LIFE, AFTER

Author (last name first):
Littman, Sarah Darer
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Scholastic Press/ July 2010
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
8th and Up
Classification: 
Fiction 

Dani Bensimon deals with the political and economic crisis that is dragging her middle class Jewish family into poverty and her loving father into depression. Her family is still grieving over the death of her pregnant aunt and unborn child in the 1994 terrorist bombing of the AMIA building, the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. To make matters worse all of Dani's friends have left the country, including her boyfriend, Roberto. Eventually, the Bensimons relocate to the New York suburbs and Dani must work hard to remain the devoted, perfect, supportive daughter. Dani's experiences give  her insight and empathy into a community suffering the aftermath of 9/11. The author intermixed English and Spanish throughout the book making it a great book to use for lessons in Spanish and English language as well as on political and economic crises in Argentina and the United States. There is a AR test available for this book so that students can earn points in reading. 


Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Supervisor at Midwestern State University)