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Before the Ever After

By: Jacqueline Woodson
Narrated by: Guy Lockard
Length: 2 hours 14 minutes

Bookseller Recommendation

“Powerful story written in verse form which explores the damaging effect of football-related brain injuries on not only the players, but their families and communities. Paints an honest and difficult picture of grappling with loss and change, while also providing hope and a model of resiliency.”
Tina, Leaves Book and Tea Shop

WINNER OF THE CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR AWARD!

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson's stirring novel-in-verse explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed and the cost of professional sports on Black bodies.

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?

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