After Hardcover – August 11, 2009

Amy Efaw tackled a heavy subject matter effectively and with great lyrical style.While reading and listening some of "After" I took a little time to d research on the author. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Efaw spent a great deal of time researching teenage girls who have committed such an unthinkable act of dumbing their baby in trash dumpsters. It shows. The book was well thought out and believable. However at times I felt the other supporting characters were a little two dimensional and stereotypical.An intriguing read.

"After" has a very serious topic. I was disgusted with Devon at the beginning, having just a three month old baby girl myself. I wanted to strangle her. I wanted to vomit. But, I also could understand how something like what she did could happen to a woman, under specific circumstances.Devon hid her pregnancy for the entire 9 months. Not only did she hide it from her mother, her friends, but she also hid it from herself. She discreditted everything her mind was telling her about her own body, saying weight gain was due to the holidays, her tiredness was due to her increased training for soccer, her nausea was over some stale food she'd eaten, etc. And then when her baby came out of her in the quiet of her apartment while her mother was at work, she freaked out, took the child, put her inside the bathroom trash bag, tied it up, carried her outside to the dumpster, and threw her away.I know, it's disgusting to think about. "After" brings you through the events leading up to Devon's daughter's birth, explores what was going on inside her head while she was pregnant, how she rationalized it away, how she denied even having had sex that one time, how she could possibly discard a newborn baby while it was crying for its life... in a trash bag, tied, and in a dumpster.I felt compassion for her about halfway through the book. Once I started to see what was happening to Devon herself, what her thought processes were, how she was trying to figure out what had happened that day, how she truly did not understand, I felt empathy for her. In the end, I wanted her to have a chance to hold her newborn daughter. Women suffer for Post Partum Depression all the time. I wanted Devon to be diagnosed with PPD so she could come to terms with what she did to her child.The ending surprised me a little, even though in the back of my mind I would probably have done the same. Good book. Stays with you.

(Slight spoilish)Amy Efaw takes on a whether difficult and complex issue of abandoned newborn children in this dark, legal read in 'After'. I'll be honest, I had high hopes for this book it and felt let me down, so I have to complain.The writing was too draw out into getting to the initial course into Devon's motives and reasoning into "that night". If you ask me, "that night" the shock and surprise she felt, was more in my eyes the fear of dealing with her consequences, present to the possible future. It was also whether hard for me sympathize with the Devon character throughout most of the book because she appeared selfish at times and felt the need to blame her mother for her miserable life. Ok, this kid was a A+ student, sport's star destined to play for a D-1 college soccer someday, and well liked by many... but her life still suck? You know how many teens wished they had it that good just for themselves and keep their parents satisfied. Granted, Devon's mother Jennifer is a tad flirtatious and a few non-successful relationships, but she did the best she could to raise Devon even neglecting her own family just to make a life for the two of them. So to me, Devon's punishment at her mother was not justified at all. Also I was whether disappointed in Devon's lack of communication and awareness throughout most of the book, that became tiresome and frustrating. I don't know if Efaw was trying to hint at mental illness for Devon, but if you are going to go there -- do so or don't at all.However, while most of the book was a bit of a drag and has its flaws, the last hundred pages saved the day primarily as it surround Devon's fate in her hearing. Devon does get back into my good graces once the book ends.To conclude, I found it to be a respectable read and brave attempt, but it whether slow and drug out much too long for my liking. It does beg the question: Do you buy into Devon's denial-pregnancy or not? For me, I couldn't. Because WHAT IF the baby took a tragic fate after all? Efaw does a good job with her research but her execution through most of the book was not that effective.

After by Amy Efaw is a well-researched examination of teen pregnancy and what's known as the "dumpster baby" phenomenon.As an undergraduate considering a career as a social worker, I participated in field experiences in both a group home and juvenile detention facility. The book provides an accurate portrayal of these facilities and the mix of professionals and juveniles in the system.Efaw's characters are well-developed. Although it was difficult to empathize with some of Devin's actions, I cared about her character. At first, I had a hard time believing that Devin didn't realize she was pregnant. However as the story unfolded, I was drawn into the reasons for her denial. I wanted to shake, hug, and yell at her.While realistic fiction isn't my first choice of leisure reading, I found this book to be a quick, interesting read. Because of the timely topic, it would be a great way to draw in readers to this genre.

Brilliant book, emotionally gets to you and is really powerful.