a shooter, just because he died does not mean she gets to mourn him. Which is not correct at all, her brother was thought to be a monster, he didn't deserve her grief, but that didn't stop her from feeling it, and that was really wonderfully done. Now, the other boy (who's name I can't remember whoops) was so real too! He was dealing with so many emotions, grief, guilt, anger, and loneliness. His story felt equally real and enjoyable. Plus, he was just (even though he didn't always show it) a really good-hearted guy, and that was nice to read about. In the end, these characters were so real and in-pain, it made for a beautiful and emotional reading experience that I think many high schoolers in Troy will adore, too.
Decrease: 0
Rating: 5 Stars
3) Plot/Storyline/Setting
This story suffers a bit here. This was kind of a mystery on top of all its contemporary-grieving stuff. The characters were also trying to figure out who was threatening Skye and what really happened all those years ago at the shooting itself. However, this is one of those stories where the suspicion twist was better than the real one. At one point in this story, they suspected one person of doing all the things that were happening behind the scenes, and that blew me away! That would have made for such a good and unpredictable twist, but then the author goes and changes it to another person, and I had predicted who really did everything since I first met that person. It was obvious, and that's never good, but then it was made even more tragic by the fact that the first twist was so shocking...but it ended up not being a twist at all! This is a common error that truly tends to ruin a book's plot and this one suffered from an EXTREME case of that. The setting, however, was done remarkably well! The small town thing always adds a layer of dramatic affect, and it absolutely did with that one, a redeemable quality, to be sure.
Decrease: 0.5 Stars
Rating: 4.5 Stars
4) Interest
I never once lost interest in this book! I was hooked from the beginning, and found the whole mystery intrigue coinciding with the grief and the emotions at play was very well done! So many different ideas were all spinning around, but they were balanced well, and I enjoyed this and was never bored once throughout the entire reading experience, which is quite a blessing lately! I really appreciated how the mystery/thriller aspect of this kept the novel interesting, but she also didn't put in so much mystery that the grief felt fake or like she was trying to make a school shooting into an entertaining story. That was incredibly tough to balance, and she did so perfectly! I was never not wholly invested in this story.
Decrease: 0
Rating: 4.5 Stars
5) General Errors
This was, overall, a good category for Aftermath! I just wanted to critique one thing, the scene where those boys attacked Skye and the guy (ha I like that it rhymes) was kind of unnecessary and it didn't work so well as a red herring, but more of a distractor from the main storyline and idea. However, I can appreciate where the author was coming from, and one thing off in this category is pretty good!
Decrease: 0.25
Rating: 4.25 Stars
6) Feelings
This story following what it did, was very emotional and complex and feelsy. However, it was brilliantly so, I felt the grief right along side the characters, everything about it was just real and expert and super enjoyable!
Change: +0.25
Rating: 4.5
This novel dealt with an incredibly tough topic so well. I was worried going into this one that it would try to dramatize school shootings and make an emotional and awful thing into a thriller. It didn't, it made it into a realistic and emotional contemporary, with a good bit of mystery in the background. Adored this one.
This is, obviously, an incredibly tough novel to both read and review. It deals with such a prevalent and important topic, but it is a grievous one all the same, and - considering all of that - was brilliantly done.
This novel follows two characters. One, a boy who lost his brother in a school shooting, and who's life has since fallen off the rails. The other, a girl who lost her brother in the same school shooting. The two were best friends. Until the school shooting, because the girl's brother was the shooter. Years later, Skye (the girl) has moved back to the town of the shooting, and she's expecting some backlash. However, it's not long before she's being threatened, her safety in the balance - and nobody believes her but her ex(?) best friend. The boy who's brother her brother's shooting killed.
“Just growing up seems like an accomplishment. Not everyone gets that far.”
1) Writing
Armstrong's writing was good! She knew how to use semi-colons and commas to her advantage, and she knew how to weave emotions into the story. I don't specifically remember much about her writing, except that I really did enjoy it! This story had so many juxtaposing emotions, it was intense in some parts, viscerally heart-breaking in others, and even light, happy, and romantic sometimes. Armstrong's writing was able to cover all of that, and expertly too. You can see why she is a number one bestselling author, she writes everything very well.
