The Afterlife

By: Gary Soto

Narrated by: Robert Ramirez

Adept at portraying Latino teenage culture, author Gary Soto has won many honors, including an ALA Best Book Award for his young adult novels.

After an East Fresno student is murdered, his mind leaves his body. Now he must get used to being an invisible spirit, one who watches his friends and family deal with his death.

©2003 Gary Soto (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"[Soto] not only paints the scenery brilliantly but also captures the pain that follows an early death." (Booklist)

Average Story

I found the imagery of Soto's work pulling me in, the narration by Ramirez top-notch. . . but that's about it. Chuy's learning in the afterlife (the narrator dies in the story), to me, felt self-absorbed and forced. I did want to like this more and it's a solid story, but I felt Soto's story was over-the-top and trying to impress because he told this frmo a point-of-view he's not yet known--or maybe has, but told frmo another account.

I did want to like this more, but it just left me slightly depressed in a manner I didn't come away learning a lesson. Chuy learned his after he passed. . . and found love in an unusual manner. Soto did one gaffe most writers shouldn't have: permitting the love interest to know one another after they'd pased, but that could be the twist that didn't work for me.

I luv buk iz gude fur reding end yes

Gud I m hooman persun not bein dog am gud boi red dis buk yes

Really great descriptive book.

This book is really good to get deep into and you can feel the emotions portrayed by the narrator.

greates book ever

If you could sum up The Afterlife in three words, what would they be?

ive been reading this book 3 years already

What did you like best about this story?

how he tells his story its just you feel like your there

Which scene was your favorite?

when he falls in love with rachel

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes