AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler
Lucy loves math. She loves precise definitions and phenomena that can be explained. She loves solutions. There is one aspect that does not fit into her world view of calculations and exact answers. Her younger brother Theo was born with a heart defect. His short life was filled with doctors and hospitals and treatments. Now he is gone, leaving behind grieving parents and his sister Lucy. Mom and dad decide that the best way to cope with their loss is to move to a new town. They select a city that has suffered a profound loss. Four years ago, a deranged shooter entered the elementary school, killing and injuring many inside the building. Lucy’s anguish as she witnessed her brother's painfilled demise stretch over five years is both similar and very different from the public tragedy that instantly affected the entire community. |
A touching story that avoids becoming maudlin. The author’s narration is well suited to the voice of a tender twelve-year-old. Occasionally a title is precisely the perfect fit. AfterMath is a brilliant title choice.