Decrease: 0
Rating: 5 Stars
2) Characterization
The two main characters in this novel were absolutely incredible! I loved them, how they contrasted, how they felt about each other, everything was just so brilliant! The characters also felt wonderfully realistic. This felt like it was written about teenagers, and that was incredibly gratifying. I think this was a brilliant title for the Battle of the Books, it's one teens will really get something out of, because the characters are so realistic and raw and relatable. Skye. Skye is obviously not having a good time back at school, she is beyond bullied, she's threatened. Now, hopefully that's not something your average high schooler can relate to, but we can all understand what it's like to be bullied, and the emotion and trauma of that was real. I also felt that her grieving situation was so realistic. This grappled with the idea that her brother was a shooter, just because he died does not mean she gets to mourn him. Which is not correct at all, her brother was thought to be a monster, he didn't deserve her grief, but that didn't stop her from feeling it, and that was really wonderfully done. Now, the other boy (who's name I can't remember whoops) was so real too! He was dealing with so many emotions, grief, guilt, anger, and loneliness. His story felt equally real and enjoyable. Plus, he was just (even though he didn't always show it) a really good-hearted guy, and that was nice to read about. In the end, these characters were so real and in-pain, it made for a beautiful and emotional reading experience that I think many high schoolers in Troy will adore, too.
Decrease: 0
Rating: 5 Stars
3) Plot/Storyline/Setting
This story suffers a bit here. This was kind of a mystery on top of all its contemporary-grieving stuff. The characters were also trying to figure out who was threatening Skye and what really happened all those years ago at the shooting itself. However, this is one of those stories where the suspicion twist was better than the real one. At one point in this story, they suspected one person of doing all the things that were happening behind the scenes, and that blew me away! That would have made for such a good and unpredictable twist, but then the author goes and changes it to another person, and I had predicted who really did everything since I first met that person. It was obvious, and that's never good, but then it was made even more tragic by the fact that the first twist was so shocking...but it ended up not being a twist at all! This is a common error that truly tends to ruin a book's plot and this one suffered from an EXTREME case of that. The setting, however, was done remarkably well! The small town thing always adds a layer of dramatic affect, and it absolutely did with that one, a redeemable quality, to be sure.
Decrease: 0.5 Stars
Rating: 4.5 Stars
4) Interest
I never once lost interest in this book! I was hooked from the beginning, and found the whole mystery intrigue coinciding with the grief and the emotions at play was very well done! So many different ideas were all spinning around, but they were balanced well, and I enjoyed this and was never bored once throughout the entire reading experience, which is quite a blessing lately! I really appreciated how the mystery/thriller aspect of this kept the novel interesting, but she also didn't put in so much mystery that the grief felt fake or like she was trying to make a school shooting into an entertaining story. That was incredibly tough to balance, and she did so perfectly! I was never not wholly invested in this story.
Decrease: 0
Rating: 4.5 Stars
5) General Errors
This was, overall, a good category for Aftermath! I just wanted to critique one thing, the scene where those boys attacked Skye and the guy (ha I like that it rhymes) was kind of unnecessary and it didn't work so well as a red herring, but more of a distractor from the main storyline and idea. However, I can appreciate where the author was coming from, and one thing off in this category is pretty good!
Decrease: 0.25
Rating: 4.25 Stars
6) Feelings
This story following what it did, was very emotional and complex and feelsy. However, it was brilliantly so, I felt the grief right along side the characters, everything about it was just real and expert and super enjoyable!
Change: +0.25
Rating: 4.5
This novel dealt with an incredibly tough topic so well. I was worried going into this one that it would try to dramatize school shootings and make an emotional and awful thing into a thriller. It didn't, it made it into a realistic and emotional contemporary, with a good bit of mystery in the background. Adored this one.
June 6, 2018
*Thank you to the publisher/author/Netgalley for my copy.*
3.5/5. This book is different. I loved the characters of Skye and Jesse and ESPECIALLY JESSE’S MOM. ((Can we get a spin-off of her story? Because I’m pretty sure I love her.))
The characters were nuanced and believable as they deal with the ‘aftermath’ (3 years later) of a very personal school shooting.
Though the story does have a slight mystery/suspense angle to it, I appreciated it more for the characters and reading how they dealt with such a compounded tragedy, whose ripples tore through a community and multiple families. The ending of the suspense part got a little silly for me and somewhat detracted from the story, though I know it was a vehicle to move the story along and bring Jesse and Skye together. Overall, well-written and interesting.
3.5/5. This book is different. I loved the characters of Skye and Jesse and ESPECIALLY JESSE’S MOM. ((Can we get a spin-off of her story? Because I’m pretty sure I love her.))
