The Astonishing Color of After

Emily X.R. Pan

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grief and loss

magical realism in ya literature

exploration of identity

complex and relatable characters

taiwanese culture and traditions

emotional journey of a teenager

lyrical writing style

family heritage and history

deliberate pacing and emotional depth

flashbacks and memories

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan is a YA novel that follows Leigh Chen Sanders, a teenager dealing with the suicide of her mother. Leigh believes her mother has turned into a bird and embarks on a journey to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. The story alternates between real and magical elements, exploring themes of grief, family history, art, and love. The plot unfolds through flashbacks, memories, and Leigh's emotional journey as she seeks to understand her mother's death and her own identity.

Characters:

The characters are complex and relatable, particularly the protagonist, who embodies the struggles of a young person dealing with loss and identity.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is beautifully lyrical, utilizing evocative descriptions and color metaphors to enhance emotional depth.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot explores themes of grief, identity, and family as the protagonist navigates her mother's suicide and reconnects with her heritage.

Setting:

The setting is evocative, taking place in Taiwan and richly illustrating its culture and traditions.

Pacing:

The pacing is deliberate, starting slowly to build emotional depth but identified as having some repetitiveness.

I know it’s true the way I know the stain on the bedroom floor is as permanent as the sky, the way I know my father will never forgive himself. Nobody believes me, but it is a fact. I am absolutely ce...

Notes:

The Astonishing Color of After is Emily X.R. Pan's debut novel.

The story revolves around Leigh, a teenage girl coping with her mother's suicide.

Leigh believes her mother has reincarnated as a giant red bird.

The narrative alternates between past and present, with Leigh traveling to Taiwan to meet her estranged grandparents.

Leigh connects memories to colors as a way to express her emotions.

Incense smoke is a magical element that allows Leigh to revisit memories from her past.

The novel addresses serious topics such as depression and suicide respectfully.

The setting in Taiwan is richly described and culturally significant.

The book utilizes elements of magical realism influenced by Taiwanese traditions.

Leigh is a mixed-race character, being half Asian and half American, which explores her identity.

The writing style is described as lyrical and poetic, full of similes and metaphors.

The importance of memory and family history plays a central role in the story.

Leigh’s relationships, particularly with her friend Axel, add depth to her character development.

The book has received praise for its emotional depth and unique storytelling approach.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include discussions of suicide, depression, grief, and mental illness.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance present, primarily through Leigh's relationship with her best friend Axel.

From The Publisher:

A stunning, heartbreaking debut novel about grief, love, and family, perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Celeste Ng.

Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.

Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life.

Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a stunning and heartbreaking novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love.

"Emily X.R. Pan's brilliantly crafted, harrowing first novel portrays the vast spectrum of love and grief with heart-wrenching beauty and candor. This is a very special book."-John Green, bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (4)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (29):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (18)
Not Interested (4)

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