After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away
What’s inside...
Jenna Abbott's life is divided into before and after the wreck. Before, she lived a normal life with her mom in suburban New York. After the wreck, she is alone and tries to forget the traumatic event. Jenna meets Crow, a mysterious and seductive individual, who helps her lower the emotional walls she has built. As Jenna opens up to Crow, she faces the challenge of confronting the painful memories she has tried to suppress.
Age
13-14
Length
304 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Jenna Abbott
Crow
Aunt T
Discussion points
How did Jenna's experience with the car accident affect her relationships with others?
What role do you think art played in Jenna's healing process?
Can you identify some ways Jenna changed throughout the story?
Why do you think the author chose a butterfly to represent Jenna’s transformation?
What are some of the challenges Jenna faces and how does she overcome them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts about Jenna’s journey, relating it to any personal challenges they may have faced. Ask them to consider what symbols in their own life could represent their growth and changes. Use the book as a tool to discuss resilience and the importance of support systems, highlighting how Jenna interacts with her family and friends. Lastly, inspire them to think critically about the ways in which people can heal after traumatic experiences.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and recovery
Explanation: The protagonist, Jenna, demonstrates resilience as she recovers from a traumatic car accident that took her mother's life. Throughout the story, Jenna faces her grief and learns to live beyond the tragedy.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of facing challenges and overcoming adversity, understanding that recovery is possible even after significant setbacks.
Example Lesson: Self-discovery and identity
Explanation: As Jenna navigates her teenage years amidst trauma, she embarks on a journey towards self-discovery, figuring out who she is beyond the accident.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to explore their own identities and embrace the journey of self-growth, especially during transitional phases of life.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: The book delves into the themes of emotional pain and healing, showcasing various characters' responses to trauma, which cultivates a sense of empathy and understanding.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to be empathetic towards others who might be going through challenging times and understanding different perspectives.
Example Lesson: Support systems and relationships
Explanation: Jenna's healing process is aided by supportive relationships with her father, friends, and a therapist. This highlights the importance of having a support system.
Real-World Application: This lesson can teach children the value of seeking support and being supportive, reinforcing the idea that no one should have to face their problems alone.
Example Lesson: Coping with loss and grief
Explanation: The story portrays Jenna’s ways of coping with the loss of her mother, providing a realistic view of grief and the mechanisms to deal with it.
Real-World Application: Children can understand that grief is a normal emotion and learn healthy ways to cope with losses they may encounter in their lives.