73 pages • 2 hours read
Jacqueline WoodsonBefore the Ever After
Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Middle Grade | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson follows ZJ, the pre-teen son of professional football player Zachariah "44" Johnson Sr., as he grapples with his father's mental decline from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Using a non-linear narrative of poems set in 1999 and 2000, the novel depicts ZJ's struggle to understand his father's condition amidst insufficient medical answers and their unyielding bond expressed through shared memories and music. Themes of parental mental health challenges are present.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson is lauded for its poignant portrayal of a young boy coping with his father's neurological decline from football injuries. Reviewers praise its lyrical prose and emotional depth. Some feel the narrative is slow-paced, but most agree it effectively addresses themes of family and resilience.
Who Should Read Before the Ever After?
A reader who would enjoy Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson is typically aged 10-14, appreciates emotional, character-driven stories, and is interested in family dynamics, sports, and social issues. Fans of Sharon Draper's Out of My Mind or Jason Reynolds's Ghost will find this book compelling.
RecommendedReading Age
10-14yearsLexile Level
780L