The Aftertime

I had expectations for this story, but they were well-exceeded. It will definitely be a new addition to our middle grades library. It's getting increasingly difficult to find good new literature for boys that focuses on character, decision making, and growing up while still being interesting and action-oriented. This book does all of those things (and girls will like it, too), plus it features some history lessons, including a lesser known Revolutionary War battle and a Native American tribe that isn't usually talked about in school. For kids living in the coastal NC area or Virginia, there will be more personal connections that make the story even more relatable. Overall, excellent!

A historically intriguing, two time line story, with a mystery to solve and a brother to save. A real page turner.

What worked:
This historical fiction opens with a message to readers and a prologue. These pages share the author’s purpose for the book and the results of background research. Surprisingly, she chose not to include most Monacan words because she felt she didn’t have the right to speak or write their language. She gives characters English names because their native names hold special meaning to the people. The same holds true for native burial rites and traditions. I’m sure many authors are respectful to the Native Americans they write about but it’s refreshing to see this author share her conscious consideration of the values and feelings of the Monacan people.
The synopsis addresses some of the main topics included in the story. In one subplot set in 1766, Nathan is forced to face his conflicted thoughts when he meets a Monacan boy his own age. Nathan’s father sees the Native Americans as savages and heathens and assumes all of them are threats to his family’s safety. This attitude goes directly against Nathan’s experiences and observations so he’s forced to forge a secret friendship without his father’s knowledge. However, it’s inevitable that his father will find out and Nathan is forced to choose a side. In a modern-day setting, Zack encounters neighborhood bullies but his biggest challenge is trying to understand why his older brother hates him.
Readers will know the plot has something to do with a powerful knife but it’s not a major factor except for two scenes. Zack has visions and dreams of a deer, mountain lion, and old woman that he later learns are in the Aftertime. He doesn’t understand what he’s going through or how he might connect the mental images to what he’s experiencing in real life. It’s clear that Zack and his best friend Jack are linked to the past timeline but readers must wait to discover the details.
What didn’t work as well:
The beginning of the story doesn’t have a great hook to grab readers’ attention and impel them to keep going. It begins in the modern-day setting with Zack and his friends enjoying life near the woods and it shares some of the history in the area. Chapter two is more compelling as it travels back to 1766 and tells the story of how Nathan and Corwin become friends despite the persecution of the Monacan people.
The final verdict:
This historical fiction persuades readers to honor the memory, traditions, and cultures of natives living on these lands before the United States of America was born. The emotional story also finds Zack and Nathan connected across centuries, each struggling to cope with family and social expectations. I recommend you give this book a shot.