Before the Ever After

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

• a children’s story in verse, published by HarperCollins
• In The Giving Tree, a tree gives of itself until it has nothing left. Zachariah, Sr. references the book in “The Trees.”
• shares the theme of A Support Network’s Role in Coping with Difficulties

Final Season by Tim Green

• a juvenile novel published by Scholastic about a sixth grader whose father is diagnosed with a life-altering disease

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

• a multi-award-winning middle grade verse novel; published by Clarion Books
• Two 12-year-old twins discover that their father has been keeping his declining health a secret.
• Shares the theme of A Support Network’s Role in Coping with Difficulties

Other Student Resources

“Is It Ethical to Be a Football Fan?” The New York Times column

• a Student Opinion piece from The New York Times that includes a 30-minute audio clip
• This column summarizes a podcast episode on the ethics of football fandom. The three hosts debate from their positions as a conflicted fan, a fan who still watches, and a fan who gave up watching the sport.
• helpful in inspiring persuasive writing work and presentations

“Meet 4 People Who Worry About CTE” Article

• This NPR article presents a personal look at CTE ‘s effect on everyday life. Instead of focusing on NFL players, the piece features multi-sport athletes who describe their fears of the disease and symptoms they experience.

“Grief” by Barbara Crooker

• a 17-line poem describing a river as a metaphor for grief
• This poem looks at grief as a place where you can stay and remember a person for who they were and shares the theme of The Role of Memory in Healing and Acceptance.

Teacher Resources

“Why People Need Poetry”: TedGLOBAL 2013 Talk by Stephen Burt

• a 13-minute video discussing the importance and impact of poetry on humanity
• Burt dives deeply into the mechanics and benefits of poetry, which may be helpful in introducing this verse novel.
• Burt specifically references using poetry to remember those who have passed on, connecting to the novel’s theme of  The Role of Memory in Healing and Acceptance.

Talking Genres: Verse Novels video

• a 2-minute YouTube video that reviews the format and purposes for verse novels
• introduces students to the style of a verse novel