May 13, 2020
By Emma Ferschweiler
Editor
Fifteen-year-old Leigh Sanders becomes entranced by the majestic falcon flying overhead. Its feathers display many shades of red while shimmering in the moonlight. As the beast continues to dance in the air, Leigh sees her mother in the falcon’s eye.
Leigh always had a creative mind. She is a gifted artist who has always been able to see colors differently, and she is certain her mother’s transformation into a bird is not part of her imagination.
In search of her deceased mother’s spirit, Leigh travels to Taiwan where she is greeted by her estranged grandparents, supernatural powers and a backstory she never knew. “The Astonishing Color of After” by Emily X.R. Pan is a novel that combines tragedy and miracles.
The greatest strength of “The Astonishing Color of After” is that it confronts suicide and depression with brutal honesty and brings awareness to this mental health issue.
As Leigh is exposed to new aspects of her culture, she learns that after people die, they have just 49 days to complete their unfinished business on earth. Once that time is up, they return to their new world. Knowing this, Leigh frantically searches for her mother’s spirit as she races against time.
While Leigh’s grief and devastation dominate the novel, it is nice to read about her more lighthearted emotions. This includes having a crush on her high school best friend, Axel Moreno.
Building on a friendship that started in grade school, Axel and Leigh’s emotional connection is nurtured by their shared passion for art. Color allows them to express their feelings when words fall short. For instance, they recognize anger in burnt orange and longing in phthalo blue.
When they kiss, their relationship escalates to the next level. However, even this moment is textured by sorrow as the event happens the same day Leigh’s mother commits suicide.
Prior to the suicide, Leigh witnessed her mother’s regression, as her mother’s personality slowly drained away and frequently transformed into a state of unconsciousness. Despite these signs, Leigh refuses to believe her mother was suffering from depression.
The greatest strength of “The Astonishing Color of After” is that it confronts suicide and depression with brutal honesty and brings awareness to this mental health issue.
May marks the 71st anniversary of Mental Health Awareness Month. Observed across the country, Mental Health Awareness Month strives to destigmatize mental illness and promote positive mental and physical health.
Reading this book is an excellent way to gain a better understanding of mental illness and how to support those affected by it. “The Astonishing Color of After” does not shy away from the terrible realities of suicide and depression, and in doing so, it teaches readers valuable lessons about love and life.
