Daniel Anderson's older brother Eli was killed in Iraq. Daniel, (and even more so, his mother), are having a hard time coming to terms with the loss. Daniel keeps a "Book of the Dead" in which he records famous people and how they died. But meanwhile, Daniel makes new friends during the summer. One is the brilliant, but terminally weird schoolmate, Walter, who in the past Daniel has joined other boys in ridiculing. The other is the beautiful, charming, outgoing, and uninhibited Isabel.
Rupp does a beautiful job of seamlessly blending the tragic story of coping with a dead brother, the wise story of leaning what real friendship is, and the sweet, but sad tale of first love.
Simply wonderful. ( )

After Eli is a book by Rupp, Rebecca, and is about how a kid named Daniel loses his Brother Eli where Eli died in Iraq. A couple days later after Elis death a person from the Army comes to Daniels home and tells his family that Eli died from a Mine explosion in the war of Iraq. Daniels parents were devastated, and couldn't believe that it was true. In a couple days Daniels Mom was imagining the Eli is still alive and says that Daniel shouldn't touch Elis room because he doesn't want it to be touched. Daniels Mom starts to forget the Daniel exsists and Daniel is very sad about that, a couple years later Daniel comes home from school and starts his Summer vacation. On his walk home he meets a Girl called Isabella and falls in love with her. At Daniels home stuff still hasn't changed, Daniel has taken a Summer Job at Elis best friends farm and Daniels dad doesn't like it because he wants him to go to Summer School and Collage. One day Daniel goes to visit Elis grave and meets his new best friend Walter walking around, together they go to Isabella and they have some great time together. 2 Mounts later Isabella hast to go back to New York and Daniel got into a fight with his old best friend Peter, Daniel was very mad and upset in fact he was so upset and mad that he destroyed everything in Elis room. His parents then realize that they have to move on and take care of Daniel and slowly everything changes to a normal family. Daniel goes then to Elis grave and tells him all about what happened and sae I love you Eli and then goes home.

I think the book was great and interesting because its like a kids journal. But the book has a cliff hanger because you don't know what happens after Daniel left Elis grave. I would give this book four stars if it says what happens to his life. The Book was a Page turner. The Book had some touching moments and a lot of sad ones. This book is not a funny book more of an depressing one. ( )

"After Eli" was a light-hearted, coming-of-age book about friendship, grief, first love and finding closure. I enjoyed following Danny's journey as he struggled with the death of his older brother, Eli. He had an authentic, witty voice and I often found myself smiling at the things he said and did. This book came with some wonderful supporting characters, especially the twins who were a real hoot. A sweet story. ( )

Story of loss and recovery from the viewpoint of a young teen who lost his brother in Iraq. Mother has totally fallen apart and he is trying to find a way to move on with his life and forgive his brother. ( )

I think this is a book that shows people that even when something horrible happened to them, people can move on with their life with time and patience. This is a really good and interesting book, even though it is also a bit sad.