The characters were nuanced and believable as they deal with the ‘aftermath’ (3 years later) of a very personal school shooting.
Though the story does have a slight mystery/suspense angle to it, I appreciated it more for the characters and reading how they dealt with such a compounded tragedy, whose ripples tore through a community and multiple families. The ending of the suspense part got a little silly for me and somewhat detracted from the story, though I know it was a vehicle to move the story along and bring Jesse and Skye together. Overall, well-written and interesting.
May 29, 2018
Once again Armstrong has proven to me that she is an expert at writing a page-turner in any genre. Personally I've only read her young adult books, but I've yet to find one that wasn't a winner. This one is another 5 star read for me. While the main subject of the story has to do with a school shooting, that isn't what the story is. We got parts of the story from both Skye and Jesse's viewpoints, although only Skye's chapters were told in first person, Jesses's chapters were third person, and there were not as many chapters for him. Both of them did the usual misunderstanding of the other's signals and reactions. But when you got the story of the night that Jesse went by Skye's house right after the shooting, you really understood what Skye had been thinking, even if it had been a misunderstanding.
The way the author set the story up, you are definitely given lots of clues and hints, but still kept guessing the entire way. I like that. Even though I get pretty turned around, I like being kept on my toes as I read, and not being able to figure it out right away. I like that even though you get the bullies like you'd expect, and the people who are still really upset, totally understandably, from losing family in the school shooting, you also get people who understand that it wasn't the sister's fault. I like that there were some points that are similar to real-life incidents. The boy who came out of the bathroom with the gun, but as far as anyone knew he may not have actually shot anyone. And what if they'd been able to get help to her brother before he died, maybe a lot of the information about the reasons behind the shooting would have been found out. I like that it is pointed out how sometimes the kids who are really talked about after a shooting tend to be the sports hero, the popular kid, and maybe, just maybe, they weren't as great of people as they are made out to be. Maybe they had their own problems. But maybe even with those problems, there is a point where it is realized that in that situation, everyone is human, and scared, and you must overlook what they may or may not have done.
Really I liked the characters, the good guys, the bad guys, the bullies, and the adults. This book was not really on my radar until the publisher reached out to me, but just like with the last book I read by Armstrong, I know I've got to make sure it is available for the students at my high school.
The way the author set the story up, you are definitely given lots of clues and hints, but still kept guessing the entire way. I like that. Even though I get pretty turned around, I like being kept on my toes as I read, and not being able to figure it out right away. I like that even though you get the bullies like you'd expect, and the people who are still really upset, totally understandably, from losing family in the school shooting, you also get people who understand that it wasn't the sister's fault. I like that there were some points that are similar to real-life incidents. The boy who came out of the bathroom with the gun, but as far as anyone knew he may not have actually shot anyone. And what if they'd been able to get help to her brother before he died, maybe a lot of the information about the reasons behind the shooting would have been found out. I like that it is pointed out how sometimes the kids who are really talked about after a shooting tend to be the sports hero, the popular kid, and maybe, just maybe, they weren't as great of people as they are made out to be. Maybe they had their own problems. But maybe even with those problems, there is a point where it is realized that in that situation, everyone is human, and scared, and you must overlook what they may or may not have done.
Really I liked the characters, the good guys, the bad guys, the bullies, and the adults. This book was not really on my radar until the publisher reached out to me, but just like with the last book I read by Armstrong, I know I've got to make sure it is available for the students at my high school.
July 5, 2018
One of my fave authors, and she's Canadian! Love her work. This was great, especially the flow, something KA is a genius at.
July 1, 2018
4.5/5 stars
I love Kelley Armstrong. She is one of my favorite authors. I really had no idea what to expect from this book. But I absolutely loved it. Aftermath is a standalone YA suspense book. Skye (16) is the main narrator (1st person POV). This book takes place 3 years after a school shooting (her brother was killed). This book is really not so much about the actual shooting, but rather what life is like a few years later (for both the families of the shooters and the families of the victims).
This book was emotional and moving. But it also had a mystery aspect, which I loved. This book was amazing!
The second narrator was Jesse (3rd person POV). He and Skye were best friends three years ago before she moved away. We do get some chapters narrated by Jesse. Although the majority of the book is told from Skye's POV.
I think that the title of this book is perfect. Because while this book is about a school shooting it is really so much more than that. The book is not very graphic. And we don't actually witness anything. But rather the focus is on the aftermath of the tragedy.
There is also major suspense/mystery in this story. And I thought that part of the story was so well done.
I really liked both Skye and Jesse and found both of their stories super fascinating.
This is a tough story to read about. There is also bullying and certain characters having to deal with the fallout even three years after the shooting.
I was completely hooked right from the start of this book. And it only got better from there. The last part was so strong. This is the type of book that is heartbreaking, but it will also really make you think. I loved it!
I love Kelley Armstrong. She is one of my favorite authors. I really had no idea what to expect from this book. But I absolutely loved it. Aftermath is a standalone YA suspense book. Skye (16) is the main narrator (1st person POV). This book takes place 3 years after a school shooting (her brother was killed). This book is really not so much about the actual shooting, but rather what life is like a few years later (for both the families of the shooters and the families of the victims).
This book was emotional and moving. But it also had a mystery aspect, which I loved. This book was amazing!
The second narrator was Jesse (3rd person POV). He and Skye were best friends three years ago before she moved away. We do get some chapters narrated by Jesse. Although the majority of the book is told from Skye's POV.
I think that the title of this book is perfect. Because while this book is about a school shooting it is really so much more than that. The book is not very graphic. And we don't actually witness anything. But rather the focus is on the aftermath of the tragedy.
There is also major suspense/mystery in this story. And I thought that part of the story was so well done.
I really liked both Skye and Jesse and found both of their stories super fascinating.
This is a tough story to read about. There is also bullying and certain characters having to deal with the fallout even three years after the shooting.
I was completely hooked right from the start of this book. And it only got better from there. The last part was so strong. This is the type of book that is heartbreaking, but it will also really make you think. I loved it!
June 3, 2018
Packs an emotional punch!
I thought the author handled a delicate topic with sensitivity and integrity. There were some upsetting scenes, however they were kept to a minimum and were as non-graphic as they could be, and there were no actual flashbacks to the shooting. Instead they focused on the characters before, so as to show just how much the school shooting had not only affected, but also altered the course of their lives irrevocably. The flashbacks also gave us insight into the personalities of Skye’s and Jesse’s brother’s, who both died during the shooting. I thought Kelley Armstrong portrayed a realistic look of how a tragic event brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. Skye and Jasser (nicknamed Jesse) were wonderful lead characters, and I instantly fell in love with them, and their relationship.
It wasn’t as mystery-based as I would’ve liked. Having said that I didn’t figure out the culprit behind everything, and thought it was a great twist. Barring the final confrontation, the suspense scenes involving someone trying to scare Skye didn’t evoke the same level of anxiousness and unsettledness in me that other books do. I get it though, this wasn’t the book’s intention, and that’s okay. Also, bearing in mind it is YA, so can’t be too disturbing. There were a couple of ‘didn’t-seem-to-fit’ scenes that I didn’t think were needed, but for the most part it was well written, and the author successfully managed to inject plenty of feeling and sympathy into the dialogue and thoughts. I predict this is going to be a popular read for both teens and adults.
I thought the author handled a delicate topic with sensitivity and integrity. There were some upsetting scenes, however they were kept to a minimum and were as non-graphic as they could be, and there were no actual flashbacks to the shooting. Instead they focused on the characters before, so as to show just how much the school shooting had not only affected, but also altered the course of their lives irrevocably. The flashbacks also gave us insight into the personalities of Skye’s and Jesse’s brother’s, who both died during the shooting. I thought Kelley Armstrong portrayed a realistic look of how a tragic event brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. Skye and Jasser (nicknamed Jesse) were wonderful lead characters, and I instantly fell in love with them, and their relationship.
It wasn’t as mystery-based as I would’ve liked. Having said that I didn’t figure out the culprit behind everything, and thought it was a great twist. Barring the final confrontation, the suspense scenes involving someone trying to scare Skye didn’t evoke the same level of anxiousness and unsettledness in me that other books do. I get it though, this wasn’t the book’s intention, and that’s okay. Also, bearing in mind it is YA, so can’t be too disturbing. There were a couple of ‘didn’t-seem-to-fit’ scenes that I didn’t think were needed, but for the most part it was well written, and the author successfully managed to inject plenty of feeling and sympathy into the dialogue and thoughts. I predict this is going to be a popular read for both teens and adults.
May 24, 2018
I didn't realize this was YA when I went into it and boy did it immediately show. For a book with the deep subject matter that this book is about, it only shows the adults (parents, teachers, cops) as stupid and making the type of mistakes people would lose their jobs over.
For me there was more wrong with this book than there was right. In light of another recent school shooting, the flaws are even more obvious.
