Book Details:
SURVIVAL (Book Two The After series)
by J. Taylor
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction & Juvenile Fiction (10 to 15 yrs old), 198 pages
Genre: Adventure, dystopian, suspense
Publisher: FriesenPress
Release date: January 2025
Content Rating: PG. I would have chosen G because there is no swearing or graphic scenes; however, based on the definitions given by ireads, the two teenage characters do kiss
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Book Description:
In the wilderness of Nova Scotia, Charlotte and Anna confront the formidable challenges of survival such as finding food, building a shelter, and establishing a new life. Their bond is tested, however, when an unknown individual enters the scene, potentially driving a wedge between them. As tensions rise, a catastrophic event further complicates their situation, leading to a separation that leaves them struggling to reunite.
Book Two of The After Series explores themes of resilience, friendship, and the harsh realities of survival, highlighting both the strength of Charlotte and Anna’s connection and the obstacles that threaten to tear them apart.
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Book Details:
THE INVASION (Book Three The After series)
by J. Taylor
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction & Juvenile Fiction (10 to 15 yrs old), 198 pages
Genre: Adventure, dystopian, suspense
Publisher: FriesenPress
Release date: July 2025
Content Rating: PG. I would have chosen G because there is no swearing or graphic scenes; however, based on the definitions given by ireads, the two teenage characters do kiss
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Book Description:
With no central government to support Canada, chaos reigns as invaders seek control, and the Resistance rises to challenge them. Charlotte and Anna find themselves entangled with those protecting their country, desperate to prevent the intruders from seizing power and dismantling what remains of their nation.
Fleeing through unfamiliar territory, Charlotte and Anna’s resolve is tested as they evade relentless pursuers determined to capture or eliminate them. Although hopeful they can make a difference, every step forward is fraught with uncertainty, the looming threat of captivity pushing them to their limits.
Despite fear and exhaustion, the determination to protect Canada’s future keeps the girls moving, even as the shadows of war close in around them.
MY REVIEW
It’s such great fun when you find a series and it keeps getting better book by book. How does that happen? Maybe it’s your attachment to the characters. Maybe it’s what events are focused on. Or, perhaps it because you begin to grasp the author’s vision. Begin to see where she’s taking you. Or, maybe something else entirely. Regardless, The After series is one of those that gets better and better.
The After, the first book, was the introduction to a dystopian way of life. Then the characters start to take hold of you. That’s where the anxiety sets in. Will things get worse? They do. How will two young teenage girls manage to survive? Can’t tell you that. The spoiler thing. But you’ll be wanting to reach the end and find out. Then you’ll be wanting more. Relax. The second book, Survival continues the series.
And then theirs the third book, Invasion. I think it’s the most intense in the series. Things get harder, darker, more serious. But the characters shine light through all that. Sometimes hope builds. Faith in humanity rises. I love character driven stories and these characters will stay with me.
5 STARS
1) There are many books out there written for teenagers and featuring teenagers. What makes yours different?
As a teacher, I often struggled to find clean adventure reads (for 10-14 year olds) featuring strong female protagonists. Don’t get me wrong, Hatchet and Percy Jackson are fantastic reads, but I wanted an adventure series centered on two teenage girls who problem-solve—embrace adventure, show compassion while remaining strong, balance humour with seriousness, take risks, and ultimately act heroically. Those types of series are hard to find.
I also believe the Canadian setting is one of the elements that truly sets my series apart from many others.
2) If you were a character in your series, who would you be?
Ha, ha! I love this question. No doubt about it, I would definitely be Anna. I’m an action oriented problem solver who speaks her mind (sometimes without thinking—my husband would say) and jumps in feet first!
3) Do you have another profession besides writing?
Yes, I’m a teacher. I entered the profession excited about teaching and after 30+ years I still love what I do! Not many people can say that about their career!
4) What is the last great book you’ve read?
I am obsessed with my latest read:
What She Said
by Elizabeth Renzetti
(Conversations About Equality).
A snippet from the book:
“The fight for women’s rights was supposed to have been settled. Or, to put it another way, women were supposed to have settled—for what we were grudgingly given, for the crumbs from the table that we had set. For thirty per cent of the seats in Canada’s Parliament; for five per cent of the CEO’s offices; for a tenth of the salary of male athletes; for the tiny per cent of sexual assault cases that result in convictions; for tenuous control over our health and bodies. “Aren’t we over it yet? No, we’re not,” Elizabeth Renzetti writes.”
5) If you’re a mom writer, how do you balance your time?
Although my five children are now adults, my youngest has Prader-Willi Syndrome, lives at home and requires 1:1 support 24/7, so my writing is often in fits and starts. It does make it a bit tricky when I have an idea or feel the urge to write, so I keep a notepad in the kitchen to scribble down ideas when I can’t get to my computer.
J. Taylor leads a fulfilling life balancing her roles as a mother, teacher and author. Creating memorable experiences for her family and loved ones brings her joy. Large family dinners filled with lively conversation and great food are a cherished tradition. These aspects of her life contribute to her personal fulfillment as well as inspire her writing and the themes of connection and family in her stories.
Taylor’s upbringing in Nova Scotia notably influences her storytelling, as she incorporates elements of the region’s culture and environment into her narratives. This background enriches her characters and the overall themes of her stories, making them relatable and inspiring.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
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