After in Penguin's Point of View Books

Aug 24, 2009 Nely rated it really liked it

Shelves: library

Devon Davenport is 15 years old, she is a superstar athlete on her soccer team, straight-A student, and all around perfect teen. She strives to be everything that her mom isn't - strong, independent, reliable and definitely not a teen mother like her. She has set some very strict rules and regulations that she follows in order to stick to her goals.

But all that changes one morning when a baby is found in a dumpster behind her apartment building. The police begin their search and find themselves Devon Davenport is 15 years old, she is a superstar athlete on her soccer team, straight-A student, and all around perfect teen. She strives to be everything that her mom isn't - strong, independent, reliable and definitely not a teen mother like her. She has set some very strict rules and regulations that she follows in order to stick to her goals.

But all that changes one morning when a baby is found in a dumpster behind her apartment building. The police begin their search and find themselves on Devon's doorstep. Her mother, flirting with the officers, believes that maybe her daughter can help since she stayed home from school because she was feeling sick. It doesn't take very long for them to realize that Devon is the person they are looking for.

The story mostly revolves around Devon - pre-baby and post-baby, or rather "IT" as she calls the infant. She now finds herself in a juvenile detention center facing some rather severe charges. Yet throughout it all she doesn't remember much of anything revolving around "IT" or "THAT NIGHT". She can't face what she's done. She swears that she did not know she was pregnant. The story unfolds little by little as you get more and more insight into Devon's life as her attorney does her research in order for her to be tried as a minor rather than an adult - meaning she could face life in jail if tried as an adult.

I entered into reading this book with some trepidation. I knew it would be an emotional rollercoaster. Ms. Efaw has created a character that, although not always liked, you can't help but to care for.. to sympathize with her. I was really surprised that I would feel this way about her, but in the end I did. I couldn't help but hope that it somehow worked out for her. What I truly enjoyed about this story is that Ms. Efaw does not try to sugar coat any of Devon's actions. They are what they are. Ugly. Raw. Emotional. It is a tough subject to read about, but definitely one that we've heard about more than once on the news.

My only complaint, and the reason why I did not give it 5 stars was because of the ending. It just felt too abrupt for me. I would have liked a little more. But still don't let that deter you from reading this. I'd recommend this to parents and teens - because it is a very thought-provoking subject and one that I think could spark some important discussions. ...more

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Sep 11, 2009 Shanyn added it

WOW. The summary of this book definitely tries to gear you up for what you're about to read, but it's nearly impossible to gear yourself up enough.

The main premise of the book is that Devon is found to have had a baby and thrown it in the trash behind her home. The beginning was described in a big haze - you aren't sure exactly what has gone on, but you get the basic idea (what I have described above).

This book really reminded me of a shorter Jodi Picoult novel. It was mostly based on Devon's co ...more

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Mar 24, 2010 stephanie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2010, young-adult

so . . . i'm not going to lie. the cover of the book made me think it was about a dancer (i think it was the bun) and i bought it when it was first released based on the cover alone.

so imagine my surprise when i finally have time to read it and it turns out devon has nothing to do with dance; in fact, she's a goalie on multiple soccer teams!

i felt like there was a lot that could have been good here, but wasn't. like it was trying to be too many stories at once.

karma was awesome though. and i ...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Audrey rated it it was ok

Read the full review on my blog, Holes in my Brain.

I was disappointed by this novel, AFTER tries to delve into the psychological aspect of Devon's mind but it comes up short on several fronts. Immediately from the beginning, I couldn't connect with Devon, and I think this was due to the third person POV. I think this novel would have had so much more potential had I been in Devon's head, especially since a lot of this novel is focused on her state of mind. It would have been fascinating to read Read the full review on my blog, Holes in my Brain.

I was disappointed by this novel, AFTER tries to delve into the psychological aspect of Devon's mind but it comes up short on several fronts. Immediately from the beginning, I couldn't connect with Devon, and I think this was due to the third person POV. I think this novel would have had so much more potential had I been in Devon's head, especially since a lot of this novel is focused on her state of mind. It would have been fascinating to read about her denial from her own POV.

