The latest release by award-winning author Woodson, known for her adult books, picture books (Show Way), and YA/teen books (After Tupac and D Foster, Locomotion, Feathers). Ever After is a story told by narrator ZJ, the young son of an NFL star who has suffered too many concussions throughout his football career and now is becoming a shell of the person he once was, not very long ago. It is a very real look at the other side of stardom, in this case the stardom that comes along with professional sports in the U.S. The book is written in verse, and like all that Woodson puts her pen to, it is written very well. She gives a very human voice to characters who live realistic lives. Her characters are often African-American, which gives readers a perspective not seen in enough YA books today (although that is slowly changing, thanks to Woodson, Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, Christopher Paul Curtis, and the late Walter Dean Myers, among a few others).
Ever After is a good story, and an important one, especially for readers who loves sports, as I do, and dream of one day becoming the next great sport hero. A worthy dream, but not one without possible life-changing risks. 4 paws.
No comments:
Post a Comment