After, by Francine Prose

(0060080817)

This is a YA book. I thought it was going to be a sort of realistic "problem novel" about kids dealing with a Columbine sort of event. That is, indeed, where it takes off.

But then we seem to lose all touch with reality. I finally had to stop and think myself back to being teenaged, when adults did lots of dumb, inexplicable things for no apparent reason, and I felt mildly paranoid most of the time: what if my parents find out! What if the teacher finds out! (This coming from someone who barely ever did anything for anyone to "find out"....sigh)

Once you get into this mindset, this book is actually good, a great study in paranoia and knee-jerk "safety-at-all-costs" reactions to tragedies. It's a pretty strong indictment of our security rampage in the country since 9/11 as well as since all the school shootings. How much freedom are we really prepared to sacrifice for the sort of fake 'safety' we buy with that sacrifice?

A very unexpected, and good, book. Which is surprising since I almost stopped reading this about halfway through it. The end really rocks along.