After by Amy Efaw

After by Amy Efaw

350 pages

Gateway Nominee

This is a story about a 15 year old girl, in complete denial that she ever had sexual intercourse, or became pregnant, or gave birth in her apartment, or gathered that baby up with the trash, tied the trash bag shut, and threw it in a dumpster out back. It was a very sad book, but written with very mild details of the crime, which of course was appreciated. I cannot describe this book any further, it is definitely one you would have to read yourself to truly comprehend it.

(from jacket cover)

Who would leave her own baby in the trash to die?

Certainly not someone like Devon-straight-A student, soccer player with Olympic dreams, more mature than her own mother. But desperation and panic drover her to do what most people can't even imagine. Now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, charged with attempted murder. If she's tried as an adult, she faces life in prison.

Does Devon deserve that punishment? Your answer depends on whether you believe her story-that she didn't even know she was pregnant. Was she buried in a denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly obvious signs of pregnancy? Or were her actions the result of a more devious, premeditated plan?