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There was a time when doctors were reluctant to blame brain injuries on America's favorite sport.

It became increasingly obvious that head injuries sustained while playing football lead to CBE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

This story is told by the young son of a fictional NFL player. ZJ's dad isn't acting like his usual self. Headaches, memory loss, and sudden angry outbursts have everyone struggling to find a way to help.

#BlackHistoryMonth Recommendations
Day 12
Big Game Day!!
CTE - Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Seen in American Football players it is cause by repeat head injury.
What does this condition do to a person? To their family? Woodson's slim novel tackles a father and son and how the father's pro football career has destroyed his physical health and what that means as a father and husband.
Fantastically well done story.

This was absolutely heartbreaking. A middle-grade novel-in-verse about a young boy whose father is struggling with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy, caused by repeated head injuries). It's just beautiful and actually brought me to tears. Woodson is an amazing writer.

#12Booksof2022 @andrew65

An African American preteen finds his world upended when his father, a retired professional football player, displays symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Twelve-year-old Zachariah “ZJ” Johnson Jr. loves his dad but wonders who he would be if his dad wasn't a famous athlete.
Awards won: Coretta Scott King Author Award
Purpose of Award: Outstanding African American authors
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Date of publication: 2020
Genre: Fiction

African American teen was upset and in shock when his father who was a retired professional football player shows signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury also known as TBI. His whole world was upside down when he was given this upsetting news about his father. He worries for his father's well being and doesn't know what will become of this.

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson was published on September 1st, 2020. This book won the Coretta Scott King Award and is a fictional story. This story is about an African American preteen who finds his world upended when his father, a retired professional football player, displays symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Twelve-year-old Zachariah “ZJ” Johnson Jr. loves his dad but wonders who he would be if his dad was not a famous athlete.

Illustrated by: No illustrator
Publication: September 1, 2020
Summary: This story is about an African American preteen who finds his world upended when his father, (a retired professional football player) displays symptoms of traumatic brain injury. The twelve-year-old (Zachariah “ZJ” Johnson Jr.) loves his dad, but tends to wonders who he would be if his dad was not a famous athlete.

Before the Ever After is a great book for sports lovers. It is filled with drama and emotions, would recommend to football fans.

woodson knows the power of writing from a child‘s perspective. harsh and naive at the same time.

#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Prompt: Father's Day

I went into this middle grade novel verse without knowing what it was about, and it ended up making quite an impression. It clearly shows the effects of brain trauma for a parent on the child in a concise way without overwhelming detail. There are also amazing examples of friendship in this story, and Woodson‘s writing in verse is wonderful.

#MiddleGrade #NovelInVerse #TRS2021

💕 📚 #NovelInVerse #TRS2021

A young boy watches his father crumble due to his passion for football. Not a fan of poem/stanza books;however, this book had a good flow while tugging at the heart strings so I enjoyed. One thing I really enjoyed about this book is how present the idea of race is without being painfully obvious. This book touches on a lot of issues but keeps it light. That allows kids and adults to pick which journey they want to dive into. 2/23/2021-3/23/2021

Such a powerful book.... mental decline through the eyes of a child.

A well written children‘s novel that felt reminiscent of Beverly Cleary in terms of real life relatable. #AuthorAMonth

I‘m not sure why I picked up this Woodson story I usually steer clear of sports themed stories. Maybe it was the beautiful cover, or the father & son dynamic, maybe that it was one of her stories told through lyrical verse, but whatever the reason I‘m glad I picked this one up. It‘s a story of a son who loves his once seemingly unstoppable dad, but is slowly losing him to repetitive brain injury, and how his friends hold him together. ⤵️

Another amazing and relevant story from Jacqueline Woodson. I really like how Woodson takes a look at just how harmful continuous brain injuries and concussions sustained in football can eventually cause lasting damage that affects not only the player but their friends and family. A sad yet important story. #AuthorAMonth

I loved everything about this book. It may have been my being able to relate to the migraine part. My neurologist is still trying to help me find relief.

Brilliant novel in verse! A boy is losing his father to brain/neurological complexities caused by the repetitive concussing in pro football games. And he‘s only 35...💔 Well done, JW

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #AuthorAMonth2021 @Soubhiville

This is my favorite Woodson that I've read today. I absolutely love books in verse, and this book is lyrical, heartbreaking, and full of unconditional love. Told from the son's pov as he deals with watching his father, a famous football star, deal with an illness no one seems to be able to understand, this book will tug at your heart. I'll admit, I teared up by the end.

⭐️love it

⭐️ ☝️

⭐️ coming-of-Age challenges

#sundayfunday @ozma.of.oz

#mgmarch

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Guy Lockard is one of my favorite audio narrators and he did an amazing job with Woodson‘s book. A family struggles with a new illness that later becomes identified as CTE.

This novel in verse follows a boy who's dad is a popular football player. We get to see the fun, loving moments his family shares, his friendships, and overall carefree life. Then we get to watch everything in his world change. His father's concussions catch up with him in the form of a cognitive degenerative disease. Not an easy read, but really well crafted and quite important. The end memo addresses the toll sports take on black communities.

