AFTERWARDS

TITLE: AFTERWARDS

AUTHOR: ROSAMUND LUPTON

Pages: 472

Date: 18/07/2011

Grade: 5

Own

Grace Covey is at her eight year old son Adam school’s sports day when she sees smoke coming from the school building. In a panic she runs towards the school, afraid for her children. She finds her son outside the school building being minded by the daughter of a friend. Her daughter, 17 year old Jenny, is still inside though and Grace runs into the building in a desperate attempt to rescue her little girl. She manages to reach Jenny and to drag her downstairs, but she collapses before she can get the both of them out of the building.

Mother and daughter are admitted into hospital, both of them fighting for their lives. However, the real fight is yet to begin. Because the deliberate fire is only the start of it. Somebody is out to destroy Grace’s children and Grace has to do what she can to stop that person, who-ever it is.

Before life was beautiful and easy. Afterwards is a time for fighting. Afterwards is also the time to appreciate the things that are truly important in life,  to discover the depths of love and the strength of the bond between a mother and her children. Afterwards is the time when everything changes, forever.

This was a wonderful story. It is a well written mystery with a lot of possible villains and a very credible solution.

The book is much more than that though. It is also a story about love, about having to rethink a lot of what you thought you knew for sure and about sacrifice.

I’m very impressed with Rosamund Lupton. In her books she creates characters that captivate me.  She gives the reader a gripping story, that drives you on to find out just what is going on, while also taking the time to go beyond the mystery to feelings and emotions that ring true.

As an author, Rosamund Lupton is among my big discoveries this year. I’m looking forward to reading future books by her.