When her veterinarian father dies, sixteen-year-old Iris Wight must move from Maine to North Carolina where her Aunt Sue spends Iris's small inheritance while abusing her physically and emotionally, but the hardest to take is her mistreatment of the farm animals.

When fifteen-year-old Iris Wight’s veterinarian dad dies, she first lives with Beatrice, her best friend and softball teammate, and her family. When Beatrice’s parents begin to have marital problems, they tell Iris they can no longer care for her and she must go to live with her Aunt Sue and cousin Book in Craven County, NC. It does not go well from the moment her aunt picks her up at the airport. One bright spot in her new life is caring for the goats that she must milk and then make cheese, which she helps her aunt sell at the farmers market. Iris discovers that North Carolina is a long way from Maine. The book opens with a newspaper article about the arrest of a mother who ordered her son to beat her niece after the niece freed two of the goats. So it begins with a sense of foreboding and that feeling grows as the novel progresses. Watkins describes Aunt Sue so realistically that readers will be afraid of her too. He captures accurately how abuser and the abused act in real life. Beatrice still calls Iris but she talks mostly about herself and her own problems and Iris feels like she has been abandoned and that she does not really know her best friend anymore. The novel takes a hopeful turn when Iris is placed in the foster care of the Tutens, a middle aged couple who keep ferrets, which initially disgusts Iris. There is a sweet love interest with a boy named Littleberry, some pot smoking, and some budding friendships for Iris and the book ends on a too-tidy note but after all Iris has been through it seems only appropriate and deserving. ( )

I loved this quietly powerful story about a girl, abandoned and disappointed by the adults and friends that she trusted, who chooses love and kindness despite the meanness that surrounds her.

Through Iris’s authentic voice, we feel the emotional and cultural shock she experiences after the death of her loving veterinarian father and her move from a comfortable life in Maine, to a poor North Carolina goat farm and her abusive aunt and cousin.

Iris’s inner strength, determination, and intelligence help her survive while the goats that she cares for are her only source of love. By choosing to do what feels right, Iris can begin to heal. Her recognition of the pain around her leads to understanding and compassion.

Watkins creates vivid scenes of school and social life and renders Iris’s malicious Aunt Sue with three-dimensional believability. As a city girl, I found the descriptions of the goats and the details of their care charming. I could see the goats frolicking. Stories like this aren’t flashy or sexy, but they delve deeply into people and life. ( )

Iris's mother left when she was small. Now her dad has died, and she is sent from her home in Maine to live with an aunt and cousin she doesn't know on a goat farm in North Carolina. Abused and neglected, Iris forms a bond with the goats. She tries two save some young kids from slaughter, and infuriates the aunt beyond all reason. Iris needs to save herself, as well as the goats. ( )

Iris’s mother split years ago and now that her father has passed away she finds herself stuck living with an aunt she doesn’t even know. She has to move from her home state of Maine to small town North Carolina. From the moment she meets Aunt Sue at the airport Iris seems to realize life is not going to be the same. To say Aunt Sue is tough would be an understatement. She is cruel and seems to turn to violent forms of discipline with ease.

Iris quickly develops an attachment to the goats Aunt Sue raises. When the two male goats are sentenced for slaughter Iris reacts quickly to save their lives. She seriously ticks off her aunt in the process and finds herself beaten senseless by her aunt and cousin. This lands them in jail, Iris in foster care, and the goats left to fend for themselves. Iris quickly realizes desperate times call for desperate measures.

What Comes After contains two elements that I typically shy away from when it comes to choosing books to read. Child abuse and animal abuse. I was hesitant, but with all the glowing reviews I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did. While it was without a doubt a heartbreaking story of loss, it is also an empowering tale of survival.

Iris is a wonderful protagonist who was very easy to connect with. I absolutely adored watching her growing bond with the animals on her aunt’s farm. The progression of her relationship with her aunt and cousin was much harder to experience. I’m still amazed I read it so quickly with the amount of heavy topics it contains. Iris’s voice flowed so smoothly while she told her story. I found I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading.

The moments when she remembered the times she helped her veterinarian father care for animals were some of my favorites. Being a huge animal lover it definitely helped me to connect with Iris almost immediately. The animals in this book were also utterly endearing. If I had to pick a favorite animal, goats would be high on the list. They are packed full of so much personality and love to play. We had the chance to visit a goat farm a few years ago and my entire family had a blast. I found playing with the goats didn’t differ much from playing with a dog. I loved how easily the author captured their playful nature on the pages of What Comes After.

Some of the events that occurred over the course of What Comes After were gruesome. I admit to skimming a certain scene because emotionally I just couldn’t handle it. If you read this there will be tears. It is one of those books that just wreaks havoc on your heart and emotions. I’m so glad I didn’t pass this one by. I highly recommend it to fans of YA contemporaries. ( )