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Before the Ever After

Jacqueline Woodson (Goodreads Author)

4.18 · Rating details · 7,031 ratings · 1,292 reviews

Jacqueline Woodson's novel-in-verse explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed and the cost of professional sports on Black bodies.

For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone's hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he's as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. But ...more

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Hardcover, 161 pages

Published September 1st 2020 by Nancy Paulsen Books

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Mock Newbery 2021

102 books — 173 voters

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Average rating 4.18 ·

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· 7,031 ratings · 1,292 reviews

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Jan 06, 2021 emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, recommend, 3-and-a-half-stars, reviewed, diverse, children-s

I like football.

This is somehow both one of the most embarrassing and most surprising things about me. I am doomed to an existence of not only knowing the names of coaches and players on my favorite team (cough, go Birds, cough), but of being eternally condescended to when every single man I have ever encountered finds out I know these names.

I receive the equivalent of a pat on the head and a Dum-Dum pop, every time.

Anyway. I do enjoy football, perhaps too much, but it is the worst sport in exis ...more

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Sep 19, 2020 Bookishrealm rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade-realistic-fiction, audiobook, black-books

4.5 Stars. I'm telling ya'll Jacqueline Woodson can do no wrong

Before the Ever After is such a short novel (under 200 pages) but holy crap does it pack a punch. I first became aware of CTE after watching Concussion with Will Smith. When I realized that Woodson was telling a fictionalized account of CTE I knew that it would be a book that I needed to pick up. However, what is so interesting about this book is that Woodson takes the opportunity to show the reader how CTE affects family members spe ...more

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Sep 06, 2020 Reading_ Tam_ Ishly rated it it was amazing

This book talks about the late 90s and early 2000s and tells the story of ZJ whose father is a popular football player in those times.

His dad began losing his memories, started losing his abilities to perform his daily activities gradually. He began experiencing severe headaches, mood swings, confusion, depression and aggression which became very difficult for young ZJ and his mother to cope.

But I love how ZJ's mother being the strong woman she's, never letting the situation disrupt the family' ...more

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Aug 30, 2020 Brina rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, middle-grade-kids, african-american, poetry, football

The calendar is about to turn to September. Leaves are starting to fall from the giant tree in our front yard, days are slowly becoming shorter, and in the mornings there is a crisp feel in the air marking an upcoming change in season. That can only mean one thing: football season. In this unprecedented year with sports adapting to changes as well as every facet of society, the NFL is about to embark to play a complete season. There are political undertones that make this year feel different, bu The calendar is about to turn to September. Leaves are starting to fall from the giant tree in our front yard, days are slowly becoming shorter, and in the mornings there is a crisp feel in the air marking an upcoming change in season. That can only mean one thing: football season. In this unprecedented year with sports adapting to changes as well as every facet of society, the NFL is about to embark to play a complete season. There are political undertones that make this year feel different, but the fan in me is giddy in anticipation for another season of football Sundays. To get me in the mood during this time of year when baseball and football overlap, I turned to a familiar author whose words should be mandatory reading for all Americans. Jacqueline Woodson has written a book about football, about the long term toll physical and mental health injuries take on families, and the place of retired athletes in society. While not your typical football book, Woodson’s writing is must read for me, so I knew I’d have to indulge in her latest poetry in motion before the season kicks off.

Zachariah Johnson, Jr., ZJ, is a typical twelve year old kid living in Maplewood, New Jersey. He is an aspiring song writer who enjoys experimenting with new tunes on his guitar and spends all of his free time with his boys Daniel, Darry, and Ollie. Yet, ZJ is not your typical twelve year old kid in that his father his star tight end Zachariah Johnson #44, the best his team (most likely the Giants [boo] ) ever had. The Johnson’s Maplewood home has a swimming pool, indoor basketball court, and a sprawling yard with oak, birch, pine, and fruit trees, all creature comforts of what a professional sports salary can buy. The Johnsons dote on ZJ, their only child, yet remain as humble as possible in their suburban community where Zachariah stands out as an NFL star. Everyone wants his autograph, all the boys want him to play in their touch football games as all time quarterback, and most kids at school gape in awe of ZJ when they find out who his dad is. Yet, ZJ is a kid who loves his mom’s maple pancakes and lemon cakes, Saturday mornings with his boys, and rap sessions with his dad. His dad might have won a Super Bowl and plays on Sunday night football, but to ZJ, Zachariah is his dad first, and a football star next. He is his father’s little man, and in their joint rap sessions, the two show deep love and admiration for each other as they create poetry in motion.

On New Year’s Eve of the new Millenium, ZJ’s world turns upside down as his dad starts forgetting things and experiencing excruciating headaches on a daily basis. By the time the new football season starts, Zachariah sits out every game. The headaches and moodiness become increasingly worse, and doctors do not know what is the matter. Whispers from his mom’s friends, other football wives, are rumors that Zachariah’s symptoms are becoming more and more common around the NFL, but no one knows what this disease or it’s cause is. It was not until 2016 that Dr Bennet Omalu published his findings in Concussion, linking repeated concussions and traumatic hits to the head to the brain disease known as CTE that is unfortunately now common in football players. Today all professional sports have a concussion protocol that their players have to pass to be allowed to play, with a battery of tests that football players must complete in order to be allowed back on the field. Many players have voluntarily cut their careers short after even one concussion because their long term health is more important to them than the fame and glory of an NFL career. This information was hardly a blip on the horizon twenty years ago, and players like Zachariah shuttled from doctor to doctor in hopes of finding what made their minds foggy. In the interim, their families coped with the new reality that their fathers/husbands were no longer everybody’s hero but men struggling to get through their lives.

While Zachariah becomes a shell of his former self, ZJ gives up tackle football for good after seeing what has happened to his dad. His boys got his back and they find plenty of other activities to take the place of football. This is more common today as even well known professional athletes have stated publicly that they do not want their children playing contact sports. ZJ finds an outlet in his music, poetry, and walks in the woods. Woodson writes this book in prose, and I have yet to find many writers who are as adept as she is at creating complex characterizations in a short amount of words. This book, at 160 pages, might be geared toward older, middle grade readers, exposing sports fans to poetry, but also a joy for adult readers who have long enjoyed Woodson’s work. As I have struggled to find many wholesome books for my kids over the years, Woodson has a knack for creating friendships where kids genuinely have their backs and there is little competition or tension between them. Her books are a throwback to books I read growing up where I knew that all of the protagonists, even if they coped with real life issues, were all friends and would get through life together. While ZJ and his friends move full speed toward their teen years, at a time where kids can be plain mean, Woodson has the fantastic four of ZJ, Daniel, Darry, and Ollie always supportive of each other through thick and thin. Their relationship brought a smile to my face as ZJ and his mom navigate the new life as care givers to their father/husband ahead of them.

With the NFL season hopefully starting in less than two weeks without a hitch, I have much to look forward to. My favorite player is on a new team and hopes to get back to the Super Bowl for an unheard of tenth time. That should keep my excitement level on high for the next five months; however, even with rules on the books to protect quarterbacks, brutal hits are always a possibility. Even the stars know that each game could be their last, something fans try not to think about. Jacqueline Woodson has crafted a story about the early days of CTE research in a way that kids can see the fine line between athlete and person, and mature readers can appreciate the love of writing she brings to each story. Woodson is truly a gift to this generation of readers of all ages. Each story is as exquisite as the last and I know that it will not be long until she births her next one. Anticipating her next book should keep me as giddy as I feel on a typical NFL Sunday.

4+ 🍁 🏈 🍂 stars ...more

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Nov 15, 2020 Julie rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s

Heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a story of a resilient family coping with change and loss due to the father's CTE. The story is told through the perspective of the son, ZJ. He recalls memories of happier times and talks of coming to terms with the circumstances of what is now. I loved how the mom cared for the dad and encouraged ZJ to find a new way to connect with his dad through music. ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 ♥ Sandi ❣ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favored-author, family-saga, z-closed-2020-5000-books, another-ctry-book-or-author, medical-mental-health, z-closed-2020-retired-bookworms, 300-pages-or-less, based-on-truth, contemporary, poetry

5 stars

Not unlike the rest of Woodson's books, I rate this one highly. Woodson tends to write about up-to-date issues that affect people. This book is written in verse - similar to many individual connecting poems that tell one continual story.

