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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

ZJ's father, "Zachariah 44," is a famous NFL football player. ZJ loves his dad, and occasionally feels the weight of the spotlight as his son, especially as he considers whether football is a sport for him. ZJ's dad has taken many hits to the head throughout his career, but he's always gotten back up and gone back into the game he loves. Now, however, those hits seem to be catching up to him, and what starts as a temporary pause from playing soon marks the end to Zachariah's career. It's confusing and scary for ZJ to see his dad's agonizing headaches and small memory lapses deteriorate into mood swings, personality changes, aggression, depression, and terrible memory loss. Sometimes his dad doesn't even recognize ZJ as his son. Doctors aren't sure what's wrong, and worse, they're not sure how to help. As his dad's condition worsens, ZJ finds comfort in memories-of good times with his dad, before things started to change-and in the support of his mom and the friends who stick with his family, including ZJ's own three best friends. This novel-in-verse is set in the early 2000s, before much was widely known about CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and the risks posed to players in the NFL. Despite the heartbreak of what is happening to ZJ's dad, moments of joy and love shine through. (Ages 9-13)

CCBC Choices 2021 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2021. Used with permission.

From Horn Book

Starred review from September 1, 2020
In her latest novel in verse, Woodson (Locomotion, rev. 3/03; Brown Girl Dreaming, rev. 9/14) explores the impact of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) on football players and their families from the perspective of ZJ, son of tight end Zachariah "44" Johnson. The novel opens in 1999 and flashes forward in time to what ZJ calls the "ever after," then fills in what happened in between. In life before the ever after, ZJ and his friends watched his daddy on TV on Sundays. He remembers listening to music and making up songs with his father. But then slowly things change. Daddy isn't playing as much. His hands shake. His head hurts. He can't remember things. On the eve of the new millennium, ZJ's world changes completely when his dad yells at him and his friends, not remembering who they are. Then the headaches and forgetfulness become more frequent. Doctor visits and tests are a new way of life, with very few answers. In lyrical verse, Woodson conveys the confusion and loss that many families feel as they try to figure out what is wrong with their loved one. Each of the poems ably captures the voice of the story's preteen boy protagonist; readers can feel the sense of love and loss that ZJ is experiencing as his dad slips away. Even though that loss is difficult, Woodson reminds readers that life's challenges are more easily faced with the support of friends and family. Nicholl Denice Montgomery

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from August 10, 2020
National Book Award winner Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming) provides a beautiful and heart-wrenching story in her latest middle grade novel. Twelve-year-old Zachariah "ZJ" Johnson Jr.'s pro-football player father has always been hailed as an American hero and a loving husband and father. Slowly, though, he begins to become forgetful and even shout "at people when/ you were never the kind of guy/ to yell before." Starting in 1999, ZJ leads readers on a journey through memories of a time before his father's persistent headaches kept him from playing football, when he still loved music and wrote songs with ZJ, and into the "ever after," when he sometimes forgets even ZJ's name. Eloquent prose poetry creates a moving narrative that reveals the grief of a child trying to understand why his father has changed and why nothing can be done. An ardent account of the multitudes of losses experienced by those who suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy and its effects on their families, ZJ's doleful tale unveils the intense nostalgia and hope one can feel despite realizing that sometimes what is lost can never be regained. Ages 10â€"up.

From Kirkus

Starred review from July 15, 2020
An African American preteen finds his world upended when his father, a retired professional football player, displays symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Twelve-year-old Zachariah "ZJ" Johnson Jr. loves his dad but wonders who he would be if his dad was not a famous athlete. Although his dad is in the spotlight, he is full of love and attention for ZJ and his friends. And fortunately, ZJ has three friends who see him and not his father's shadow. "Zachariah 44" was a fearless player who suffered many concussions during his playing career. The changes in his father begin slowly and intermittently. Soon the headaches and memory lapses grow increasingly frequent and scary for ZJ and his mom, since the doctors do not seem to have any answers. As his dad slips further away, ZJ's memories of better times grow closer than ever. Using spare and lyrical language for ZJ's present-tense narration, which moves back and forth through time, Woodson skillfully portrays the confusion, fear, and sadness when a family member suffers from brain injury and the personality changes it brings. Readers see Zachariah Sr. through ZJ's eyes and agonize with him as the strong, vibrant athlete begins to fade. The well-rounded secondary characters complete a mosaic of a loving African American family and their community of friends. The tale is set in the early 2000s, as awareness of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and its catastrophic consequences was beginning to emerge. A poignant and achingly beautiful narrative shedding light on the price of a violent sport. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From School Library Journal

Starred review from July 1, 2020

Gr 4 Up-What happens after all your dreams come true? ZJ's dad always wanted to be a football player. Through hard work, he achieved his goal and became an NFL player and hero to many. Unfortunately, his football fame came with a price. Now he experiences debilitating headaches, mood swings, and forgetfulness brought on by one too many concussions. ZJ remembers a time before his father changed; when his father would laugh, play with him and his friends, and support him with his music. That was the before-now he lives in the after. All ZJ has is memories of the incredible man his father was, and the fear of the unknown issue causing his father's problems. Set in the early 2000s when concussion research on NFL players was at its inception, Woodson's latest novel in verse conveys that not all success stories have a fairy-tale ending. Readers will feel an immediate connection to ZJ and his group of authentic, complex friends and family. The idea of showing the dark side of fame through the experiences of a young family member is a unique perspective that will resonate with readers of all ages. ZJ's story will stay with the audience long after the last page is read. VERDICT A first choice for all collections. A unique take on sports and fame told from an unexpected perspective, and another incredible read delivered by Woodson.-Ashley Leffel, Griffin M.S., Frisco, TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Booklist

Starred review from July 1, 2020
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Woodson delivers a poignant new novel in verse that highlights an important topic within the sports world, especially football. Zacharias Johnson, Jr. (aka ZJ) is the son of a football star. The world adores him, and to that outside world ZJ, his dad, and the rest of his family enjoy a charmed life. However, outside of the spotlight, things aren't as perfect as they appear. ZJ's father is having health issues from repeated hard hits and head injuries while playing pro. He struggles with headaches, anger, and heartbreaking memory loss. Between the myriad doctor visits, medications, and medical tests, ZJ's life quickly turns from charmed to tragic as he has to face that his father and family are forever changed. ZJ initially fights his new reality and must learn to lean on family, friends, and the support of his community in his grief in order to move forward. Woodson again shows herself to be a masterful writer, and her meaningful exploration of concussions and head injuries in football, a subject rarely broached in middle-grade fiction, provides young athletes with necessary insights into sport's less glamorous side. In addition to this, it is a novel that explores family, mental illness, and the healing that a tight-knit, loving community can provide.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: It's Jacqueline Woodson! Her name alone draws a crowd, but the publisher is doubling down with extensive marketing plans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

From AudioFile Magazine

Guy Lockard delivers an outstanding performance of Woodson's brief, eloquent story of 12-year-old ZJ Johnson, Jr., whose father, a former pro football player, is suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The story is set in the early 2000s, when little was known about the dangers of repeated head injuries. Lockard makes effective use of pitch and pacing as he gives voice to the exhilarating before time with its happy series of football games and fun with an extended community of friends. Compellingly shifting tone and tempo as ZJ's dad succumbs to the agonizing effects of this terrible condition, Lockard brings listeners into the ever after of pain and dementia that overwhelm ZJ and his family. Woodson's spare, lyrical text is beautifully enhanced by Lockard's emotionally connected narration. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine