Before, After, and Somebody In Between

Reviewed by Dena Landon for TeensReadToo.com

When Martha's mom gets out of rehab and drags Martha to live with her latest boyfriend it's nothing new. Ever since her father's death, Martha's life has been a string of moving from place to place, constantly watching out for her mom. But this time the new boyfriend lives in a part of town where 'white girls don't belong,' as her classmates at school have no problem telling her. Martha is plunged into a world of gang violence and drugs, metal detectors at school, threats from other students, and violence at home. But she still manages to make a few friends at school and with the family that lives upstairs. And when she signs up for orchestra and discovers the joy of playing the cello, she show more thinks things might have finally turned around.

Until an act of violence sends everything spiraling out of control.

BEFORE, AFTER, AND SOMEBODY IN BETWEEN is a gritty and realistic tale of a girl trying to escape her parent's poor choices and make a life for herself. Told unflinchingly in the first person, Garsee doesn't hesitate from portraying teen violence, sex, and drug and alcohol use as the traps that they can be, but she does so with gentle humor and a compassionate eye. Martha is a flawed heroine, coming to terms with her own faults and the addictive tendencies she may have inherited from her mother, but readers will root for her to succeed. This book is not a light-hearted tale, and at times the string of bad events can feel unrelenting, but Garsee shows the bright spots to be found in even the deepest tragedies.

Recommended for older readers only. Contains drug and alcohol use, sex, and profanity. show less

Martha Kowalski is beat down. Beat down by her mother's substance abuse and lousy choice of boyfriends, and beat down by the bullying of a girl at her new school, where Martha is one of the few white students. She lives in a run down apartment in a run down part of town, and her chances of escaping a life of poverty seem to have run out. But a series of events, including a drive-by shooting, actually creates a chance for Martha to remake herself in a new home and school. She changes her name, makes new friends, and connects with a boyfriend. But her past — and the lies she's told to cover it up and the lies told about her — catch up with Martha and beat her down again. This is a shattering look at girl living in poverty, surrounded show more by a swarm of violence and selfishness, who is resilient enough to rise up again and again after the beat downs.
(orginally appeared in Novelist) show less

Kind of stumbles into the conclusion. Could have been at least 100 pages shorter without missing much.

blackface though. seriously???

GREAT book! It really makes you think. I've been searching all over for Jeannine's other book, but I can't find it! I hope to read it soon.