Lucy and her parents are grieving the loss of her little brother. Born with a heart defect, Theo only lived to be five years old. Hoping to make a new start, the family moved to a new town. Life stayed about the same for Lucy's parents since they continued to work at their jobs in the city, but things changed considerably for Lucy as she left her friends behind and started at a new school.
Being a seventh grader in Queensland was filled with challenges. Four years earlier there had been a school shooting. More than 20 students were killed. They were all classmates of the now seventh graders. Even though Lucy had experienced a loss, she was now faced with fellow classmates who were victims of loss and trauma beyond what she could comprehend.
Making friends is difficult, and when Lucy chooses to sit with the lonely looking Avery in the cafeteria, she soon learns that most everyone else thinks her choice is questionable. With the help of Mr. Jackson the math teacher, her love of math, and an a creative after school activity, Lucy begins to adjust. She just needs to figure out how to work on connecting with her parents who are grieving in their own ways.
AFTERMATH by Emily Barth Isler provides an intriguing view of the life after a school shooting and the results. Family, friendship, and loss are the central issues in this emotional story. Having lived and taught in a small town that suffered the trauma of the disappearance of three young brothers, I can relate to the impact of tragedy on a close-knit community. AFTERMATH should be a part of every middle grade collection.
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