Charlotte survived four long years as a prisoner in the attic of her kidnapper, sustained only by dreams of her loving family. The chance to escape suddenly arrives, and Charlotte fights her way to freedom. But an answered prayer turns into heartbreak. Losing her has torn her family apart. Her parents have divorced: Dad's a glutton for fame, Mom drinks too much, and Charlotte's twin is a zoned-out druggie. Her father wants Charlotte write a book and go on a lecture tour, and her mom wants to keep her safe, a virtual prisoner in her own home. But Charlotte is obsessed with the other girl who was kidnapped, who never got a second chance at life--the girl who nobody but Charlotte believes really existed. Until she can get justice for that girl, even if she has to do it on her own, whatever the danger, Charlotte will never be free.
"For all of us who have watched the chilling news of kidnapped females rescued and thought 'There but for the grace of God' and 'How do they go on?'...here is the answer fully imagined, exquisitely written, ultimately triumphant. You will cry all the way through this story but you will not put it down." ~Jennifer Echols, award-winning author of Going Too Far
"Kensie deftly explores what happens after the supposedly happy ending of a nightmare. But nothing is as simple as it seems--not even the truth." ~April Henry, author of The Girl I Used to Be; Girl, Stolen; and The Night She Disappeared
"A captivating story of self-(re)discovery, Clara Kensie's Aftermath introduces us to Charlotte, a sixteen-year-old girl trying hard to reclaim her place in a family decimated by her kidnapping four years earlier. Charlotte wants only to catch up to her twin Alexa and live out all the plans they'd made as children, but finds the journey back to 'normal' is not only hers to take. Charlotte is a heroine to cheer for...with gut-twisting bravery and raw honesty, she takes us through that journey--back to the unspeakable tortures she endured in captivity and forward to how those years scarred her family, leaving us intensely hopeful and confident that she will not merely survive, but triumph." ~Patty Blount, author of Some Boys; Send; TMI; and Nothing Left to Burn
"Delving deep into the darkness of abduction and its 'Aftermath,' Kensie takes us on an unflinching journey of healing, courage, and triumph of the human spirit. Heartbreaking, yet stubbornly hopeful." ~Sonali Dev, author of A Bollywood Affair and The Bollywood Bride
"Aftermath is a timely, powerful portrait of hope amid tragedy, strength amid brokenness, and the healing power of forgiveness." ~Erica O'Rourke, award-winning author of the Torn trilogy and the Dissonance series
"Gripping, powerful, deeply moving, Aftermath is a book I didn't want to end. It's written with such compassion that it will help readers heal. A must-read." ~Cheryl Rainfield, author of Scars and Stained
A Children's Book Review pick for one of the Best New Young Adult Books, November 2016
This book opens with Charlotte imprisoned, caged like an animal. She had been left for several days. She was hungry, thirsty, and sitting in her own waste. The only thing keeping her from giving up, was the memories of her family, especially her twin sister, Alexa, and all their plans and dreams, which she hoped Alexa was "doing double" for her. This was all quite painful to read, but the real tears started to flow when Charlotte was found, and we learn about the aftermath, of how her ordeal affected her family.
Given the subject matter, I knew this was going to be a tough read, and I struggle with the more difficult stories, but I found that Kensie did a good job balancing out the sad parts. My heart ached for each and every member of the family, but mostly for Charlotte. She lost four years of her life. She lost her innocence, her childhood, and when she is returned to her home, she finds her family shattered. As she heals, though, so does her family. Although they will never be the same family she left, they are able to move in a positive direction. They are able to pickup the pieces of their broken lives, and move on. So, I had hope for this family.
A big part of Charlotte's healing process was finding "The One Before". Her "Keeper" had apparently kept another girl prior to Charlotte, who he had made clear, was killed when she tried to leave him. This mystery is woven into the story, and drives Charlotte on her road to recovery. There are missteps and stumbles, as the universe works against Charlotte, but she keep hoping for this closure, and she kept trying to find out what happened to this girl for herself, and for the family that is left wondering about her.
This story is told from Charlotte's point of view, so some of the imagery is quite unsettling, but Kensie also conveyed her strength and spirit. She was always moving in the right direction, and although she is not completely whole at the end of this book, she is definitely on the mend.
This book focused on the family and how they were impacted by this nightmare, but Kensie also planted some great twists in there. Aside from the mystery surrounding "The One Before", there were other reveals about Charlotte's abductor, which was somewhat shocking, and when I learned the reasons behind some of the family gilt, I was quite taken aback. I enjoyed this slight shift in focus, and found it did not detract, but rather, enhanced the story.
Overall: A captivating tale of survival that explores the aftermath, which simultaneously broke my heart and filled it with hope, reinforcing my faith in the human spirit.