ZJ lives through the process of his Dad losing his football career to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, better known as CTE. He sees his Dad go from a hero to a man he barely knows, and much less understands. It tells how the family adapts to a change that ...more

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Sep 06, 2020 Bethany rated it really liked it

Shelves: black-authors

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

A beautiful and heartbreaking story told in verse about a professional football player experiencing degenerative symptoms of CTE from repeated head injuries and the impact it has on his son. Told through the perspective of ZJ we experience what this is like for a child seeing his father change, forget things, experience mood swings, and become unpredictable. Woodson's prose is stunning and poignant, telling a story of the impact the lack of transparency surrounding this i ...more

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Nov 20, 2020 Regina rated it really liked it

"Before the Ever After" is a 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards finalist in the Best Middle Grade & Children's category.

Woodson's novel-in-verse tells the story of a young boy, ZJ, (aged approx. 9 - 12 throughout) who's struggling to understand his father's descent from star NFL player to man suffering from traumatic brain injury. Author Woodson was wise to set it in the '90s, when not much was known about the chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by hard-hitting days playing (American) football. T ...more

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Oct 07, 2020 Bkwmlee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, favorites

5 stars!

Jacqueline Woodson is a renowned author whose works I’ve been wanting to read for a long time, but unfortunately, never got around to doing so. Luckily for me, a few days ago, my library hold for Woodson’s newly published novel, Before the Ever After , came through, so I decided to clear my schedule and read it immediately. Since I jumped into this one so quickly, I didn’t realize it was novel-in-verse format until I opened up to the first page. I had just finished Elizabeth Aceved 5 stars!

Jacqueline Woodson is a renowned author whose works I’ve been wanting to read for a long time, but unfortunately, never got around to doing so. Luckily for me, a few days ago, my library hold for Woodson’s newly published novel, Before the Ever After , came through, so I decided to clear my schedule and read it immediately. Since I jumped into this one so quickly, I didn’t realize it was novel-in-verse format until I opened up to the first page. I had just finished Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X last month, which was my very first time reading a novel-in-verse, and seeing how much I loved that experience, it made me even more excited to get into this one.

At the center of this story is 12-year-old Zachariah Johnson Jr., or ZJ, as he is known to all his friends and family except his dad, whose special nickname for him is “Little Man.” As a charismatic and talented pro football superstar, ZJ’s dad is everyone’s hero -- a man beloved and admired by millions of people, from sports fans across the country to the neighborhood kids in the Maplewood, New Jersey town where the family lives. ZJ loves and adores his dad, but at times, he can’t help but feel that he is living in his dad’s shadow, even though his interest is in music and creating songs rather than playing pro ball like his dad. Aside from his parents, the only other people who see and love ZJ for who he is are “his boys”: best friends Darry, Ollie, and Daniel -- together, they are the Fantastic Four and no matter what happens, they are there for each other. Everything is going well – until it doesn’t. ZJ starts to notice his dad behaving strangely – he gets headaches a lot and seems to be angry or agitated all the time, but worst of all, he’s gotten forgetful to the point that he has trouble remembering his son’s name. ZJ’s mother explains that his dad’s behavior is due to all the head injuries from his football career, though his dad’s doctors seem to be trying to figure things out still. When his dad’s condition starts to fluctuate more frequently – one minute, he is the dad who sings with ZJ and always has a big grin for his Little Man, but the next minute, he is staring into space and is unable to remember his surroundings – ZJ struggles to come to terms with the realization that this is his family’s new “ever after.” As ZJ tries desperately to hold on to the happy memories of the past, he gradually learns to face this new reality with the love and support of his family and friends.

I’m not a sports fan whatsoever — in fact, my knowledge in this area is so limited that I can barely tell one athlete apart from another (my friends who are into sports often tease me about getting teams and players mixed up, sometimes even across disciplines). Given this, I normally would not pick up a sports-related book to read, but in this instance, I decided to go for it because 1) the author is Jacqueline Woodson (see first paragraph for further explanation) and 2) the premise sounded interesting, plus this is a short book (less than 200 pages) so it would be a quick read for me. In the end, I didn’t have to worry, as the story turned out to be more about the sports players and their families rather than the intricacies of the sport itself (though with that said, without football as the central theme, the story probably would not have worked as well as it did).

