After

Set in a futuristic world of man versus automaton, After is another Padraig Kenny masterpiece. Main characters Jen and Father are travelling to Tranquility Lake in a time where technology has seen to the demise of the world as we know it. Father is a 'mek'; he looks human, he tries to act human, but is in fact a robot who has been programmed to speak and to behave in certain ways. Jen, however, is human and the intriguing relationship between the two is one based on care and good humour. Father has been the main caregiver towards Jen since she was found as an abandoned infant.

As the pair venture across the wilderness, they stumble across a community who are hostile towards Father - a reaction to previous experiences that have led humans to distrust Meks. True to Padraig Kenny's other books, this is an exploration of what it means to be 'human' and the danger of stereotyping. Although Father may not have a biological heart and may not be capable of the human emotion of love, he does in fact have a very big heart and is the most loving of characters.

As Jen and Father find themselves living within a new community, Jen realises that there are facts that she has not been made aware of and truths that have not been told. Is father a liar or has he been shielding her from the harsh reality of the world?

This is a thought-provoking tale; the world has been destroyed by the technology that it holds so dearly. We also discover that not everyone is who they first appear to be and this will cause the reader to reflect on the importance of prejudice. Whilst the story is set in a post-apocalyptic universe, it is a tale of love, protection and sacrifice. It is a page-turner with unexpected twists and has an ending that will take your breath away.

240 pages / Reviewed by Jo Clarke, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Jen and Father are in a world that is almost empty of people. This is the time after 'The Flood', when people and machines were mostly destroyed. They come across a small, friendly community and Jen finds she wants to stay. But Father is not what he seems; he is a human appearing AI and people are scared of machines, and so he cannot stay. Jen has to make choices that are impossible when Father is all that she has known.

I am a Padraig Kenny mega fan and once again, this book does not disappoint. After, a dystopian, science fiction novel, explores the very nature of humanity and what makes something human. Whilst this is always at the core of his books, it remains original and exciting, with a twist I did not see coming.

The striking cover and illustrations by Steve McCarthy are completely in keeping with the story, adding to it whilst still allowing the reader's imagination to roam free. The idea of a world where everything we take for granted is no longer functioning is illustrated by computer-like images, complete with pixels.

Padraig Kenny it seems, cannot write a bad book or even a book that is less good than his others, and whilst Tin, his first novel, remains my favourite, After made me pause and think and feel in the same way. Suitable for Upper KS2, I can see this book really hooking some more reluctant readers and it would also make a good book to read aloud.

240 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+