Mathieu, Jennifer. Afterward. 320p. ebook available. Roaring Brook. Sept. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781626722385. 

Gr 9 Up –Kidnapped 11-year-old Dylan Anderson has been found after a harrowing four days; along with him is Ethan Jorgensen, 15, who has been missing four years—from the same neighborhood. Caroline, Dylan’s 16-year-old sister, is desperate to help her brother with autism work through his trauma, but he only seems to be getting worse. She wishes her parents would see that Dylan needs professional help, but they are too busy fighting to notice. Caroline seeks out the only other person who might know why her brother is so hard to reach—Ethan. The author of Devoted and The Truth About Alice writes another electrifying tale of self-discovery and the powerful effect relationships have on the human mind. Mathieu takes great effort to point out the complicated consequences of blaming the victim through Ethan’s capable psychiatrist, Dr. Greenberg, and maintains the most important message of the book—the abuser is always the one to blame. She also switches the perspectives between Ethan and Caroline so readers can empathize with both aspects of tragedy: the victims and their families. Each character is portrayed with an aching sincerity throughout the novel, and as in real life, the flaws and quirks imbued in each person’s struggle with their lot in life make for a compelling story. VERDICT In a social networking world where debates about abuse and victimization are widespread, this is an important addition to any YA collection.–Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA