Aftermath

I am always amazed by all the different genres this author writes, and so well. I first started to enjoy the author with the Ripped Through Time series (which I highly recommend), and now I have read all sorts of other books by this her. But this one was really the best. It is YA but a great read for all ages. It is a sensitive, and touching portrayal of the impacts of a school shooting on both the victims' families and those of the shooters, along with a great mystery that was one of the few I was totally unable to solve. I read this book in one setting -- it was that good.

I thought the author handled a delicate topic with sensitivity and integrity. There were some upsetting scenes, however they were kept to a minimum and were as non-graphic as they could be, and there were no actual flashbacks to the shooting. Instead they focused on the characters before, so as to show just how much the school shooting had not only affected, but also altered the course of their lives irrevocably. The flashbacks also gave us insight into the personalities of Skye’s and Jesse’s brother’s, who both died during the shooting. I thought Kelley Armstrong portrayed a realistic look of how a tragic event brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. Skye and Jasser (nicknamed Jesse) were wonderful lead characters, and I instantly fell in love with them, and their relationship. It wasn’t as mystery-based as I would’ve liked. Having said that I didn’t figure out the culprit behind everything, and thought it was a great twist. Barring the final confrontation, the suspense scenes involving someone trying to scare Skye didn’t evoke the same level of anxiousness and unsettledness in me that other books do. I get it though, this wasn’t the book’s intention, and that’s okay. Also, bearing in mind it is YA, so can’t be too disturbing. There were a couple of ‘didn’t-seem-to-fit’ scenes that I didn’t think were needed, but for the most part it was well written, and the author successfully managed to inject plenty of feeling and sympathy into the dialogue and thoughts. I predict this is going to be a popular read for both teens and adults.

Our daughter loves books from this author!

I couldn’t put this book down. The story was so moving, the pacing just right and the characters, especially that of Skye, was so real. I loved how she was written - strong, kind and fierce. I especially liked how she kept her head and heart, even when things were so rough for her and her whole family. I can’t express how much it touched the heartstrings to read what she went through, and that’s one thing that this book delves into - what families experience after such a horrible and tragic shooting. Not just Skye’s family but the Mandel’s too and so many others. Their stories doesn’t just end with that one event, it’s aftermath lives on in countless ways in several lives over many years. And while this has a hopeful ending, I couldn’t help but tear up at the loss. It’s not an overly dramatic story, but a sensitive one with a side of mystery and redemption. The emotions though are strikingly real - I know I keep saying that but that’s how it reads to me. Overall, I think this would be a wonderful and touching addition to any library.

Aftermath is an incredible book. It is told in alternating POV’s from Skye and Jesse. They are best friends when Jesse’s brother gets killed in a school shooting. Skye’s brother was one of the shooters. It’s honestly so hard to review this book. I think the author did an amazing job showing what the shooter’s family would face in the aftermath of such a devastating situation. And it really got me thinking. I don’t want to say more as to not spoil anything. Just dive in. This is an author that can truly write any genre. I’ve enjoyed many books by her. This is a YA book, but it is a young adult book for everyone. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This book touches on a pretty rough topic that has, unfortunately, been more relevant in recent history. However, it’s not completely about it. I like that it doesn’t attempt to address the “why”. I think it would cheapen the story and make the book political. Every time I read a Kelley Armstrong book, I keep expecting it to take a supernatural turn. Even though I’ve read all of the books currently out from the Rockton series, I keep expecting werewolves to pop out of the woods. Although this book has no supernatural elements, I still enjoyed it. Not one of my favorites from this author, but still a really good read. I love the strong female lead!

This story was really emotionally intense. It was a tough story to face from beginning to end. Three boys are involved in a school shooting. Two die along with the half dozen they killed. One survived and is locked away. Now, three years later, the sister of one of the dead boys has returned to town to high school and the feelings are still very raw. I had never considered how a sibling of a shooter in any of this country's many school shootings would be treated after something like that. Kids can be so mean about little stuff. On something big like this--look out. The pain the characters in this story go through had me in tears in almost every chapter. The emotions were real and powerful. There was so much damage to consider. So many chances for mis-interpretation. I had to stop several times to get through it. It moved me mightily and left me with much to ponder. Also much to hope for. Very worthwhile.

Skye Gilchrist and Jesse Mandal were best friends in freshman year of high school and on their way to becoming a couple. Then, a tragedy interrupts their lives in the form of a school shooting. Skye's brother Luka was caught with a gun and shot before he killed anyone. Jesse's brother Jamil was shot and killed. In the three years afterward, Skye moved from place to place, trying to unsuccessfully escape the blame and torment until she returned to her home and the school where the shooting happened. Once she's there, Jesse treats her terribly and someone is playing pranks on her that become more dangerous as they go on. Will their friendship ever be the same and who is tormenting Skye? Aftermath is an obviously titled book about the aftermath of a school shooting. Skye and Jesse's lives are both very effected by this event. Skye is much more introverted and scared to interact with people. She hasn't been able to call anywhere home for very long because of the harassment. People assume she knew something or did something terrible because her brother was one of the shooters. Skye only has happy memories of Luka, his wonderful art, and his caring nature. Jesse, on the other hand, became a track star to fill his brother's shoes and give his parents some joy in their lives. His academics suffered even though he was great at them before and he takes steroids to stay good at the sport. His school attendance is extremely spotty, but overlooked because he's a successful athlete. He has nothing but awful memories of Jamil, his abuse, and his cruel nature. Skye and Jesse reconnect after some rough interactions and misunderstandings and work together to find out who the harasser is. Their relationship is sweet. They acknowledge the changes in each other and move on from there. I felt the harassment plotline took away from the greater story. Dealing with the aftermath of this horrific event is enough and adding a mystery plot seems a little cheap. I also felt some characters could have been dealt with better. Jamil seems like a jerk, but his brother would still mourn him. Jesse seems very callous towards his brother and doesn't seem to care a lot for him. I felt it would be more realistic if Jesse was torn and mourned him, but was still affected by those bad memories and Jamil's awful behavior. The principal is an idiot and would never work in a school. He would be sued so fast it's ridiculous because he keeps denying the harassment and escalating incidences and blaming Skye for them. If he were more calculating or nuanced, he could have been a more effective character. Aftermath could have been a hard hitting book about school shootings, but it gets too caught up in unnecessary mystery and one dimensional characters. The relationship featured is sweet and built organically over time. Other than that, the only really good, nuanced thing is Skye's feelings toward her brother and trying to reconcile him with what he did. If you're going to write a book about a school shooting, which is very topical as it keeps happenning over and over, it should be about the shooting itself and the real aftermath, not some manufactured whodunit.

An emotionally charged and fast paced mystery. This is another amazing book by Kelley Armstrong and i would recommend it to both teens and adults alike.

Kelley Armstrong did it again! She took a difficult subject, in this incident school shooting, and handled it brilliantly, looking at both sides. It was emotional with a great plot and mystery element that kept me guessing until the end. It was well written and showed how such a tragedy can affect the lives of everyone connected to it, with some people being unfairly punished because they are tainted by association in the eyes of the community, even though they did nothing wrong. A very emotional subject handled well and with dignity and respect. An excellent read!

I think I put it all in the title. Oops. Not a great one for social media or technology I’m afraid

It was well written and captivating this was definitely not a borring read. This book had me questioning my every suspect just when I thought I knew who did it reminding that in fact I didn't

I just finished this book, wow! Kelly Armstrong has been a favourite of mine for about 12 years and her books never disappoint me, this story was beautiful, it is one of those books that gives you all the feels and I highly recommend it!