For me there was more wrong with this book than there was right. In light of another recent school shooting, the flaws are even more obvious.
April 21, 2018
I like Kelley Armstrong and even in this book, her writing is pretty flawless ... but the adult characters are all caricatures, and perhaps it's because I'm teaching American teenagers - I find her portrayal of Skye and Jesse rather unbelievable.
May 6, 2018
3.5 Not quite what I expected. A solid suspense thriller
August 1, 2018
Aftermath is the wreckage and devastation after a school shooting three years before. We all read about and hear about school shootings. But then it fades from the news and our lives go on without being greatly impacted. But what about the families of the victims? And the families of the shooters?
Skye and Jesse were 13, best of friends and on free cusp of being something more. And then the shooting happened. Skye’s brother Luka was involved, Jesse’s brother was a victim. In no time at all, Skye disappeared and so did their friendship.
Three years later due to some family difficulties, Skye moved back to town to live with her aunt. Definitely not her choice, but her one stipulation was not having to go to the same school as Jesse as she can’t face his hatred. Skye has a lot of hatred to deal with upon her return. It didn’t matter that she had nothing to do with the shooting. She was guilty by association. And no one wanted her there. And to top it all off, Jesse did go to that school.
From the beginning it was obvious she wasn’t welcomed back. Strange things started to happen, someone was sending her dangerous messages and no one believed her. It seemed that so many people were connected to the shooting; they knew someone, they were related or they just plain didn’t want her there. As if she may pull out a gun at any given moment and start shooting. Whatever causes a school shooter to do what they do is controversial but it isn’t contagious. Ultimately it is still the shooter’s decision but many in that town hadn’t learned that lesson and who knows, maybe I would feel the same or not want a constant reminder in my face.
Not knowing who she could trust she laid a little low but received a little support from surprising sources.
Kelley Armstrong is such a good writer she can write teen/adult novels with equal talent no matter what the topic. While she writes both well, I actually do prefer the young adult novels she writes. This one deals with such a sensitive topic and she handles the emotion involved and gravity of the situation without being overly graphic.
It is very tragic and realistic except maybe some of Skye’s antics to get to the truth someone is wanting her to investigate. I thought Luka an odd choice from someone wanting inspiration for a child’s name from a song however I grew to appreciate how fitting it was. Awesome song, so tragic and I couldn’t get it out of my head every time I read his name. This book definitely tugged at my heartstrings.
Really enjoyed this, flew through the last half. Solid 4 1/2 for me.
Skye and Jesse were 13, best of friends and on free cusp of being something more. And then the shooting happened. Skye’s brother Luka was involved, Jesse’s brother was a victim. In no time at all, Skye disappeared and so did their friendship.
Three years later due to some family difficulties, Skye moved back to town to live with her aunt. Definitely not her choice, but her one stipulation was not having to go to the same school as Jesse as she can’t face his hatred. Skye has a lot of hatred to deal with upon her return. It didn’t matter that she had nothing to do with the shooting. She was guilty by association. And no one wanted her there. And to top it all off, Jesse did go to that school.
From the beginning it was obvious she wasn’t welcomed back. Strange things started to happen, someone was sending her dangerous messages and no one believed her. It seemed that so many people were connected to the shooting; they knew someone, they were related or they just plain didn’t want her there. As if she may pull out a gun at any given moment and start shooting. Whatever causes a school shooter to do what they do is controversial but it isn’t contagious. Ultimately it is still the shooter’s decision but many in that town hadn’t learned that lesson and who knows, maybe I would feel the same or not want a constant reminder in my face.
Not knowing who she could trust she laid a little low but received a little support from surprising sources.
Kelley Armstrong is such a good writer she can write teen/adult novels with equal talent no matter what the topic. While she writes both well, I actually do prefer the young adult novels she writes. This one deals with such a sensitive topic and she handles the emotion involved and gravity of the situation without being overly graphic.
It is very tragic and realistic except maybe some of Skye’s antics to get to the truth someone is wanting her to investigate. I thought Luka an odd choice from someone wanting inspiration for a child’s name from a song however I grew to appreciate how fitting it was. Awesome song, so tragic and I couldn’t get it out of my head every time I read his name. This book definitely tugged at my heartstrings.
Really enjoyed this, flew through the last half. Solid 4 1/2 for me.
