After Ever After

This is a follow up to Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pies, which I had not read (but did after I finished After Ever After). It is not necessary to read the first book to understand any of the references in AEA; the author provides sufficient background information. Jeffrey is in remission from his cancer, and in 8th grade is now navigating the world of middle school -- juggling the emotions of having a girlfriend who is truly interested in him as a person, an ascerbic best friend who is also a cancer survivor, and his family, particulary an older brother, whom he feels has deserted him to find himself in Africa with a drumming group. On top of all of that, Jeffrey still deals with the long-term effects of the powerful drugs that were part of his cancer treatment. When I first read the back cover, I thought, "How depressing?" But the book is a blend of humor, sadness, and examples of deep, true friendship. From this I learned the true meaning of beau geste. The characters are believable, and the family dynamics reflect what I imagine it must be like to function on a day-to-day basis with a serious ill child. I teach middle school, and we are using this book as our One Book, One School novel for this year. I think the students, many who did read Drums, Girls, and Dangerious (both boys and girls) will enjoy this as well

After Ever After is very good book about the boy that had cancer and his life. I think this books theme is don't give up before you try. This book is about Jeffery, Linsey and Tad. Summary: Jeff and Tad are the best friend they had cancer and they both survived they don't have a good body like other kids and tad rides wheelchair. Lindsey loves to New Jersy and comes to their school Jeff falls in love with Lindsey right away. Lindsey thinks Jeff is cute and they become good friends Tad tries to get Lindsey and Jeff to be a girl friend and boy friend. Jeff likes to ride a bike but, Tad cannot even walk well and Jeff sucks at math before he had cancer he had all of the facts in his head and then after he went through cancer he sucked at math. They make promise that if Jeff passes the state taste that leads them to high school Tad will walk on the stage at graduation. Tad starts coming to Jeff's house to tutor him meanwhile Jeff and Lindsey gets closer and three of the become best buddy. Then Lindsey became Jeffs girlfriend then Tad tells Jeff that he is going to the hospital at graduation day and Jeff gets mad and yells at Tad. Few days later Jeff got a fever and went to the hospital when he comes back he feels like something that he doesn't know is happening. At the test day, everyone starts looking at him and Tad when the test starts Tad starts walking out of test room and every 8th grader does the same thing. After the event Jeff finds out that Tad asked every kid to get up and get out of the test room. Jeff plans to make a bikathon for Tad and plans that he will run 50 miles. Tad sends an ipod that has sad songs and then he writes a letter that give the best you got for my cancer treatment. After he runs 50 miles he sees his mom at finish line and see her crying. [...] After this part why don't you read the book and finds out how the story ends.

I read this book in a total of six hours in one day, it’s a real page turner and at some points extremely funny

I think Jordan Sonnenblick is becoming my Go-To author for reluctant readers. I wasn't sure he could follow up Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie with anything even close to as poignant, funny and realistic as Drums G.and D.P., but I think I might like After Ever After more. It is funnier, sadder and has an equally realistic adolescent male voice. A sort-of sequel, in After Ever After Jeffrey is 14, cancer free, and in danger of failing eighth grade. Steven has gone off to Africa to study drumming and find himself, so Jeffrey has lost his best friend, mentor and adviser. Instead Jeffrey turns to two classmates - Tad, another cancer survivor, albeit it an angry, sarcastic and wise one, and Lindsay, the beautiful new girl in school. Sonnenblick so beautifully writes in the voice of young teens striving to make their way through the swamp of adolescence, I can't imagine any 12-14 year old not loving his books. I have an Asperger's student who's refused since second grade to read fiction, but he finished both Drums and After Ever After in less than two weeks and is now determined to read all of Sonnenblick's novels. I am too.

Wonderful follow up to the fantastically charming 'Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie' novel. As a teacher, I'm always looking for good novels to read in the classroom. This is one that I'll be looking to implement, as well. We've been reading "drums" for several years now and the kids are always excited to learn that there is a sequel. This book is written in a similar fashion to its predecessor. Both take you inside the mind This book is written in a similar fashion to its predecessor. Both take you inside the minds of young adults as they try to cope with everything from daily routines to the love of their lives and the questions that come with life itself. The author does a superb job of relating to the middle school student and this is evident with each new 8th grade class. The moment I start the audio and they begin reading along, it only takes a page or two for every class, advanced or on level, to become transfixed in this fictional world.

My young teen loves this author and we purchased this as a gift and received rave reviews on it.

Jordan Sonnenblick tackles tough issues with grace and humor. In After Ever After, readers pick up on Jeffrey's story as he is now in 8th grade. While Jeffrey is now in remission, he must deal with the aftermath of years of chemotherapy and surgeries. He struggles with physical and mental disabilities as a result of his cancer. Yet, he is like every other 8th grade boy who struggles with his family issues, bad math grades (and a standardized test he has to pass), and a crush on a hot girl. While Jeffrey's storyline is a tough topic, Sonnenblick balances it out with Tad, whose rough exterior provides sarcastic comic relief to a serious topic. Both Jeffrey and Tad must decide to overcome the obstacles cancer brought their way and begin to really live. A twist at the end provides the readers a glimpse of the harsh reality of cancer along with the hope that exists for a better life. As always, Jordan Sonnenblick wrote an amazing book that allows readers to laugh while discussing tough issues such as cancer, social acceptance, learning disabilities, and even standardized testing.

Steven and his little brother Jeffrey are older, and their lives are so different from the time we first met them in Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. Author Jordan Sonnenblick kept me interested on every page as my admiration for Jeffrey and his family grew. Heartwarming, fun, "can't put it down" kind of book.

Another great book by Jordan Sonnenblick