The Astonishing Colour of After

by Emily X.R. Pan

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

One one hand, Emily X.R. Pan's debut it one part ghost story/one part magical realism and it is enchanting in that way.

On the other hand, this is such a deep, touching novel about loss and grief and healing, which gives it it's own quiet, sad beauty that makes it come alive like a dew-kissed rose slowly fanning its petals open. It took me a few chapters to get accustomed to the pacing, but then the novel sunk its razor-sharp teeth into my heart, and I was whisked away.

Pan's writing style is astonishing. She writes lyrically, but not so much so it takes away from the story. She's patient with her characters, and notices the soft elements of things that really help to bring the world to life. What stood out to me the most in the way she wrote this novel was that every single word felt steeped in sadness and color. Over and over again, Axel and Leigh ask one another "What color?" and while they rarely seem to answer one another out loud, Leigh always has colors tied to her emotions.

The story is about healing and discovery, and Leigh is a stubborn character dead set on forging her own path for as long sash can, even though somewhere deep in the darkness of her mind, she knows its fruitless. The internal struggle in this book is real, and you will feel every desperate attempt to capture her mother.

It's also beautiful to see Taiwan. In this way, the book is *not* written for someone like me, but I am grateful to be along for the journey. Taiwan through Leigh/Emily's eyes is a lovely place, culturally different than the United States where Leigh is from, and definitely a setting that is under-represented in YA.

I really, really loved this book. It was sad enough to make me cry a bit, and sweet enough that I didn't want to let it go. I hope it tugs your heartstrings as much as it tugged mine.