After Life – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Accidental Afterlife Return To Life.
YA book title: After Life.
YA author: Gayle Forman.
Cover Design: Agata Wierzbicka.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction.
Published by: Hot Key Books.
ISBN: 9781471418310.
Recommended for children aged: 16+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback January 2025.
This YA book is ideal for: Exploring the grieving process and beliefs about the afterlife through the lens of a young person and those connected to them.
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Our review:
After Life is a story capturing a poignant moment in time in the lives of a grieving family and those connected to them. It is an enthralling tale that keeps you guessing until almost the very last page.
The narrative begins with Amber cycling home from school, just as she does every day. However, when she arrives, a few details seem slightly different. Then, when her mum returns home and sees Amber standing there, she screams – because Amber died seven years ago. In many ways, this is a coming-of-age story, but one in which the process is abruptly halted for our protagonist, who died early on in her journey to adulthood.
Are you hooked? I certainly was. And the mystery isn’t fully unravelled until the final pages of the book.
The novel follows the nonlinear narratives of several characters, including Amber, her immediate family, her boyfriend, and a few others whose lives have become entangled with Amber’s death. At first, some of these connections seem tenuous, with certain characters appearing barely linked to the central story. However, as the plot twists and turns, these strands come together seamlessly. Each character embarks on a deeply human and often raw journey through life, propelled by Amber’s absence. Interestingly, some of those most affected by her death are not necessarily the people who were closest to her in life.
Grief is a central theme throughout the novel, and what stands out is the vastly different ways in which each character copes – or fails to cope – with loss. This provides rich material for discussion, particularly for any group studying After Life. The writer does not shy away from the complexities of grief’s ripple effect, both in its immediate aftermath and years down the line. For instance, grief can push some people apart just as much as it can bring others closer together.
Each character plays a vital role in the narrative, but one in particular stands out: Amber’s younger sister, Melissa – often referred to as Missy. Melissa possesses a very different personality and set of priorities from Amber and was not necessarily treated well by her sister during her lifetime. You might even argue that Melissa is a more likeable character than Amber. Despite everything, Melissa is the one who, in her own way, has kept Amber alive in the years following her death. By the time Amber returns, Melissa is almost the same age Amber was when she died, yet in many ways, she seems far more mature. Whether this is due to her natural disposition or the hardships she has endured in losing her sister and navigating the aftermath is an intriguing aspect of her character development. Melissa’s coming-of-age has been profoundly shaped by Amber’s death, and perhaps it is no coincidence that Amber reappears just as Melissa is experiencing the very journey to adulthood that was cut short for her older sister.
Amidst all the mystery and emotion, one message is crystal clear throughout the book: every one of us, no matter how young or old, how ordinary our lives may seem, or when our lives may end, leaves an impact on the world and the people around us. And yet, no matter how hard we try, we do not have full control over what that impact will be. Amber has the unusual experience of exploring her legacy years after her death, but for most of us, we will never truly know the mark we leave behind. We can only hope.
Many thanks to Hot Key Books for the review copy.
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