May 7, 2019 • Page 10 The Bookworm ... For Young Readers ‘Afterwards’ Is Emotional And Haunting Story “The Afterwards” by A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Emily Gravett; © 2019, Bloomsbury Children’s Books. 199 pages ——— BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Two halves of a whole. That’s what Grandma calls you and your best friend. Two peas in a pod. Two sides of a coin, because you’re always together, thick as thieves, she says. You’re never far apart but, as in the new book “The Afterwards” by A.F. Harrold, what would you do for your BFF? For as long as December and her father, Harry, have lived in their small neighborhood, Ember has been absolute best friends with Happiness, who lives next door. Each day, the girls walk together to school and they sit side by side in Miss Short’s class. They do all their projects together and share lunches and laugh at the same things. Ember couldn’t imagine life without Ness. And then one day, she had to. One afternoon, when Ember had plans and couldn’t go to the park, Ness went by herself and she fell off a swing, hit her head, and died. That made Ember’s stomach feel loop-de-loopy. It wasn’t the first time she’d had a brush with that sort of thing — her Mum died when Ember was very young — but Ness being gone just wasn’t right. Even when Harry said that Uncle Graham’s dog, Betty, was hit by a car, Ember couldn’t think of anyone but Ness. She was still thinking about Ness and how they walked home every afternoon together, when Uncle Graham came to meet Ember after school one day. That was odd but even odder when Uncle Graham took Ember around the block from his house and through a garden where everything was black and white, except Ember and a big lady in a red floral dress who seemed to do a trade with Uncle Graham. He left the garden with a black-and-white Betty, and then Ember saw Ness! But Ness was black-and-white, too, like an old movie, and she was sad. Ember wasn’t sure what was going on, exactly, but she knew one thing: she was getting out of that garden, but not without her friend … “The Afterwards” is one of those books that kids will love for its story of friendship and its poke at the dark. For an adult, though, this book is devastating. Indeed, author A.F. Harrold has a way of taking subjects that grown-ups know all too well but that we’ve forgotten “accidentally on purpose,” and he forces us to look at those childhood pricks and pains again. Yes, this is a kids’ novel and that’s obvious in many ways, but it’s also a shrewd story for grown-ups. Death, in this book, seems to be used as a passage, both literal and metaphoric as related to childhood, and Harrold lets his fiercely loyal heroine deal with it in a way that seems perfect, if you’re 10. If you’re not — ugh, knife to heart. But don’t let that be a deterrent to giving this book to your 8- to 13-year-old. It might be so very sad, but “The Afterwards” is also funny and fun in its reminders of how BFFs are positively essential. Borrow it back, bring tissues, you’ll both love it a whole lot. shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com New At The Library Here’s what’s new at the Yankton Community Library this week: DRIVE GREEN DEMO DAYS • The Deceiver’s Heart by Jennifer Nielsen, fiction • Dragon Masters: Treasure of the Gold Dragon by Tracey West, fiction • Forging Destiny by Cube Kid, fiction • Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, fiction • The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani, fiction • Our Principal is a Frog! by Stephanie Calmenson, fiction • Our Principal is a Wolf by Stephanie Calmenson, fiction • Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin, fiction • Stolen Jewels by Helen Perelman, fiction • Sugar Secrets by Helen Perelman, fiction • Texas Trail to Calamity: A Miss Mallard Mystery by Robert Quackenbush, fiction EASY READING BOOKS • Dragon Night by J.R. Krause, fiction • The Earth Gives More by Sue Fliess, fiction • Ernestine’s Milky Way by Kerry Madden, fiction • Fancy Nancy: Mademoiselle Mom by Nancy Parent, fiction • The Green Ninja by Tracey West, fiction • The Party: And Other Stories by Sergio Russier, fiction • Say Something by Peter Reynolds, fiction • Spend It! by Cinders McLead, fiction • Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry, fiction • What About Harry? by Derek Anderson, fiction • William Wakes Up by Linda Ashman, fiction AUDIO BOOKS • Neon Prey by John Sandford, fiction ADULT DVD’S • A Dog’s Way Home, fiction • Escape Room, fiction • Glass, fiction • The Kid Who Would be King, fiction • Replica, fiction ——— Visit library.cityofyankton.org or call the library at 605-668-5275 to reserve any of these titles! Mallery, fiction • Crashing Heat by Richard Castle, fiction • Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, fiction • The Dead Ex by Jane Corry, fiction • Don’t Wake Up by Liz Lawler, fiction • Freefall by Jessica Barry, fiction • Goulash by Brian Kimberling, fiction • House Arrest by Mike Lawson, fiction • The Huntress by Kate Quinn, fiction • The Last Act by Brad Parks, fiction • The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz, fiction • The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg, fiction • Neon Prey by John Sandford, fiction • The Next to Die by Sophia Hannah, fiction • One Fatal Mistake by Tom Hunt, fiction • Rattle by Fiona Cummins, fiction • The River by Peter Heller, fiction • Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne, fiction • The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, fiction • Home After Dark by David Small, fiction graphic novel LARGE PRINT BOOKS • Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks, fiction YOUNG ADULT BOOKS • Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson, nonfiction • The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown, nonfiction graphic novel • Broken Bone China by Laura Childs, fiction • Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera, fiction • Run for Your Life by Silvana Gandolfi, fiction • Spin by Lamar Giles, fiction • Stolen Time by Danielle Rollins, fiction • Windwitch by Susan Dennard, fiction JUNIOR BOOKS • Ski Soldier: A World War II Biography by Louise Borden, nonfiction • The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, fiction ADULT BOOKS • The 30-Day Money Cleanse: Take Control of Your Finances, Manage Your Spending, and De-Stress Your Money for Good by Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, nonfiction • Being John Lennon: A Restless Life by Ray Connolly, nonfiction • Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis, nonfiction • The Curse of Oak Island: The Story of the World’s Longest Treasure Hunt by Randall Sullivan, nonfiction • El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America by Carrie Gibson, nonfiction • Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, 1914-1948 by Ramachandra Guha, nonfiction • Gathering of Sisters: A Year with My Old Order Mennonite Family by Darla Weaver, nonfiction • Hitler’s American Friends: The Third Reich’s Supporters in the United States by Bradley Hart, nonfiction • I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations by Sarah Stewart Holland, nonfiction • Johnny Cash: The Life and Legacy of the Man in Black by Alan Light, nonfiction • The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose by Chris Wilson, nonfiction • Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Your Most Vexing Problems at Work and in Life by Hal Gregersen, nonfiction • Shrubs: Discover the Perfect Plant for Every Place in Your Garden by Andy McIndoe, nonfiction • This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite, nonfiction • Too Much is Not Enough: A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood by Andrew Rannells, nonfiction • When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt by Kara Cooney, nonfiction • Minding the Store: A Big Story About a Small Business by Julie Gaines, nonfiction graphic novel • Alliance Rising by C.J. Cherryh, fiction • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James, fiction • Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce, fiction • California Girls by Susan Box of Love Sunday May 12 $ 60 00 HOSTED BY YOUR LOCAL C & B OPERATIONS ARE YOU READY TO UPDATE YOUR SUMMER FLEET? Join our team for your chance to test drive all the latest John Deere lawn tractors, Gators and turf equipment. Blooming Plants & Trees Mom’s Garden $ Prices May Vary 50 00 Best Mom 3500 $ DRIVE GREEN EVENTS HELD MAY 16 - 18 FIND YOUR LOCAL DRIVE GREEN SCHEDULE & DETAILS AT DEEREQUIPMENT.COM/EVENTS Don’t Miss Your Exclusive Coupons with Savings Worth $500 Off New 1-5 Series Tractors* $200 Off New Gators & Commercial Mowers* $35 Off a $100 Parts Purchase + More!* *All coupon values vary. Customers may only register for coupons at their local Drive Green event. Coupons valid only at participating C & B Operations dealerships. Customer must redeem coupon within 21 days of 2019 Drive Green Event registration. Limit of one coupon per person, per purchase. Subject to availability and may be discontinued or modi?ed at any time. Other restrictions may apply. See dealer for the Drive Green coupons, exclusions and other details. Coupons are surrendered at purchase. Mom’s Delight Bright and Beautiful 6500 $ 3500 $ Mom’s Rosey Day 50 00 $ We have a great selection of green and blooming plants, candy and balloons for Mom! Floral: Mon-Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 9am-6pm 2100 Broadway, Yankton - 665-3412 Floral Dept. - 665-0662 We Deliver! 665-0662