After We Burned

In the small town of Fenix, life is forever changed when a fire burns down the local high school and kills a student named Eden. The community mourns, but few people really knew Eden—or why she was in the school that night. Five teens, each carrying their own secrets, are connected to the tragedy in ways they cannot escape. As grief, guilt, and fear ripple through the town, the truth about what happened that night threatens to surface, forcing each of them to decide how far they are willing to go to protect themselves—and one another.

“Utilizing expert pacing and shocking reveals, Nijkamp keeps readers on the edges of their seats… a dark, gritty story about coming together and empowering one another.” — Publishers Weekly

“A compelling and believable narrative where teens navigate trauma together… adults sometimes don’t hear when a teen is crying out for help.” — School Library Journal.

“A tense mystery that examines silence, power, and complicity in the aftermath of tragedy.” — Kirkus Reviews.