In The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan, Leigh, a teenage artist, believes her mother has turned into a red bird after her suicide and travels to Taiwan to connect with her estranged grandparents and uncover family secrets. Through magical experiences and self-discovery, Leigh learns to cope with her grief and embrace her passion for art. The book addresses themes of mental health and loss.

Emily X. R. Pan's The Astonishing Color of After is praised for its lyrical prose and unique exploration of grief, identity, and culture. Readers appreciate its emotional depth and vivid characterizations. Some, however, find the narrative's pacing uneven and the magical realism elements confusing. Overall, it is a poignant, evocative read that resonates deeply.

Readers who enjoyed The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or We Were Liars by E. Lockhart will gravitate towards The Astonishing Color of After. This novel captivates those interested in magical realism, emotional depth, and exploration of grief and self-discovery through mystical and cultural lenses.

Melancholic / Emotional / Contemplative / Mysterious / Bittersweet

- The Astonishing Color of After was Emily X. R. Pan’s debut novel and it won the APALA Honor Award for Literature.
- The novel was inspired by Pan’s own experiences with grief and her Taiwanese heritage, reflecting cultural and magical realism elements throughout the story.
- Emily X. R. Pan began writing The Astonishing Color of After during the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an annual internet-based creative writing project.

**Leigh Sanders**  
The protagonist and first-person narrator of the story, Leigh is a mixed-race visual artist grappling with her mother’s death and her own identity.

**Dory Sanders**  
Leigh’s Taiwanese mother, who after moving to the United States, changed her name from Dorothy and expresses a quirky personality mixed with cultural tensions.

**Brian Sanders**  
Leigh’s Irish American father, a sinologist who struggles with family dynamics during his wife’s depression, emphasizing practical career choices over artistic pursuits for Leigh.

**Waipo**  
Leigh’s maternal grandmother, Yuanyang, who embodies traditional values while nurturing a bond with her granddaughter during her visit to Taipei.

**Feng/Jingling**  
Dory’s sister who appears to Leigh as Feng, acting as a guide and translator in Taipei, reflecting a deep connection to family legacy.

**Axel Moreno**  
Leigh’s best friend and love interest who shares her artistic inclinations and mixed heritage, providing emotional support through their shared chromatic language.

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