Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson (Novel in Verse Historical Fiction)

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

ZJ loves his dad. And so does everyone else! After all, he's a pro football player and what is better than that? His friends all think he is super cool because of his dad, and ZJ doesn't mind one bit. Even though his dad has to be gone a lot for football, when he is home, he makes up for it. He is the best. Until one day, he gets super mad at ZJ and his friends, for no real reason. Then he starts complaining about his head aching all the time. He stops playing football too, because his hands shake and his head hurts. Why is his dad acting this way? It makes no sense to ZJ and not to his mom either.

Recommended for grades 6 and and up.