Those who are familiar with my book reviews know that I can be quite stingy when it comes to rating a book 5 stars. I sometimes go with gut reaction, but more often than not, it takes a lot of careful reflecting and pondering (and at times, agonizing) on my part to reach the “this deserves 5 stars” point. Well, this book captured my heart from the start! I loved nearly everything about this book — from the moving story to the endearing characters to the realistic depictions of society and human interactions (ie: the sacrifices we make for our loved ones to live a better life), to the struggles of having to deal with a debilitating illness from the eyes of children, etc. what I especially loved though was the Fantastic Four — the friendship between the four boys was so genuine and sweet — the way they were always there for each other regardless of what happens, how no words need to be spoken, just being who they are and keeping each other company, their friendship warmed my heart and always managed to put a smile on my face! At the same time, this book also made me cry, with ZJ watching his beloved father deteriorate right before his eyes and losing all the memories of their happy times together — the scene where ZJ’s dad forgets who his son is, and ZJ’s emotional reaction to it, absolutely broke my heart!

Jacqueline Woodson has won many awards for her works and now after finally having read one of her books, I definitely understand why. With this book being novel-in-verse, the writing is sparse, yet still packed such a punch. I admire the way Woodson is able to craft such a heartfelt, emotionally poignant story populated with endearing, unforgettable characters so beautifully, yet also sparingly. While I wait for Woodson’s next book, I can’t wait to go back and explore as much of her backlist as possible!
...more

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Jun 18, 2020 Pernille Ripp rated it it was amazing

Wow, what can I say as far as Jacqueline Woodson’s forthcoming middle grade novel that will get across just how incredible it is? Because I had to sit and hold it for awhile last night when I finished it, because I could so deeply feel the confusion and longing from ZJ, because I could feel the love surrounding him from his friends, because I knew as a reader what was happening to his dad and how devastating it is, and yet, this book is about love, family, hope, football, and everything else tha ...more

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Aug 31, 2020 Toya (the reading chemist) rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars rounded up!

I was blown away when I read Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson earlier this year, so when I heard about Before the Ever After, I jumped at the opportunity to read it.

A lyrical novel written in verse, this middle grade novel follows the life of 12 years old ZJ who is the son of Zachariah the professional football player.

The story starts off as ZJ reminiscing all of the amazing memories he has of his dad playing football and interacting with him and his friends. However, ...more

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Feb 01, 2021 Jonathan K rated it liked it

Referred by the GR list that was associated to the Nic Stone book, Dear Justyce, while its well written it bears little resemblance. A young boy copes with the injuries dealt his father in pro football while leaning on his best friends and family for support. Written in a lyrical style, it's short and to the point but pales in comparison to 'Dear Justyce' which is a 5 star, top notch story.

"And that's all I'm going to say about that".. Forrest Gump ...more

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Aug 15, 2020 Abby Johnson added it

Shelves: 6th_grade, 4th_grade, author-of-color, verse, 5th_grade, diverse

This is a special book. And I say that as a member of Jacqueline Woodson's Newbery Committee for Brown Girl Dreaming, so you know that all her books are special to me. This book is special.

ZJ misses his dad. His dad isn't gone, but lately his head has been hurting and he's been confused and sometimes aggressive. Sometimes he can't remember who ZJ is. He hasn't been able to play on his football team for a long time. He had the career he always dreamed of, got to be a famous football star, but at ...more

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Sep 22, 2020 Read In Colour rated it it was amazing

Trust Jacqueline Woodson, national treasure that she is, to have you smiling and crying within moments of the other and leave you feeling hopeful even in the most dire of circumstances. Her latest, Before the Ever After, explores the story of a family affected by CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Written in the verse format she's come to be known for, Woodson's beautiful words take readers on a journey of how it feels to watch your world crumble through a child's eyes.

As Zachariah "44" John ...more

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Aug 18, 2020 Darla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, contemporary-fiction, verse

This new novel in verse from Jacqueline Woodson does not disappoint. Definitely one of my favorites and ranks right up there with "Brown Girl Dreaming" for me.

We come from the mountain, living on the mountain. Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.

Zachariah watches his once invincible father deal with CTE. He questions his own identity if his own father can't remember him. Wishes for "used to be" when his daddy was whole. Rejoices in the friendship of Ollie, Darry, and Daniel -- his bo ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Kate Olson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aoc, library-paper, poetry-and-verse, middle-grade

Absolutely phenomenal. I know 5th - 8th graders will be ALL OVER THIS verse novel and I can’t wait to booktalk it.

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Mar 26, 2021 Josiah rated it liked it

By the time Before the Ever After made its way onto bookstore shelves in 2020, Jacqueline Woodson had long ago become a legend. Winner of more major awards than I can recall—including four Newbery Honors between 2006 and 2015—Ms. Woodson is one of the most celebrated children's and YA authors of her era, a master of poetic, emotionally charged narrative. As twelve-year-old ZJ Johnson reflects back on the past two years, he can see when his old life started to go awry. Everything seemed so innoce By the time Before the Ever After made its way onto bookstore shelves in 2020, Jacqueline Woodson had long ago become a legend. Winner of more major awards than I can recall—including four Newbery Honors between 2006 and 2015—Ms. Woodson is one of the most celebrated children's and YA authors of her era, a master of poetic, emotionally charged narrative. As twelve-year-old ZJ Johnson reflects back on the past two years, he can see when his old life started to go awry. Everything seemed so innocent when his dad was king of the neighborhood: a stout, strong tight end who caught passes for championship teams in the National Football League. Everybody wanted a piece of the big football star, but he belonged to ZJ, who felt like the envy of every kid on earth. A budding young musician and songwriter, cheering as his dad dominated professional sports on television, ZJ had it good...but couldn't see just how good until the shine began to fade. What he wouldn't give now for a return to those days.

Pro football is a harsh game for the frail human body. Severe, lingering headaches are the norm, but ZJ's family gets the idea his father's problems are more serious when he can't shake the headaches for months at a time. He isn't even thirty-five years old, but his memory is slipping. He repeats himself, forgets people's names, and boils over in anger if anyone questions him about it. After his NFL team puts him on leave so he can have an extended rest period, the ailing football star languishes around the house, his head hurting so badly some days that his moaning disturbs the neighbors. ZJ's three best friends—Daniel, Darry, and Ollie—used to hang around his house all the time, playing football in the yard, having fun with ZJ's dad when he'd come home during the season as a surprise. These days, they don't come around so much; they're unnerved by ZJ's dad, who has developed a short temper no one wants to trigger. More pieces of the good old days just keep on eroding.

Before the Ever After is set at the turn of the twenty-first century, so chronic traumatic encephalopathy (ECT) isn't a diagnosis on the tip of anyone's tongue. Years of bone-crushing hits on the gridiron seem to be the culprit for ZJ's dad's suffering, but the only real treatment is to let him have rest and quiet, and hope he won't be in torment forever. ZJ always loved music more than ball, searching for the right lyric to smooth out his newest song, but now he's more wary of football than ever. At the pro level, it's a game of action, drama, and high stakes, but what is the price paid for playing? What about life after retirement, when the bright lights of fame fade away? Is a few years of exhilaration worth spending the rest of your life in pain, your muscles and bones not working right, brain deteriorating until there's nothing left? Whatever the future holds, ZJ loves his daddy. If there's a version of happily ever after for that man, ZJ wants to help guide him there.

Some play pro sports for money, some for fame. ZJ's dad plays because he loves the game and can't imagine doing anything else. The textured weight of the football on his fingertips after a clean catch; the euphoric roar of the crowd as he grabs the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds; miracle comebacks and disappointing defeats, locker room speeches and long, grueling practice sessions. Playing football at the highest level has always been ZJ's father's dream, but his life is different than when he was fifteen or twenty years old. His wife and son count on him, not just for an income but to still be there for them after he hangs up his cleats the final time, as every athlete eventually must. Youth ends sooner or later, sad as it is to leave it behind. Some who have the talent to play pro football decline to do so; the losses aren't worth the gains, so they find another career, probably for a lot less money. Others gladly take to the field despite the health risks. They want to live to maximum capacity while they can, even if the jarring hits they absorb now come at devastating cost later. The choice is every man's to make for himself, but you won't know if you chose right until years down the road.

