What Happens Next
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that in Claire Swinarski's What Happens Next, 12-year-old Abby McCourt lives in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, in a very small town named Moose Junction. Her oldest sister, Blair, 18, is a topic of conversation for the small town, first because her trajectory as a ballet dancer was admired, and later because her eating disorder changed the way she acted and the way she looked. Blair suffers from anorexia nervosa, and her struggle is outlined in detail, with many scenes of Blair and her mom fighting and crying over food. Abby meets a visitor at one of their family's rental cabins named Dr. Leo Lacamoire, an MIT professor and NASA astronomer, who, along with his assistant, Simone, ask -- and later force -- Abby to do something illegal. She feels as if she can't get out of it, and ends up breaking the law under pressure from two adults who are essentially strangers. Strong language is limited to "crap," "pissed," "suck."
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What's the story?
In WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, Abby McCourt is excited for the solar eclipse that's putting her small town in northern Wisconsin on the map. As an avid stargazer, Abby is thrilled that she'll be front and center for the big event. But her sister, Blair, has a "freak out" over a cupcake in front of the whole town during the Memorial Day event, which leads their parents to send Blair to an eating disorder treatment center. Blair's obsession with ballet has taken her to the brink -- she feels she can't just be great, she has to "be the best." In Blair's mind, being the best means being super skinny and nailing every audition. The intensity of her obsession and her eating disorder are affecting the whole family. Meanwhile, a famous astronomer rents a cabin in the family's resort, and Abby is asked to do something that could get her into real trouble. Will she act on her moral principle, or is she too concerned with rewards that might come her way?
Is it any good?
Focused on explaining, rather than showing, this effort to confront the effects of eating disorders on a family is poorly constructed. Moving back and forth through time, What Happens Next has some good moments, but lots of head scratchers. Blair's obsession and her disease seep into everything she touches, and her family walk on eggshells around her. This is true to life, and her youngest sister, Abby, is genuinely concerned. However, the timeline jumps back and forth in a way that feels stagey, and the story lacks the subtleties of developed characters.
Most disconcerting is the fact that Abby admits late in the book -- spoiler alert -- that she's a liar and chastises the reader for believing her story so far. "I am a liar, remember? I told you that, way back on page one. It's not my fault you didn't listen, you should trust people when they tell you what they are," she scolds. This revelation feels more like a bizarre excuse than an exciting reveal. Also, when Abby is physically and mentally coerced by adults to dig up a time capsule, her compliance feels strange and wrong. If the focus remained on the pain and healing that needs to happen in her family, and less on her own lies and the confusing subplot, this story could have had a bigger impact. As it is, it feels pieced together.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how an eating disorder is portrayed in What Happens Next. Does it seem realistic? How are healthy relationships to food portrayed in movies and TV? Which shows help you learn more about being healthy? Which shows emphasize an unhealthy relationship with food?
Abby's sister, Blair, is obsessed with ballet. She bleeds, bends, contorts, and pushes herself until she literally collapses. When does a fun or exciting activity become an obsession? How can perfectionism be damaging?
Are there any other books that you can think of where the narrator is untrustworthy? Does it make a difference to how the reader feels if the narrator is telling the truth or not?
Book details
- Author: Claire Swinarski
- Genre: Family Life
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date: May 19, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 16, 2020
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