Sonnenblick chose to continue the storyline after receiving an email from a social worker who told him "that the story was far from finished".

He has got normal teen stuff to deal with, too - friends, parents, girls, school.

But Steven, always the trusty, responsible one, is finally rebelling and has taken off to Africa to join a drumming circle and "find himself."

Meanwhile, his best friend, Tad, is hatching some kind of secretive, crazy plan involving eighth-grade graduation.

The story ends with Jeff passing the tests, at graduation, and accepting both his and Tad's diplomas.

Now he is in the eighth grade, and still has long-term effects from cancer such as having a limp in one of his legs, shaky hands, and not being able to concentrate from the medication.

Jeff meets Lindsey at the beginning of the book, and Jeffrey falls head over heels for her, and she displays interest in him as well.

Thaddeus Ibsen: Known as Tad, he is Jeffrey's best friend who also had cancer, towards the end of the novel, it returns and he dies.

Always the one you could count on, he decides to drop out of his junior year at NYU and set off to Africa with nothing but a pair of bongo drums strapped to his back to go "find himself."

Critical reception to After Ever After has been positive, with Publishers Weekly praising the book's "emotional highs and lows".

[2] Kirkus Reviews and Booklist both positively reviewed the book,[3] with Kirkus writing that "this stand-alone tween narrative slots neatly into the space between the author’s YA and J titles, sensitively dealing with issues of family, friendship and death in a way that will appeal to middle-grade students".

[1] The School Library Journal commented on the book, saying "Sonnenblick’s intimate first-person tale of survival is a solid stand-alone novel that will leave an emotional, uplifting imprint on readers.