As his dad slips further away, ZJ’s memories of better times grow closer than ever. Soon the headaches and memory lapses grow increasingly frequent and scary for ZJ and his mom, since the doctors do not seem to have any answers. The changes in his father begin slowly and intermittently. “Zachariah 44” was a fearless player who suffered many concussions during his playing career. And fortunately, ZJ has three friends who see him and not his father’s shadow. Although his dad is in the spotlight, he is full of love and attention for ZJ and his friends. loves his dad but wonders who he would be if his dad was not a famous athlete. Twelve-year-old Zachariah “ZJ” Johnson Jr. And most importantly, can those happy feelings ever be reclaimed when they are all so busy aching for the past?Available for purchase at:AmazonBarnes & NobleBooks A Hudson BooksellersIndieBoundPowell'sTargetWalmartApple BooksGoogle Play Store - Audiobook (Downloadable format)Kobo - Audiobook (Downloadable format)Audible - Audiobook (Downloadable format)audiobooks.An African American preteen finds his world upended when his father, a retired professional football player, displays symptoms of traumatic brain injury. As ZJ contemplates his new reality, he has to figure out how to hold on tight to family traditions and recollections of the glory days, all the while wondering what their past amounts to if his father can't remember it. ZJ can understand that-but it doesn't make the sting any less real when his own father forgets his name. ZJ's mom explains it's because of all the head injuries his dad sustained during his career. His dad is having trouble remembering things and seems to be angry all the time.

But lately life at ZJ's house is anything but charming. As a charming, talented pro football star, he's as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with as he is to his millions of adoring sports fans. National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson's stirring novel explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed.For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone's hero.

Before the ever after woodson