Disclosure: I received this book to review. The post contains affiliate links that will give me a small commission if you purchase through them. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

It’s really, really hard to explain to children that adults don’t always make the right choices. Since I teach social studies and get to share the fun stories of the world, my students are often shocked by the outright scandalous things that adults in history have done. For example, explaining that Henry VIII had 6 wives is always a fun teaching day. Greek mythology gets a little dicey when it’s time to talk about Zeus and his indiscretions. Current events are no exception; how is it possible to make a child understand the concept of biological warfare when it’s horror to my own ears? Children think that adults do everything right, when oftentimes the complete opposite is true.

Most parents try to do right by their kids, but sometimes things just go wrong. You don’t suddenly make good choices just because you have kids. I don’t think parents emotionally scar their children on purpose (at least, most don’t) but sometimes life happens. No one ever says, “I wish I had screwed up my kids a little bit more.” In the story What Happens After, a man and wife realize their most terrible nightmare.  One of their children is kidnapped; an indirect result of their “separation.”  By pushing their children into a life of lies, the couple brings all kinds of stress and anxiety upon their children.  Sadly, situations like this are quite commonplace today.  The couple comes together for the biggest soul searching of their lives as they try to find their missing son.

 What Follows After was a gripping novel, one that I couldn’t put down until the very end.  I really liked how author Dan Walsh starts with Colt as an adult.  The story takes place during one of history’s most fearful moments; it worked well with the suspense of the story.  This is a book that makes me hold my babies a little bit closer!   As a parent, this book made me sick to my stomach.  The idea of something happening to my children just makes me all queasy inside.  As a woman, this book reminded me that nothing, save God, is more important than my relationship with my family.  My husband has to be priority one because he’s the one I chose all those years ago.  Through our love, the little family we have blossomed.  We share the responsibility in keeping our family unit happy and healthy.  Do I do it perfectly every day?  No way.  However, I do trust God to keep me on the straight and narrow path.  Hopefully I don’t mess my kids up too much!