The characters were okay for me, I was interested and, yes, I actually sympathized with Devon, but none of the other characters caught my attention. I didn't care about, and probably won't be remember any of the other girls in the detention facility, Devon's mom, lawyer or friends...

The plot is where I felt the novel really took a dip, I did really enjoy the beginning with the discovery of the dumpster baby and Devon's arrest. I felt the immediacy and urgent-ness of the various actions, the vulnerability of the characters and the Devon's spinning emotions. The plot lulled in the middle, and when everything kind of settled down and approached the trial... well it just turned into a John Grisham novel. If I want to read a John Grisham novel, I will read one.

I have read a lot of those lawyer books, and this one felt no different, it felt as if Efaw tried to hard to make the trial interesting and CSI-like that she lost sight of what it really should have been about: Devon. Character development took a hit in the last 100 or so pages, we have about 90 pages trial, 10 pages character development. I'm not saying there was no Devon-news, but I felt there definitely could have been more. My disconnect from the novel is reflected in the fact that I went ahead and read the last couple pages, which is something I haven't done in a ridiculously long time. Hmm.

2/5 because it wasn't my favourite book. Characters didn't grab my interest, I was never emotionally invested in the plot and while the trial stuff in the last third was entertaining, I felt much of it was unnecessary. I feel a story like this has so much potential but this one didn't impress me as much as I would have hoped. ...more

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Apr 20, 2009 Lauren rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own

After seeing After in a publishing catalog back in December, I just knew I had to read it!

The "dumpster baby" phenomenon, which is the book's main focus, was both interesting and scary real. Before starting this book, I hadn't really heard or read many news stories about this topic. So, I was intrigued to see how a case like this would go through the courts and the reasons behind the mother's choice to leave her own child in a dumpster.

Devon was a character that I did come to like and understa After seeing After in a publishing catalog back in December, I just knew I had to read it!

The "dumpster baby" phenomenon, which is the book's main focus, was both interesting and scary real. Before starting this book, I hadn't really heard or read many news stories about this topic. So, I was intrigued to see how a case like this would go through the courts and the reasons behind the mother's choice to leave her own child in a dumpster.

Devon was a character that I did come to like and understand her reasoning behind her choice, even if it did take me most of the book. I liked how Amy portrayed in her in way where she didn't glamorize her situation and make it go away, but instead made you see what the consequences from Devon's "dumpster baby" through her own eyes. Also, one thing that really got to me, was how Devon was the ordinary girl on a fast track to greatness, because she was an amazing soccer player, had lots of friends, and fantastic grades. Though, when she finds out she's with child, she flips and denies to herself that she is, leaving her to make the choice she did. What I'm trying to say with this, is that could happen to any of us out there. We could be what people think is "perfect" and still manage to screw it up with one bad choice. It just amazed me.

The writing was also fabulous. I give Amy major props for how much reasearch she probably did to give us this a story that tells nothing but the truth in what would happened in this kind of situation. I loved seeing the whole court room scenes and the ones between Dom and Devon because I felt like I was right there with them, witnessing the whole thing.

Though, the one thing that kind of ticked me off about this book was the ending. Even though it did conclude the main problem the characters face in the book, it lead so many others to still be swirling around in my head.

Overall, After is startling real book told in a way that's honest and raw. I can't suggest this book enough to teens and adults all around. I truly look forward to reading more by Ms. Efaw!

Grade: A
...more

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May 09, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it it was amazing

This is a hard book, but ultimately worth it.

The book opens after an infant has been found in a trash bag, thrown in a garbage can and left to die. During the course of a police investigation, they find a teenage girl who's obviously not doing well. After they realize that she's bleeding heavily*, they take her to the hospital and learn that she just had a baby.

Most of the book takes place while she's in a juvenile detention center, waiting to learn if her case will be tried in juvenile or adult ...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Videoclimber(AKA)MTsLilSis rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya

I am glad that the author ended the book the way she did. It was interesting to read the story from the point of view of the mother. I think this would be a wonderful book for teen girls to read, very eye opening and bare bones truthful. I was glad the author included the postscript I thought it added to the story. This one really makes you think!

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