July 14, 2018
“Aftermath” an exciting YA standalone thriller opens three years after Skye Gilchrist’s brother was involved in a school shooting that took the life of four students at North Hampton High School. Feeling guilt, shame and remorse Skye returns to Riverside not only living with her aunt but attending the local collegiate where she faces harassment and bullying from kids who resent that she’s there.
At thirteen, Jesse and Skye were close friends ripped apart and shattered by the tragedy that stole their brothers’ lives. Struggling to get past that pain and guilt that changed their lives they slowly renew their friendship and begin searching for the truth behind that day, only to be stalked by a killer who wants it buried forever.
Fast-paced, intensity and suspense build as Skye receives dark texts and videos, her aunt’s apartment is broken into and she’s trapped in a fire in a room at the school. Told from Skye and Jesse’s perspectives the mystery deepens with flashbacks into the lives of their brothers; one an egotistical all-around athlete who’s shot fleeing the school and the other, thoughtful, geeky, and kind with a hatred for guns only to be shot carrying one out of the school bathroom. Well-developed Kelley Armstrong cleverly creates emotional tension with the vice principal’s suspicion of Skye and his condemnation of Jesse’s behaviour as events escalate that have her expelled. Yet amid the chaos as a killer stalks Skye, romance blossoms again between her and Jesse as they never stopped caring for each other.
Breathing life into this story are compelling, strong and complex characters like Skye Gilchrist who at thirteen was brash, bold and confident until the tragic shooting that shattered her family’s life. Vulnerable, reckless and impulsive she throws herself into a search for the truth of that day after she begins receiving dark texts and videos. Her friend Jesse Mandal at the same age was well-groomed, academically inclined, serious and good-humored but after his brother’s death became tardy and troubled. Trying to make up for his parents’ loss he becomes a star runner, taking steroids with a trainer’s approval to enhance his performance.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Aftermath” which blends murder, mystery and romance against a sensitive backdrop that includes underlying issues of harassment and bullying. Well-written and intense the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until finished.
At thirteen, Jesse and Skye were close friends ripped apart and shattered by the tragedy that stole their brothers’ lives. Struggling to get past that pain and guilt that changed their lives they slowly renew their friendship and begin searching for the truth behind that day, only to be stalked by a killer who wants it buried forever.
Fast-paced, intensity and suspense build as Skye receives dark texts and videos, her aunt’s apartment is broken into and she’s trapped in a fire in a room at the school. Told from Skye and Jesse’s perspectives the mystery deepens with flashbacks into the lives of their brothers; one an egotistical all-around athlete who’s shot fleeing the school and the other, thoughtful, geeky, and kind with a hatred for guns only to be shot carrying one out of the school bathroom. Well-developed Kelley Armstrong cleverly creates emotional tension with the vice principal’s suspicion of Skye and his condemnation of Jesse’s behaviour as events escalate that have her expelled. Yet amid the chaos as a killer stalks Skye, romance blossoms again between her and Jesse as they never stopped caring for each other.
Breathing life into this story are compelling, strong and complex characters like Skye Gilchrist who at thirteen was brash, bold and confident until the tragic shooting that shattered her family’s life. Vulnerable, reckless and impulsive she throws herself into a search for the truth of that day after she begins receiving dark texts and videos. Her friend Jesse Mandal at the same age was well-groomed, academically inclined, serious and good-humored but after his brother’s death became tardy and troubled. Trying to make up for his parents’ loss he becomes a star runner, taking steroids with a trainer’s approval to enhance his performance.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Aftermath” which blends murder, mystery and romance against a sensitive backdrop that includes underlying issues of harassment and bullying. Well-written and intense the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until finished.
June 29, 2020
Very very good!!!! A thriller with twists and winding turns!! Kelley Armstrong does not disappoint.
July 23, 2018
Kelley Armstrong is an author who made it onto my favourite author list at an incredible speed. I may not have read as many Kelley Armstrong books yet as I would like to be able to claim, but I’m certainly working my way through them whenever I can get my hands on another of her books. In fact, I’m planning to spend a bit of time over the next couple of months playing Kelley Armstrong catch-up, as I desperate need to dive into so many of her series.
Despite my rapid love of Kelley Armstrong, my reading so far has been limited to her adult releases. I’ve read both her paranormal work and her thriller work, and have loved both. However, her young adult books have continued to sit on my to-read list. When I saw Aftermath on offer in my local bookstore for the exact price of the number of book points I happened to have, I knew it was fate. The universe was on my side, telling me to buy the book (although, even without the points I would have grabbed it at the price it was).
