What Comes After Review

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Title: What Comes After
Author: Steve Watkins
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: April 12, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 334
Source: Publisher

After her veterinarian dad dies, sixteen-year-old Iris Wight must leave her beloved Maine to live on a North Carolina farm with her hardbitten aunt and a cousin she barely knows. Iris, a vegetarian and animal lover, immediately clashes with Aunt Sue, who mistreats the livestock, spends Iris’s small inheritance, and thinks nothing of striking Iris for the smallest offense.

Things come to a head when Iris sets two young goats free to save them from slaughter, and an enraged Aunt Sue orders her brutish son, Book, to beat Iris senseless - a horrific act that lands Book and his mother in jail. Sent to live with an offbeat foster family and their "dooking" ferrets, Iris must find a way to take care of the animals back at the farm, even if it means confronting Aunt Sue. Powerful and deeply moving, this compelling novel affirms the redemptive power of animals and the resilience of the human spirit.
Iris hardly lives the life that every teen wants to live. After a tremendous loss, she's thrust into a world completely foreign to her that turns abusive, painful and emotionally destructive. So when things finally turn around for Iris and she's sent to another place that's quirky, but instills a desire for her to care for those animals she's left behind, no matter what. Is she brave enough to face the horrors she left, and can she do it for more than the animals...can she do it for herself?

I'm an animal nut. It's no lie. I have to cats and a dog, and if I ever won a million dollars, I'd start a cat sanctuary. But I digress. What Comes After combines all of my favourites into one neat little package - animals, the human condition and the desire to be better. With a pretty original premise in YA today that focuses on character development rather than romance, Steve Watkins has created a novel in What Comes After that just might have the power to transform our own agendas and make us thing beyond our own needs.

I have to be honest. What Comes After has all the makings of a great novel. Iris is a great character. She's relatable, caring and kind, and her innocence lends to the character development she faces through the novel. She struggles. She fails, and yet she has a constant desire to get back up again. The pain in this book is very raw and extremely tangible. She loses her father, faces adversity and yet she wants to find her way back to peace at all costs. Aunt Sue was a terrifying counterpart, and her foster parents added a hint of humour and quirk to an otherwise heart-wrenching tale.

What Comes After is not easy to stomach if you're in a feel-good movie. Yes, it has a message and reads extremely well, but it's not for the faint of heart. I cried. A lot. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
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It's day 3 of The Long Weekend Blog Tour, and today we're stopping over at Jenny's blog, Supernatural Snark! Be sure to check out her incredibly insightful REVIEW, then stop by for a chance to read Savita's thoughts and enter the international GIVEAWAY!

25 comments:

  1. I was afraid that because this topic is so out of the norm for the YA circuit that it'd be more bad than good, but I'm glad to hear it was the opposite! Thanks for the review!

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  2. If you ever start up a cat sanctuary, I AM SO THERE.
    Though What Comes After sounds like a tough read, I'm definitely adding it to my ever-growing list. Thanks for the review! :)

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  3. Great review Melissa. This sounds like a great thought provoking read. Thanks for sharing and warning me that I might need a big box of tissues :)

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  4. I'm not so sure I could handle this one... or at least I would definitely have to be in a certain kind of mood. It sounds like a great one, though. I love that it actually sounds unique compared to the typical YA books. Awesome review, as always. =)

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  5. Terrific review. I definitely would like to read this. It sounds like an emotionally charge story and being an animal lover I am sure it would affect me in a similar way it did you.

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  6. Yes, great review. I am an animal nut myself and I would love to read this one, despite all the harsh content!

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  7. Great review!
    What Comes After sounds like an intense read - I am adding it to my TBR.
    I like the idea of a cat sanctuary, btw. :)

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  8. I have had my eye on this book for a while. In fact, I think I put it down to order soon. It sounds great. Nice review Melissa!

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  9. Wow, this book sounds really interesting. Does the author manage to make the characters feel reel? Iris sounds great, but Aunt Sue could easily be a cardboard villain.

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  10. Melissa- that was a great review!! I think this is the type of novel that I would most likely read, I love to see a character in the worst position and then see them overcome...it makes for a good story.

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  11. Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book :( it was just too sad for me. I agree that you have to be in the mood for it. Since I received it on an arc tour, I had to send it on. Maybe one day I'll get a copy of my own & finish it.

    Great review, as always Melissa!

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  12. I love the cover for this. I love animals too (LOVE CATS, would also start sanctuary) and sad books. Thanks for the review!
    -Danna

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  13. This sounds amazing, I love a story with brilliant and well developed characters. I worry about the crying though, I'll have to get in the mood for it:) Thanks for such a great review Melissa!

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  14. Yeah I agree witht he comments, I might not be able to handle this one either. I'm such a sucker for animals. But I feel better knowing that you are too and that you liked it. Thanks for bring this book up, I haven't seen it around!!

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  15. *hugs*

    I know those types of books that leave you will puffy, red eyes. I love those kind of stories especially ones that offer something original.

    Thanks for the review Melissa. I've been curious about this one. Seems like it will be well worth my time.

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  16. It sounds so horrible what she has to go through. But it also sounds like one good novel

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  17. Awesome review, Melissa! This one sounds so intriguing, Iris sounds like a great protagonist.

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  18. this one sounds so great...i can't wait to read it. awesome review, as always :)

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  19. Wow this is perfect for me at this moment. I'm in a feel-good movie mood! The plot sounds so heartbreaking, especially because you cried a lot while reading this. Thanks for your review, Melissa :)

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  20. Okay, I just know that if I read this one... it is a freezer book for sure! I know I'd be yelling at that aunt.

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  21. Gosh it sounds so sad and inspiring!

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  22. You cried a lot during this? I don't can read this. I tend to bawl with just one emotional scene in a book. I love the simple cover! I'm a big fan of movies featuring animals, so I'd probably like this book. Fab review!

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  23. Whew! I don't know how you read this one. It sounds so depressing. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I'm glad you read it so I don't have to. I'm an animal lover too and I'm sure I couldn't stomach this one. I give you kudos for reading and reviewing it.

    Heather

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  24. Doesn't sound for me, but brilliant review :)

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  25. I'm very intrigued by the original premise of this story. It sounds like it is very emotional and intense and not like anything I've ever read before. Wonderful review Melissa!

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