The After

A teenage girl fights for survival as a pandemic sweeps the world in Taylor’s YA SF novel.

All her life, the only place that 13-year-old Charlotte has ever known is her family’s isolated homestead in Nova Scotia, which she shares with her grandmother, known as Gran; her father, Glen; her older brother, Samuel; and her beloved dog, Spencer. The ENO.9 virus that killed her mother changed society forever: Schools, shopping centers, museums, and other hallmarks of society no longer exist, leaving those who survived to trade for basic necessities. Charlotte’s contact with anyone outside her immediate family is limited until she encounters a teenage stranger named Anna on the property. After the virus took the lives of Anna’s mother and brothers, she traveled from place to place, stealing what she needed to survive from unsuspecting families. The girls become friends, bonding over their love of reading and games of chess. After her father and brother leave for a supply gathering trip, Charlotte experiences a shattering tragedy. The crisis deepens when a mysterious visitor appears at the homestead, forcing Charlotte and Anna into a desperate fight for survival. Taylor’s debut is a taut tale of survival in a post-pandemic world that’s buoyed by an amiable protagonist and a well-developed setting. Charlotte is a strong hero whose life is marked by loss and isolation, yet she maintains a curiosity about the world around her. Although there are a limited number of secondary players, they’re vividly imagined; Dave Steveston, a friend of Charlotte’s father and a surprise visitor to the homestead, is a standout. The setting is limited to the homestead, which contributes to a heightened sense of tension as Charlotte realizes that danger might be closer than she thought. That said, although Anna is a terrific supporting character, her survival skills seem too conveniently tailored to the narrative’s needs; still, Taylor does offer an explanation for her extensive knowledge: “I used to live in downtown Halifax. Every day I went to the library—until it got too dangerous.”

A riveting beginning to a promising new series.