THE BEGINNING OF AFTER

Title: The Beginning of After
Author: Jennifer Castle
Publisher: HarperTeen (September 6, 2011)
Pages: 432


When I spotted THE BEGINNING OF AFTER by JENNIFER CASTLE, I was immediately drawn to the cover, and the title was intriguing. Upon reading the blurb on the back cover, I made the decision to read it.

When Laurel Meisner’s world suddenly changes, she’s left with a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of which direction to turn. In a blink of an eye, her family is taken from her, leaving Laurel’s grandmother, the only surviving family member, to care for Laurel. But Laurel isn’t the only one hurting. David Kaufman, an only child whose father remains on life support after the devastating accident that killed Laurel’s family and David’s mother, is going through his own pain. After all it was his father who had been driving the car at the time of the crash.

THE BEGINNING OF AFTER takes you on a journey through one teen’s life as she grieves the loss of her family. Along the way she discovers people who make that journey a little easier.

Despite the stories slow pace, you want to keep reading.

Sometimes there are songs that make you want to dance and shout to the world. Then there are other slow and mellow songs where the words penetrate your soul, causing you to rethink things you may not have otherwise. THE BEGINNING OF AFTER is like the latter.

This beautifully written story provoked emotions and deep thoughts within me about losing loved ones. I wept inside for every child that has lost their parents and for all the parents who have passed away, knowing how tangible their loss would be.

I’d love to see a second book to THE BEGINNING OF AFTER, maybe simply titled AFTER. I’d love to be a part of Laurel and David’s journey into the future.