Before the Ever After

By Jacqueline Woodson

A son's hero father forgets his name. Can they reclaim their past?

5.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 16,417 ratings

176 pages· 18,355 words· Est. 2 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

ZJ's father, once a celebrated football star, now struggles with memory loss and anger due to past injuries. As ZJ grapples with his father's fading memories, he clings to family traditions and questions if their joyful past can be revived. Can ZJ find a way to navigate this new reality and hold onto the essence of their shared history?

From the publisher

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson’s stirring novel explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed. For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone’s hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he’s as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. But lately life at ZJ’s house is anything but charming. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time. ZJ’s mom explains it’s because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. ZJ can understand that–but it doesn’t make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can’t remember it. And most importantly, can those happy feelings ever be reclaimed when they are all so busy aching for the past?

Awards

Coretta Scott King Award (2021)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 176
Words: 18,355
Reading age: 10–13
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 780L

Themes & topics

Books about sports and recreation Books about family Books about parents Books about football Books about health and daily living

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Serious Subject Matter

The story centers on the mental health struggles a father and family face because of injuries he suffered while playing professional football.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.0

out of 7

5.0

“Sobering story of a boy's professional football star father who struggles from brain damage caused by football injuries and the impact of his health problems on their idyllic life and relationship.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

“Woodson’s evocative language . . . helps pull us through the foreboding and gives us much to contemplate.”

The New York Times

Critic

For readers who can't stop at one