Jacqueline Woodson's best books—I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This, If You Come Softly, Last Summer with Maizon, Feathers, and several others—are more emotionally compelling, but Before the Ever After retains the lyrical magic that sets Ms. Woodson apart from other authors. The story raises complex issues without trying to do the reader's thinking for him or her, but it's the delicate poetry of the words that leads me to round my two-and-a-half-star rating to three. I like the page header on page one hundred three; surely it's a nod to After Tupac and D Foster, one of the author's Newbery Honor recipients. Stephanie Singleton's cover art for the original edition of this book, a boy riding high on his father's shoulders as autumn leaves swirl around, evokes the wistful feel of the story before you even reach page one. It's among the more memorable covers I've seen. Love football or hate it, you'll identify with how the characters in this book feel, and that has always been Jacqueline Woodson's strength. Hers is a wondrous talent. ...more

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Sep 16, 2020 Mid-Continent Public Library added it

Shelves: historical-fiction, middle-grade-fiction

Now that the NFL is back in action, here is a book that packs an extra punch. This new novel in verse from Jacqueline Woodson does not disappoint. Definitely one of my favorites and ranks right up there with "Brown Girl Dreaming" for me.

We come from the mountain, living on the mountain. Go back to the mountain, turn the world around.

Zachariah watches his once invincible father deal with CTE. He questions his own identity if his own father can't remember him. Wishes for "used to be" when his dad ...more

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Sep 28, 2020 Andre rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 03, 2020 Dan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-grade, newbery-contenders

Jacqueline Woodson's newest book Before the Ever After is a masterpiece. ZJ and his family and friends will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Football may be the hook but the characters and the poetic language are the true touchdown in this beautiful book. I cannot wait to share it with kids soon! ...more

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Nov 03, 2020 Jessica Haider rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrens, fiction, bipoc-author, poetry

-Quick read about a boy and his dad who is a professional football player who winds up with a brain injury, CTE.
-Told in verse.
-emotional with an important message, like all Woodson books that I've read ...more

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Oct 04, 2020 Nabilah Firdaus rated it really liked it

This is the second book I’ve read of Jacqueline Woodson and like Red at the Bone, this too was a showcase of Woodson’s command of language and literary prowess.

“All those times he got knocked down and knocked out, my daddy kept getting up but maybe some part of him stayed on the ground.”

Written in lyrical verse, Before the Ever After follows the story of ZJ, dealing with the change that has been happening to his dad, Zachariah, a professional football player. ZJ’s dad, who was once a cheerful, e ...more

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May 27, 2020 Ms. Yingling rated it liked it

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zachariah Johnson, Jr. has always been proud of his pro football playing father, even though he is more interested in music and poetry. He loves the adulation his father gets from their town and his friends Daniel, Darry, and Oliver, and just has a great time hanging out with his caring and supportive family. However, right around the turn of the last century, ZJ's father starts to have a lot of health concerns. He has horrific headaches that cause him to moan and E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zachariah Johnson, Jr. has always been proud of his pro football playing father, even though he is more interested in music and poetry. He loves the adulation his father gets from their town and his friends Daniel, Darry, and Oliver, and just has a great time hanging out with his caring and supportive family. However, right around the turn of the last century, ZJ's father starts to have a lot of health concerns. He has horrific headaches that cause him to moan and lash out, and he sometimes forgets things he should definitely know. ZJ's mother knows that something serious is wrong, and takes him to doctors, especially since other men who played football with him are suffering from similar problems. It soon is discovered that ZJ's beloved father has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and won't be getting better. He has to mourn his father while he is still right there, and he and his mother have to find a way forward.

