Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
Twelve- year-old Z J is the son of Super Bowl champion Zachary Johnson. To fans, this football legend is a 223-pound powerhouse, the player who gives the game everything he’s got. Game after game. Football is an important part of ZJ's family life. For him it is huddling under a blanket with mom, sitting close to the action. The superstar is more than an athlete on the field. He’s the man who carried his son on his shoulders, shared family picnics in Central Park, played friendly games of touch with the neighborhood kids. he's my dad, which means he’s my every single thing. Then things change. For reasons Z J doesn’t understand, dad is no longer going to practice. He sits at home, sometimes starring out the window and seeing nothing. His head constantly hurts. He is often angry. He forgets his son's name. |