Okay, so this is the third middle grade book that made me cry. What the heck? Anyway, I read this physical book while listening to the audiobook from Libby. I ❤️ audiobooks. The narrator was just right. The story is sad, but I feel that it had to be told so this condition can be dealt with. And it is told in verse which makes an easy read. I recommend it. #100YEARS100BOOKS #BookSpinBingo #19 #BFC21 #MGMarch

Wow. That was amazing. I was almost in tears more than once. What are you doing right now? Drop it and go read this book; it won‘t take long. You‘ll be glad you did.

Written in verse, Before the Ever After follows the story of 10 year old ZJ who's father is a professional football player dealing with CTE after receiving one too many concussions on the field. The story explores how the changes in his father affect not only ZJ's family but ZJ's relationship with his friends. As always Woodson's poetry is wonderfully poignant. This is a great book to offer reluctant readers since it's a quick read.

4/5🌟
Beautiful and touching story told in verse about CTE and it‘s affects on a family. Jacqueline Woodson has a powerful talent to get to the heart of things with ease and grace. #amazonbookbox

I‘m happy to see the tagged book won the Coretta Scott King (Author) award today and the other two wonderful titles are honour books (plus another, which I haven‘t read: Lifting as We Clib by Evette Dionne).

This was excellent! I actually listened to most of it on audio and the narrator was sooooo good! This was my first #TBRDeckofCards pick, next up is a MG Graphic Novel

My first book in 2021, it was like spending the day with a fascinating friend. I love Woodson's writing. I used the Echo dot to play music she mentions - I love having that ability.

A boy & his family come to terms with the dawning reality that his father not only will no longer play pro football because of repeated head injuries, but also that his memory loss, headaches, mood changes & other symptoms may be permanent. This tender verse novel is so moving that I had to take a break partway through in order to have a good cry. It‘s aimed at middle grade readers—and it‘s great for #allages. #AfricanAmerican #versenovel

When you love a thing, little man, my dad said,
you gotta love it with everything you got.
Till you can‘t even tell where that thing you love begins
and where you end.

“How come they can‘t just fix him?” I say again,
but softer this time.

All those times he got knocked down
and knocked out, my daddy kept getting up

but maybe some part of him
stayed on the ground.

(Internet image)

I just love Woodson's novels. They are short but highly impactful.
This one tackles an issue that is not spoken about in society, what happens to ball players when their bodies and minds are used up, and how it affects their families. Told from the young son's POV gives this story a unique perspective.

A day late and already into 2 of these but my #weeklyforcast
Before The Ever After
Scaramouche (which I also have on audio and will be switching between reading and listening)
And my ARC of the week The Chosen and The Beautiful (thank you Edelweiss)

My favorite part of this book is the relationship has with his best friends. They are open, honest and vulnerable with each other. A group of young black boys growing together: the growing pains and joys. #representationmatters

A beautifully written novel in verse about a son dealing with his father‘s injuries from playing professional football.

A beautiful story told in verse about a football player suffering from CTE and his family. The friendships and family moments were beautiful. Would a teen stick with it through the more rambling bits? I am not sure but I would recommend for adults.

#bookreport #katies_always_booked
🎧 The Only Good Indians - 3⭐️
📖 Double Fudge - 3⭐️
📖 If You Tell - 4⭐️
📖 Before the Ever After - 4⭐️

#currentlyreading
🎧 Redemption Road
📖 Room Maid

#weeklyforcast
🎧 Dear Martin
📖 They Both Die At The End

Novel in verse. Woodson‘s short “chapters” truly capture the rhythm of a preteen life when there are problems at home and friends to distract from them. A devastating look at the impact of CTE from repeated 🏈-induced concussions on a family and a life. This was heartbreaking.

Jacqueline Woodson is an auto read for me. From kids titles to adult, from poetry and verse, to longer storylines each book is executed perfectly and I feel so intuned to the characters and how they are feeling. Not sure how she does it so flawlessly, but I was just in the body of a boy witnessing his dad's decline in health after dozens of concussions due to being in the NFL. Well done, JW, well done! @BookRiot #ReadHarderChallenge2020

Such a heartfelt & heartbreaking story. Woodson‘s prose poetry written in fragmented style is able to draw huge emotions & brings depth to the characters. The story of a professional NFL player who shows symptoms of traumatic brain injury tells the grief & fear of his son in trying to understand his father‘s decline. But there is a sense of hope, as the family learns to live on, with the support from relatives & friends. I admire Woodson 🔽

Jacqueline Woodson is the best at tackling real life issues at the middle grade level. #libfm

This is a difficult middle grade book told from a middle school boy as he watches the affects of CTE on his father, who he worships.

http://obsessedbookaholic.com/2020/09/07/before-the-ever-after-mini-book-review/

Did I cry my eyes out in the car while listening to this on my Labor Day drive? I was alone so there is no proof. 😂

Jacqueline Woodson killed it once again. I‘m not much of an audiobook person (in fact this is only my 2nd one ever) but I thought the narrator was great!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Libro.fm for the free #educatoralcs