After by Amy Efaw

Devon Davenport is 15 years old, she is a superstar athlete on her soccer team, straight-A student, and all around perfect teen. She strives to be everything that her mom isn't - strong, independent, reliable and definitely not a teen mother like her. She has set some very strict rules and regulations that she follows in order to stick to her goals.

But all that changes one morning when a baby is found in a dumpster behind her apartment building. The police begin their search and find themselves on Devon's doorstep. Her mother, flirting with the officers, believes that maybe her daughter can help since she stayed home from school because she was feeling sick. It doesn't take very long for them to realize that Devon is the person they are looking for.

The story mostly revolves around Devon - pre-baby and post-baby, or rather "IT" as she calls the infant. She now finds herself in a juvenile detention center facing some rather severe charges. Yet throughout it all she doesn't remember much of anything revolving around "IT" or "THAT NIGHT". She can't face what she's done. She swears that she did not know she was pregnant. The story unfolds little by little as you get more and more insight into Devon's life as her attorney does her research in order for her to be tried as a minor rather than an adult - meaning she could face life in jail if tried as an adult.

I entered into reading this book with some trepidation. I knew it would be an emotional rollercoaster. Ms. Efaw has created a character that, although not always liked, you can't help but to care for.. to sympathize with her. I was really surprised that I would feel this way about her, but in the end I did. I couldn't help but hope that it somehow worked out for her. What I truly enjoyed about this story is that Ms. Efaw does not try to sugar coat any of Devon's actions. They are what they are. Ugly. Raw. Emotional. It is a tough subject to read about, but definitely one that we've heard about more than once on the news.

My only complaint, and the reason why I did not give it 5 stars was because of the ending. It just felt too abrupt for me. I would have liked a little more. But still don't let that deter you from reading this. I'd recommend this to parents and teens - because it is a very thought-provoking subject and one that I think could spark some important discussions.