THE AFTERLIFE
Soto, Gary. 2003. THE AFTERLIFE. New York, New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152052201
Plot Summary
Chuy, a senior at Fresno High School is sprucing up his appearance in the restroom to impress his girlfriend but is never able to fulfill his desire because his life is cut short by three stab wounds after he pays a compliment to another young man. Chuy feels his life draining from his body as he lies alone and helpless on the nasty, cold restroom floor. The story then picks up with Chuy's "ghost" floating out of the club and into several scenarios where he learns that his life was important and helplessly looks on while his friends and family mourn his passing. As Chuy develops an understanding of what he can and can't do, he meets another teenage ghost, Crystal who seemingly had it all. Chuy discovers a connection between the two other than death and learns about love in the process.
Critical Analysis
How does an author write about death, especially the death of a teenager? Tenderly, with feeling, and insight of unrealized dreams and desires. The story opens with such a force that the reader must continue to discover what will happen next. Action, suspense and disbelief faces the reader as Chuy's fate unfolds. It is hard to imagine how the author will weave a story from what normally might be the end, the death of the main character into one that will keep the reader connected to the characters and the plot. Soto gives depth and dimension to the character of Chuy as we see him go from a young teen without a sense of importance to one of longing, regrets, anger and love. The plot moves swiftly into what happens next as Chuy's ghost floats out of and over Club Estrella. He views his surroundings with wonder as he realizes the characteristics he now possesses; the ability to "slip through walls or doors, but none of what I found on the other side could be mine." "Each step was nearly twice as long as his usual stride." Chuy could make his presence known by sticking his hand into a person's body or breathing close to them. " "...I had no voice other than the icy chill of my breath. I had no other way to reach him than the vague feeling of touch." Most of Chuy's encounters as a ghost are with people that have some type of relationship to his life: a girl from school, his uncle, cousin, parents, classmates as well as his murderer. The feeling of remorse as Chuy realizes lost love is felt when he describes his encounter with Rachel. "That evening I was killed, she and I were going to hook up. I liked her a lot, even when she sometimes taunted me by saying, "You remember when I used to kick your ass?" Rachel, my girl from my childhood. I would go through the pain of yet another deadly exit if it meant one long kiss from her. A swap of tongues, a a tight embrace under the full moon of October." Making amends for past wrongs can be seen in an account of stealing his grandfather's lighter and the remorse he feels as Chuy confesses a crime to his dead grandfather's tombstone, "I stole your lighter." And later when he finally returns to his parent's home he spies a photograph of his grandfather. "In the photo Grandpa's cigarette lighter was on the coffee table. Grandpa was caught off guard; his eyes were half closed. And me? I was looking at the lighter, not at the camera, and could tell by my devilish eyes that I wanted badly to possess it. I had the look of greed." A child usually does not see a grief stricken parent but Soto paints a vivid picture of grief when Chuy encounters his parents. "I brought my hands to my face. I cringed at having to observe my mother and father with their faces were rim the deep sorrow of their only son's death." Teens often wonder where they fit in, what others think about them, and try to make sense of who they are. Chuy discovers he was more than just another kid in school when his ghost arrives at the gym before a game. "Then I spotted a banner with my name on it. There were flowers pinned to the banner, and a lot of signatures and drawn hearts. Did people really like me? I wasn't exactly popular; then again, I wasn't exactly one of those nerdy souls that hug the hallways, looking down at their shoes as they shuffle from class to class. But flowers and hearts?" The bonds of friendship and acceptance are strong with teens. Soto places emphasis on friendship when Chuy describes his feeling for his cousin: " I slowed to a walk and turned around, head down. I loved my cousin, who many years ago tried to unhook me when I was hanging upside down. I would crave his friendship until my body disappeared altogether. Friendship is what I longed for, but nature was telling me to move on." Chuy's ghostly body is slowly disappearing as he visits his past, uncovers his present and wonders about his future. A somber tone is changed slightly when Chuy meets Crystal, another recently departed soul. He shares his experiences of being a ghost and tries to comfort her. Chuy begins to feel real emotion towards the beautiful, athletic Crystal but knows nothing can come of his feelings. "My sorrow for myself and Crystal was as deep as any river." Crystal and Chuy's death share a commonality and that is the reality of their own existence. Each one felt their life was lacking, and only through death were they able to realize the value of their own existence. Chuy and Crystal try to save an homeless man (Robert) from death only to prolong it a few more days. They right the wrongs from the neighborhood bicycle thieves by taking the doors off the hinges which allows the "neighbor" children to take back what was possibly theirs in the beginning. Sharing brief adventures and stories Chuy and Crystal realize they knew each other when Chuy's father worked for Crystal's father. Their relationship deepens as their feelings begin to be focused away from their past"Crystal approached me with the stimps of her arms out. What a rare gift for an average-looking dude like me! To be the object of desire! Crystal leaned her face to mine and gave me a light kiss, then one that was heavier, for her tongue touched mine in greeting. Was a ghost ever so happy?" We do not know what eventually happens to Chuy and Crystal but Soto eases us in to a vivid feeling of closure if that can be possible." We were like the tint of fallen leaves, grass burnt by the first frost, and the ashen-colored fog that sometimes rises from the valley floor and smothers our dreams. I loved her like no other."
