After the Death of Anna Gonzales Hardcover – November 1, 2002

Wow this book was Nothing like I expected. It was a quick and easy read. But still intense and powerful.

Great book!

This is a fine book. I have read selections from it aloud to my students and they loved it. I think that many of the poems in this book are wonderful. Mrs. Fields is able to get into the minds of the characters and we are treated to many rich and varied voices. Mrs. Fields visited our school and spoke to our students sharing much of her experiences in writing the book, which was very interesting.The book's purpose is to steer young people away from suicide as a permanent answer to a temporary problem.What I would like to address is, does the book fulfill its purpose? In other words, what does the book really teach us about not committing suicide? It seems that by the time we finish reading we feel sad and think Anna should not have killed herself. The problem is that we learn that the only reason not to commit suicide is because of the possible adverse effect it will have on others. Is this answer good enough? I don't think so.Many of the characters in the book tell the reader that they are hurt and confused because of Anna's death. So, because of this "grief of others", one shouldn't escape his or her pain and confusion by suicide. Isn't this only a temporary answer to a desperate problem?Don't get me wrong; I do believe that suicide is an unacceptable, permanent, and selfish answer to a temporary problem. But aren't the suicidal entitled to some real and concrete answers? They need to know true answers that don't change with the situation. There are nice sounding phrases from the characters like these: "you don't stop playing.", "Anna, who had health, Chose death. How could you?", and "How could you check out before the good stuff ever started?" These solutions are situational. Basically, the characters that state them are in a situation where they see no reason right now to commit suicide. If their situation changed, it is probable their answers would too. Statistics show that almost all young people seriously think about suicide sometime in their life. This is because of the situation they are in at the time. They must have a higher reason to keep them from committing it.The flaw I am writing about is that there seems to be no people of faith in Mrs. Field's book. How can this be? Is there no one with answers that go beyond this life? Not one character gives a grander perspective as to why we are here on earth or a real purpose for living. I find that strange because I run into people of faith all the time, coworkers, students, friends, and acquaintances.In this real world and in the book it is easy to see that selfishness runs rampant in the human race in one-form or another, but no one in the book believes in a "higher cause."There are a few mentions of a "God" in the book. One is the idea that God makes girls with nice bodies and bad senses of humor, and another mention is a last desperate gasp of confusion, as in "Oh God..."Again, why was Anna supposed to choose life? Was it just to keep all these people content?Would the answers that the characters offer in the book solve a suicidal situation like the following? "I don't care anymore. So what if people will be upset if I kill myself...isn't that just tough for them? I'm sick of feeling this way...with this emptiness inside. I just want it to stop, I gotta get out."Granted, that example is a selfish and spiteful solution to a selfish problem. Does the book give a solution to this suicidal problem? I don't think it even comes close.It is a pleasant enough book but I do not really see it having any lasting answers. The book doesn't go far enough.

AFTER THE DEATH OF ANNA GONAZLESA Girl's Suicide Causes Anger and Questions to a School of "Everyone"By Terri FieldsHenry Holt and Company, 100 pp. $16.95A girl's death, a school in uproar, frantic parents, this is what After the Death of Anna Gonzales entails. The story involves a series of forty-seven confessions from various people throughout her school. Teachers, students, security guards; they all have thoughts about why Anna took her life. The confessions appear chronologically, starting at the beginning of the day, then progressing through the day, and ending with her much-hyped suicide note.Though the confessions prove to be surprisingly interesting, the book starts off a bit slow. The confessions reveal many people's opinions and reactions. Some people in the story do not even know of Anna's suicide, or have their minds elsewhere. Other people are haunted by her death and find it cowardly and wrong. Some of these confessions could shake a reader up to no end, but do not let this intimidate you. Confessions share personal experiences of disease and hardship and show anger towards her death; while others wish they had the "courage" to take their lives as well.The confessions prove to be an enticing treat, but then once the page has turned and the long awaited "note" is shown, there is excitement like no other. This triggers various questions through your mind. Will there be a twist? Why did she do it? Is there a reason that condones her actions or was it just to attract attention? Diving into the two-page note, read carefully or you may find yourself asking if that was it. If you read it slowly and carefully, your disappointment might not be as great. Either way, that was it. The long awaited question has been answered, but not with a twist or startling secret. It is answered with a letdown.The author states she wrote the book because of her strong feelings over teen suicide. Of course that is a touching characteristic, but is that why the note was a letdown? Even if she was trying to let people know that this is why some troubled teens end their lives, the note does not hold up. If a person is as troubled as Anna was they may be able to understand her reasons. However, for the rest of the sane, non-suicidal people the end of this story could lead to frustration with the sympathetic author.

I hate poetry, but I know others like it so I decided to add a poetry unit to my teaching plans (8th grade). We had just finished Tears of a Tiger by Draper (another excellent read!) and it blended the units beautifully. Even though I majored in literature I never really got into poetry, but like Make Lemonade by Wolff, this set told a story. I loved the way you see so many points of view--and they're so REAL. I definitely recommend this book to junior high-high school level students. It is an easy and enjoyable read.

After The Death of Anna Gonzales is by Terri FieldsI recommend for grades 6 & up.The book is an amazing book. It is very interesting and the excitement never ends. Once you start you can't put the book down.It is about a girl named Anna. She committed suicide. Everyone is trying to figure out what to do. Like one boy, wants to take Anna's seat in class. A cheerleader doesn't want Anna's death to interrupt with homecoming. Everyone is finding a way, one way or another, that might affect Anna's death.The point the author is trying to make is that, never take something that happens and make it work towards you or just because something bad happens doesn't mean something else bad is going to happenThe book is definitely worth reading. If you don't take your time you won't be able to understand the book. I'd give it 5 stars because of the amazing content.