Strengths: Woodson's writing is always lyrical and atmospheric, and this novel in verse is no different. ZJ clearly loves his father and is proud of his football skills, so is devastated when he sees his father going downhill. Losing a parent as a child is the most devastating loss there is, and ZJ's struggles with this, set against his regular life of having to go to school, hang out with his friends, and be approached to play tackle football games, is well done. The cover is fantastic.
Weaknesses: I wish this were set in current times and included more information about CTE, much like Korman's Pop.
What I really think: There is very little football involved in the story, but will be a great choice for teachers and librarians who want to read something that touches on sports, and also for readers who enjoyed the novels in verse by Kwame Alexander, including Rebound, which also deals with grief.

I will take any chance I can get to plug Steve Almond's fantastic Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto (2014). It is a perfect accompaniment to this book and discusses how serious the problem with CTE in football players is. ...more

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Sep 05, 2020 Vicki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, middlegrade, pocmaincharacters

This book fills a huge need in middle grade/YA by addressing the complicated topic of CTE with such tenderness. People who love football, in my experience, do not love moralizing nonfiction about this topic (like one of my all-time favs, Fourth Down and Inches). As a result, I think the qualities of this book will draw readers in and prove an important point without turning off a lot of its likely audience: young boys, and particular boys of color, who are treated as expendable by big football c ...more

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Sep 09, 2020 Jeanie Phillips rated it it was amazing

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!

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Sep 06, 2020 Janssen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, audiobooks, young-adult, verse

This was so good and totally heartbreaking. Highly recommend the audio version.

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Jan 01, 2021 TL rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow 👏
Definitely want a hard copy of this one.

Highly recommend. The last part has me tearing up and wanting to hug everyone :(.

Narrator and story: 5 stars 🌟

Happy new year!

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Oct 11, 2020 LeeAnna Weaver rated it it was amazing

I cannot think of another writer who can write for every audience as Jacqueline Woodson does. Her picture books, tween and YA novels, poetry, and adult fiction speak to readers of every age, gender, and race. This tender but unsentimental story describes a relationship between a boy and his beloved father who is suffering the effects of traumatic brain injuries sustained from his pro football career. It’s set in the time when the dangers of repeated concussions and the diagnosis of CTE, specific ...more

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Oct 20, 2020 Samantha rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade

Beautiful. Important but sad. What a beautiful way to touch on such a “new” and difficult subject. Many boys dream of playing pro football, unaware of the dreamers before them who are now suffering unheard of consequences for playing a violent sport for others entertainment. I worry personally about having children who dream of playing football, a sport that I myself love so much, but am now more aware of its trauma.

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Oct 10, 2020 Katy rated it it was amazing

A gorgeous story about unconditional, big family love and loss, and enduring, powerful and loving boy friendships.

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Diverse Book Club: MG Jan 2021 - Before the Ever After Week 3	1	2	Jan 25, 2021 06:35AM
Diverse Book Club: MG Jan 2021 - Before the Ever After Week 2	1	3	Jan 18, 2021 01:50PM
Diverse Book Club: MG Jan 2021 - Before the Ever After Week 1	2	3	Jan 10, 2021 04:36PM
Diverse Book Club: MG Jan 2021 - Before the Ever After	1	4	Jan 01, 2021 02:40PM
Mock Newbery 2022: December Read - Before the Ever After	10	95	Dec 30, 2020 07:53PM

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About Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson

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I used to say I’d be a teacher or a lawyer or a hairdresser when I grew up but even as I said these things, I knew what made me happiest was writing.

I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories a I used to say I’d be a teacher or a lawyer or a hairdresser when I grew up but even as I said these things, I knew what made me happiest was writing.

I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories.

I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade.

That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange.

Lots and lots of books later, I am still surprised when I walk into a bookstore and see my name on a book’s binder. Sometimes, when I’m sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing’s coming to me, I remember my fifth grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said “This is really good.” The way, I — the skinny girl in the back of the classroom who was always getting into trouble for talking or missed homework assignments — sat up a little straighter, folded my hands on the desks, smiled and began to believe in me. ...more

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“You got something you love, little man? Then you good. You love food? You cook. You love clothes? You design. You love the wind and water? You sail.” — 1 likes

“When you love a thing, little man, my dad said, you gotta love it with everything you got. Till you can’t even tell where that thing you love begins and where you end.” — 1 likes

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