The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

The reader gets a peek at their FriendshipPlus through Leigh’s flashbacks of the moments leading to the big kiss. So while Leigh is in Taiwan, she ignores the emails Axel sends her. Axel and Leigh have been inseparable for years, but Leigh blames herself for being with him when she should’ve been with Dory. The moment that Leigh’s mother dies, Leigh is hanging out on her best friend Axel’s couch, kissing him for the first time. There were times when I wondered how much of this magical realism story was magic, and how much of it was Leigh losing her grasp on reality as she struggled to understand her mother’s death. She is fearless and determined in her attempts to chase down Bird-Dory, though everything she does is filtered through a lens of grief. I mean…what else is there to say? Leigh needs a hug. In Taiwan, Leigh uncovers family secrets, learns about her parents’ past, and gets to know her grandparents as she learns about Taiwanese culture and traditions. But she’s convinced that getting to know her grandparents and asking them questions about her mother is the only way to find the Bird. Leigh has never met any of her Taiwanese family, and with only a basic grasp of Mandarin, she knows that communicating with her Waipo and Waigong will be difficult. But when unexplainable things begin to happen around their house, Leigh’s dad gives in and buys them two plane tickets to Taiwan to visit Dory’s parents.

Leigh is certain that if she can unlock the mysteries of a family she never knew, she’ll understand her mother’s last message to her. Somehow, Leigh knows this bird is her mother, and the box of things Leigh finds on the porch are both a gift and a message from Dory. No notes!Īfter Leigh’s mother, Dory, dies by suicide, Leigh receives an early morning visit from a large, red bird. And because Leigh has been seeing her mother as a crane-like red bird, everything here works. I love the jewel-toned red and purple ombre on this cover. However! I thought this book was really beautiful, and if you can handle reading about heavy topics like those mentioned, I highly recommend this one. I know, that sounds pretty heavy, and I totally get it if your initial instinct is to run the other direction. It includes mentions of electroconvulsive therapy, racism, and blood. Trigger Warnings: This book deals heavily with themes of suicide, death of a parent, depression, grief, and abandonment. Cover Story: If You’re a Bird, I’m a Bird

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan