A juvenile fiction book written in verse is sure to be a fast read - the trick is slowing down to appreciate it and make sure that it's all sinking in. Before the Ever After is about a young boy whose father is an NFL star and hero to everyone in their community. Until he suffers one too many head injuries and is no longer able to play. Suddenly the boy finds that his father is no longer himself, and even when he is himself, people don't seem to want to come around as much anymore. There is a lot of sadness in this book - about seeing your parent at their most vulnerable, of being a child confused without all the facts, and just coping with change. As usual, Woodson's words are beautiful - and this book, like her others, is worth a couple reads.
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