Aftermath by Clara Kensie

Warning: This book is sad, and powerful, and disturbing, and so many other things that may not be considered pleasant. However, it is a grabbing read that keeps you thinking and hoping. Have your tissues ready!

Charlotte is a twin. She was abducted when she was 12 years old and kept not far from her home for 4 years in an attic by her "Keeper." She survived a horrible ordeal, one that even when reading about can not fully be imagined. One thing that keeps her going is thinking about her family and knowing that her twin sister is living out the dreams they once made together for the both of them. Her worst nightmare is that her Keeper will get angry and take her sister as well. 

Charlotte finally gets her freedom when her Keeper falls down the stairs and the paramedics come to help him. She has to find her voice and yell for help. It is worth the risk of it all being a trick if it means she might be able to get back to her loving family. Only, the picture of her family that she has held onto those long years in captivity has changed dramatically. Her parents are no longer together, and her sister, whom she had the highest hopes for, has been going through a different kind of hell ever since Charlotte was taken. 

The book follows Charlotte through the Aftermath of her abduction and her release back into normal life that is not really the normal she kept in her mind. She knows there was a girl kept there before her and she feels the need to bring some closure to that girl's life as well. The girl was not as lucky as she, for she never made it out. 

It is a story of hope, loss, heartbreak, family, and a huge part of it is the different ways that people grieve and cope. It goes through the worst ways of grieving and how it affects lives and the people closest to us. It is a riveting, moving story, but not for the faint of heart. There are many disturbing descriptions and I, even as an adult, found it a difficult read. I would only recommend this book to young adults who feel they can handle tough subjects and are ready to do some serious crying and some deep thinking. That being said, I would recommend it. I read it quickly and cared about each person in the story deeply.