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After the Moment

(2009, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Garret Freymann-Weyr)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Honest look at how crazy first love can be; teens only.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The characters all have good intentions, but they are not without their problems. Maia suffers from several disorders, including self-injury and anorexia. Leigh eventually gets into a violent fight in an effort to protect Maia. 
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    When Maia tells Leigh that she was videotaped having sex against her will, he beats up one of the boys involved, nearly killing him and doing permanent damage to his vision.

  • Sex:

    Leigh has a sexual relationship with his girlfriend before Maia. And at the start of their relationship, Maia tells Leigh, "In my experience guys want one thing, and I don't do that now."

  • Language:

    Some minor cursing.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Maia gets drunk at a party with other kids from school.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About After the Moment

Parents need to know that this is a mature book about a boy who falls in love with a very troubled girl. Maia has family problems and also is trying to recover from anorexia and self-injury. She is also raped at a party while drunk -- and another boy videotapes the incident. Leigh finally gets so angry that he beats one of the boys nearly to death.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can use this book to talk about first love. What other books or movies can you think of that have portrayed first love well? Think, too, about media where someone falls in love with a mentally ill or critically ill person. What is so appealing about that dynamic?
Tools and tips that can help

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