Barrera and Quiroa write, "Spanish words and phrases hold considerable potential for enhancing the realism and cultural authenticity of English-based text, specifically by creating powerful bilingual images of characters, settings and themes." A first look at the Chuy shows the reader a young man and his thoughts of what it means to be cool; "You got to dress nice and be Señor GQ. You got to have a little something in your wallet. You got to think, I'll wow the chicas with talk so funny that they'll remember me." In a brief description of a setting Chuy reflects, "And in the apartment complex, the neighbors were probably dunking pan dulce into their coffee and gossiping. Such was the pastime of neighbors - all chismosos and chismosas - with time on their hands." Tenderness is felt when Angel's father addresses him as mi'jo; "Come in mi'jo," his father cooed softly."Soto uses names that are common Latino names such as Chuy, Angel and Jesus. Cultural names such as tía (aunt), tío (uncle), and mi papi (my daddy), to name a few convey a closeness of the Latino family. Actions such as "He was staring at his son, and I know that he longed to hug him, to bring him into his body and say, "I'm sorry for Chuy." He pulled at a tear in the corner of his eye, and plucked off the dead head of a rose that had climbed onto their porch. He crumbled the petals, and scattered them in the flower bed. He went back inside, an ex-Marine who was still all rock." Spanish words such as novio(a), (boyfriend, girlfriend), telenovela, (soap opera) vato, (cool dude) raza, (Latino race) and ay, dios (oh, God) to name a few are mingled throughout the text adding authenticity to the character and the story, while not distracting the reader. A glossary at the end of the novel allows the reader to identify any unknown words.
Typical to any funeral is food. Chuy's parents receive a phone call from someone bringing a cake and Chuy realizes their will be a lot of people gathering, eating and mourning. A cathedral and rosary are the only symbols of the Catholic faith. As Chuy floats through the streets he describes the rundown neighborhoods, the poverty and the effects of that poverty. Physical illustrations are not needed when reading Soto's description of a neighborhood. "I got pushed to Van Ness Avenue toward the west side - Chinatown, as we call it. But the Chinese had moved out, the Japanese, too, and the blacks with ambition. Now there were only boarded-up stores. Winos, crazies, and the truly poor lingered, their eyes bloodshot from drink and illness. Stray cats lived on Dumpster meals. Pigeons feasted on what people tossed from cars and they must have tossed a lot, because litter scuttled in the wind." Soto's descriptions of characters, settings, and feelings make THE AFTERLIFE a compelling read for young adults eve with its unknown ending.
Reviews:
"The author counterbalances difficult ideas with moments of genuine tenderness as well as a provocative lesson about the importance of savoring every moment- a lesson that Chuy, once fretful and insecure comes to understand." - Publishers Weekly
" Soto has remade Our Town into Fresno, California, and he not only paints the scenery brilliantly but also captures the pain that follows an early death." - Booklist
Awards/Connections
TAYSHAS High School Reading List 2004- 2005
Skipping Stones Honor Award 2004
New York Public Library Book for the Teenage
ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold
THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom ( for adults with a similar theme)
THE NINTH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX by Liz Jensen
ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin
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