Space Between Before and After, The
6 CD Set

Thomas Moran, a fifth-grade Michigan boy who is left to navigate a difficult home situation after his mother's disappearance, is beautifully portrayed by Tavia Gilbert. Thomas's mother had been a shut-in, due to her depression. When Thomas comes home from school to find out that his mother has gone away, both he and his father are left floundering. Thomas is guided through his grief by Mrs. Sharp, a foreign-accented neighbor who helps him craft a story that creates an imaginary place for his mother where he can find her. Gilbert's strong narration illuminates Thomas and his father's relationship as well as the supporting friends and neighbors who provide Thomas with closure.

Starred ReviewThomas' mother, suffering from debilitating depression following the loss of a child, disappears one day after telling him that she's planning to take a trip. When her abandoned car and jacket are found, fifth grader Thomas finds it impossible to accept the painful reality of her suicide. In this denial—and with the help of his Hungarian neighbor Mrs. Sharp—he begins to write a fantasy in which his mother is alive and on a safe quest. The additional loving support of his father, his aunt, and his loyal friends all rallying around help Thomas start the grieving process so necessary for his final healing. "When you've lost someone you love, Thomas, you understand that the best and the worst feelings happen at the same time." It is with this truth in mind, Gilbert delivers an extraordinary narration. She aptly voices the myriad emotions experienced by this grief stricken boy, varying his tone and pitch, often heartbreakingly. Equally, she succeeds in creating believable and fully fleshed-out characters by clearly differentiating among their voices, respecting gender and age and using authentic native dialect. Spot-on pacing of this thoughtful story solidly establishes a sense of time, allowing the listener to walk every step of this journey with Thomas until its beautifully hopeful end. Death and suicide are topics often tiptoed around, especially with young children. This affecting production may help to initiate important conversations.