A magnetic novel that cuts right to the heart.
Dancing, then her twin brother Benny, and lastly, her best friend Warren. Or maybe it’s Benny first, then dance and then Warren, in that order. These are the things, the only things, that August truly loves and can depend on in her life. When her mother abandoned the family a decade ago, it left August in the unfair position of caregiver to her brother, a role she’s never begrudged. And how could she resent anything about practically perfect Benny? Although they are alike in more ways than they can count, Benny represents everything August isn’t. He’s great with people, has a gift for music, tempers their loathsome father, and always finds a way to see the silver lining. August may have dance all to herself, but everything else, even their loyal best friend, is shared between the siblings. So close is their relationship that it’s as if they are two halves of one whole. But this is no lighthearted coming-of-age story about twins learning to brave the world as individuals. A simple mistake throws August’s life into a tailspin. In one life-altering instant, August is forced to become someone she never wanted to be. Change is rarely easy, but that’s especially true when you have to find a way forward after you’ve lost the best parts of yourself.
It might sound cliché to compare a book to a roller coaster, but WOW! Genalea Barker nails every emotion of a turbulent amusement park ride with dramatic highs and lows, moments of weightless anxiety, heart pounding brushes with romance, pure cathartic release, and hope glimmering like sunshine on the water in Life After. The first sign you’ve boarded an emotional thrill ride comes as a stony faced August, not yet 10 years old, bravely ventures out into the night on her own to buy fever medicine for her sick brother. Her unwavering resolve continues to bubble to the surface even as she battles her own guilt, grief and self-sabotage. Though August is so often closed off that she doesn’t always recognize their presence, a handful of wholesome relationships provide stability and relief. So many aspects of the book are well polished that even the novel’s supporting characters become alive to readers. A great example is Dale, the drunken father who has a huge chip on his shoulder. Although Dale is clearly an unpleasant figure, the author subtly reveals the heartbreaking origins of his grief and loneliness, allowing audiences to feel a degree of sympathy for him, despite his egregious flaws. And don’t bother trying to pace yourself and spread your time with August out over a few days. Just give in to the irresistible pull of Life After, a magnetic novel that cuts right to the heart. Chances are when you’re finished, you’ll just pick the book up and start over from the beginning, more relaxed in the confidence that the author won’t totally break your heart.
