Book Summary and Reviews of After Life by Gayle Forman

Book Summary

One spring afternoon after school, Amber arrives home on her bike. It's just another perfectly normal day. But when Amber's mom sees her, she screams.

Because Amber died seven years ago, hit by a car while on the very same bicycle she's inexplicably riding now.

This return doesn't only impact Amber. Her sister, Melissa, now seven years older, must be a new kind of sibling to Amber. Amber's estranged parents are battling over her. And the changes ripple farther and farther out: Amber's friends, boyfriend, and even people she met only once have been deeply affected by her life and death. In the midst of everyone's turmoil, Amber is struggling with herself. What kind of person was she? How and why was she given this second chance?

This magnificent tour de force by acclaimed author Gayle Forman brilliantly explores the porous veil between life and death, examines the impact that one person can have on the world, and celebrates life in all its beautiful complexity.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. At the start of After Life, Amber mysteriously reappears—even though she died seven years ago. Once she returns home, her mother, Gloria, is in shock; her father, Brian, calls her appearance a miracle after not believing in God in the past; and her sister, Missy, attempts to bond with Amber. Why do you think that each character reacts differently to the situation? How do you think you would react to this type of situation?
2. One point of view we see in the novel is that of Amber's ELA teacher, Arnold. For his past twenty eight years as a teacher, Arnold has given students an assignment to write their own obituary, where they envision how they would have lived their future lives. If you were to write about what you want your...