If I’m being completely honest, a part of me was a bit tentative before starting Aftermath. I love Kelley Armstrong’s writing, I love mystery books, and I love young adult books. However, I avoid young adult mysteries for the most part. I often find them lacking in the depth that leaves me loving adult mysteries – something I blame on the fact I went straight into adult mysteries and never read any young adult mysteries until a much later date, when my head was already filled with much darker and more convoluted plots.
However, Kelley Armstrong gave us another winner with Aftermath. For someone who is not a big fan of young adult mystery novels, I found myself addicted to this one. Sure, there was some predictability to be found – however, it was at a higher standard than most of the young adult mystery novels I have read. I’ll gladly give Kelley Armstrong’s other young adult books a read now – both her paranormal books (books that were already on my to-read list) and mystery books.
The topic in Aftermath is one that is quite difficult to write and read about, meaning books can be very hit or miss when dealing with the topic. For the most part, I avoid books dealing with this topic for that very reason – knowing when it is done badly I find myself really annoyed. Fortunately, Kelley Armstrong more than does the topic justice. She writes a story that stands up well, one that could have used a variety of topic to create it, yet she mixes it with a topic that requires a lot of special attention. It really is a well-done story.
What we’re given is a mystery that will leave you turning the pages, friendship that will leave you desperate for more, and a story of growth that will leave you loving the characters. I really was sucked into their story, unable to put the book down once I had started. Kelley Armstrong always sucks me in deep, leaving me to devour a book, and Aftermath was no different. Well written, gripping, with wonderfully flawed characters, I found myself disappointed when the story was over.
Without a doubt, very much a book worth reading.
Despite my rapid love of Kelley Armstrong, my reading so far has been limited to her adult releases. I’ve read both her paranormal work and her thriller work, and have loved both. However, her young adult books have continued to sit on my to-read list. When I saw Aftermath on offer in my local bookstore for the exact price of the number of book points I happened to have, I knew it was fate. The universe was on my side, telling me to buy the book (although, even without the points I would have grabbed it at the price it was).
If I’m being completely honest, a part of me was a bit tentative before starting Aftermath. I love Kelley Armstrong’s writing, I love mystery books, and I love young adult books. However, I avoid young adult mysteries for the most part. I often find them lacking in the depth that leaves me loving adult mysteries – something I blame on the fact I went straight into adult mysteries and never read any young adult mysteries until a much later date, when my head was already filled with much darker and more convoluted plots.
However, Kelley Armstrong gave us another winner with Aftermath. For someone who is not a big fan of young adult mystery novels, I found myself addicted to this one. Sure, there was some predictability to be found – however, it was at a higher standard than most of the young adult mystery novels I have read. I’ll gladly give Kelley Armstrong’s other young adult books a read now – both her paranormal books (books that were already on my to-read list) and mystery books.
The topic in Aftermath is one that is quite difficult to write and read about, meaning books can be very hit or miss when dealing with the topic. For the most part, I avoid books dealing with this topic for that very reason – knowing when it is done badly I find myself really annoyed. Fortunately, Kelley Armstrong more than does the topic justice. She writes a story that stands up well, one that could have used a variety of topic to create it, yet she mixes it with a topic that requires a lot of special attention. It really is a well-done story.
What we’re given is a mystery that will leave you turning the pages, friendship that will leave you desperate for more, and a story of growth that will leave you loving the characters. I really was sucked into their story, unable to put the book down once I had started. Kelley Armstrong always sucks me in deep, leaving me to devour a book, and Aftermath was no different. Well written, gripping, with wonderfully flawed characters, I found myself disappointed when the story was over.
Without a doubt, very much a book worth reading.
September 11, 2018
Have you ever thought about what it was like for the families of the shooters who killed innocent people? Not in the way that they are victimized, but just how life goes on after one of their own shoot up a school and are labeled as murderers for the rest of their natural born life?
Kelley offers a fascinating perspective into the life of a victim in his or her own way. It was interesting, heartbreaking, and frustrating because this victim is the sister of one of the suspected murderers. She was shunned and was treated like she pulled the gun herself. On the other side of the coin is Jesse, whose brother was actually one of victims of the shooting itself. Once upon a time Jesse and Skye were the best of friends. But because Skye’s brother was one of the shooters, their friendship was just one of the many things that ended on that day.
Being back in the town that Skye left soon after the tragedy happened was in the list of things she’d rather not do. But with her mother’s deteriorating state of mind, and her grandmother’s recent stroke left her no choice but to move back in with her aunt. To nobody else’s surprise, the town did not give her the warmest of welcomes - especially in a school where most of the students knew her and of her brother. Everyone treated her like a pariah, even Jesse, her former best friend.
Everyday she’s faced with a reminder of the shooting. People haven’t moved on. Skye has known in her heart that Luka, her brother, was not the villain everyone had painted him to be. And as life in town and in school got even harder, she’d awaken a determination to get to the truth.
This was a hard read all around. I have read a lot of books by Ms. Armstrong but nothing as relevant a subject as school shootings. It’s a sensitive subject in it that senseless loss of lives is involved, and an author needs to paint a clear view of both sides. I feel that Kelley did the best she could in presenting a non-biased view. She invoked a sincere empathy that made the readers feel all the difficult struggles on both sides, post-shooting.
Kelley is the equivalent of M. Night Shyamalan in the book world. She knows how to plot a twist that will leave you breathless upon reveal. The same goes in this novel. She crafted a convincing story that is a thriller of a page-turner. Time and again, her characters are well padded, not necessarily wholesome; neither perfect, but the realest you’d ever read.
Once again, Armstrong the veteran knows how to give her readers something new, robust, and brave.
Kelley offers a fascinating perspective into the life of a victim in his or her own way. It was interesting, heartbreaking, and frustrating because this victim is the sister of one of the suspected murderers. She was shunned and was treated like she pulled the gun herself. On the other side of the coin is Jesse, whose brother was actually one of victims of the shooting itself. Once upon a time Jesse and Skye were the best of friends. But because Skye’s brother was one of the shooters, their friendship was just one of the many things that ended on that day.
Being back in the town that Skye left soon after the tragedy happened was in the list of things she’d rather not do. But with her mother’s deteriorating state of mind, and her grandmother’s recent stroke left her no choice but to move back in with her aunt. To nobody else’s surprise, the town did not give her the warmest of welcomes - especially in a school where most of the students knew her and of her brother. Everyone treated her like a pariah, even Jesse, her former best friend.
Everyday she’s faced with a reminder of the shooting. People haven’t moved on. Skye has known in her heart that Luka, her brother, was not the villain everyone had painted him to be. And as life in town and in school got even harder, she’d awaken a determination to get to the truth.
This was a hard read all around. I have read a lot of books by Ms. Armstrong but nothing as relevant a subject as school shootings. It’s a sensitive subject in it that senseless loss of lives is involved, and an author needs to paint a clear view of both sides. I feel that Kelley did the best she could in presenting a non-biased view. She invoked a sincere empathy that made the readers feel all the difficult struggles on both sides, post-shooting.
Kelley is the equivalent of M. Night Shyamalan in the book world. She knows how to plot a twist that will leave you breathless upon reveal. The same goes in this novel. She crafted a convincing story that is a thriller of a page-turner. Time and again, her characters are well padded, not necessarily wholesome; neither perfect, but the realest you’d ever read.
Once again, Armstrong the veteran knows how to give her readers something new, robust, and brave.
May 23, 2018
Trigger warnings: school shooting, gun violence, bullying, stalking, kidnapping, blood, drugging, fire.
3.5 stars.
You guys probably know by now that I'm total trash for Kelley Armstrong's books. And I've really enjoyed her YA thrillers over the past few years, so when I saw that she had a new one out, I immediately grabbed it.
I was pretty much hooked straight away by the concept of a girl having to return to the town and the school where her brother was a school shooter years earlier and the ways that the kids at that school react to her presence.
But the thriller side of things? I..........honestly didn't love it. It was a little too melodramatic or something and I just wasn't hooked by it. So I really enjoyed the first half of the story. But as the thriller elements ramped up towards the end, I found myself rolling my eyes more than I would have liked. So. Not my favourite of her books, but still enjoyable.
3.5 stars.
You guys probably know by now that I'm total trash for Kelley Armstrong's books. And I've really enjoyed her YA thrillers over the past few years, so when I saw that she had a new one out, I immediately grabbed it.
I was pretty much hooked straight away by the concept of a girl having to return to the town and the school where her brother was a school shooter years earlier and the ways that the kids at that school react to her presence.
But the thriller side of things? I..........honestly didn't love it. It was a little too melodramatic or something and I just wasn't hooked by it. So I really enjoyed the first half of the story. But as the thriller elements ramped up towards the end, I found myself rolling my eyes more than I would have liked. So. Not my favourite of her books, but still enjoyable.
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