Not My Daughter

Not My Daughter
Barbara Delinsky
Knoph Doubleday
$17.96 (Barnes and Noble)
January 2010
FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 100% A

Sexual content: mild
Violence: n/a
Drugs: n/a
Underage drinking: n/a
Swearing: moderate
Total rating: 16+ Even though it is fairly clean it targets adults

Summary:
When Susan Tate's seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned. A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right. She sees the pregnancy as an unimaginable tragedy for both Lily and herself.

Then comes word of two more pregnancies among high school juniors who happen to be Lily's best friends-and the town turns to talk of a pact. As fingers start pointing, the most ardent criticism is directed at Susan. As principal of the high school, she has always been held up as a role model of hard work and core values. Now her detractors accuse her of being a lax mother, perhaps not worthy of the job of shepherding impressionable students.

My Thoughts:
This was a really great book! I enjoyed all the characters. They each lived such different lives and handled the pregnancies in different ways. I loved seeing all of the different mother-daughter relationships and what the pregnancies did for them. The plot left no holes and kept the reader engaged. That made the book even more enjoyable. The setting was not common which I enjoy in a book. It makes everything seem more real.

The cover was gorgeous and made you want to dive in. As for the end, it was perfect! You couldn't have asked for a better ending. I recommend most teen girls and mothers get this book! I think it was amazing.

The Best and Hardest Thing

The Best and Hardest Thing
Pat Brisson
Viking
$16.99
May 2010
FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any manner for my review.

Characters 15/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 15/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: Moderate
Violence: n/a
Drugs: moderate
Underage drinking: n/a
Swearing: mild
Total rating: 14+

Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Molly Biden has always been studious, dependable, some might even say saintly. And she's sick of herself. So when she spots mysterious bad boy Grady Dillon, she devises a plan to make herself over into someone new, someone who will attract Grady's attention. She succeeds—but a little too well. When Molly discovers she's pregnant, she's forced to make the hardest choice of her life.

My Thoughts:
Although I finally got into it at the end, the start of this book was not super. It felt forced to me. Some of the verse didn’t flow like books such as Far From You and Impulse. It was too much emphasis on using different types of poetry and not enough on developing the actual plot. I felt mislead to think a lot of the book would be teen pregnancy, when in reality if was less then half.

The cover is awesome so that kept the grade up. Also, the end finished things up nicely so that kept it in the B range. I felt not enough development was made in the other categories to give this an A.

I recommend this book to fans of teen pregnancy. I’m always up for a good teen pregnancy book. So if anyone has a recommendation, comment away!

Saving Grace

Saving Grace
Darlene Ryan
Orca Soundings
$9.95
2006
FTC: This is my book. I did not receive it or any compensation from the author or publisher.

Characters 15/20
Plot 15/20
Setting 20/20
Cover 15/20
Ending 15/20
Total grade: 80% B

Sexual content: low
Violence: none
Drugs: none
Underage drinking: low
Swearing: low
Total rating: 12+

Summary: (Amazon)
Evie's first mistake was getting pregnant. She admits that. The second mistake, giving her baby up for adoption, wasn't her idea but her father's. So to fix it, the 15-year-old takes drastic action by kidnapping Brianna, now named Grace, from her adoptive parents and running away with her. She convinces Justin, the child's father, to drive them to Montreal so they can start over as a family. His change of heart puts Evie's plans for a new life in jeopardy, and Brianna's rising temperature turns up the heat on the decision that Evie knows in her heart she must make.

My Thoughts:
Although this was an easy, fast paced book I found much lacking. The plot was rather small and the characters were not well developed. I did like the way that setting was incorporated though. As far as the cover is concerned, I think they could have found a better one. This leaves too much open. The ending also left more questions left unanswered then I would prefer.

I would recommend this to reluctant readers and those just starting to indulge in the world of YA literature.

What Kind of Love

What Kind of Love?

Sheila Cole

Avon Flare

$5.99

1996

FTC: This is my book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 85% B

Sexual content: moderate

Violence: none

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: mild

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

Valerie Larch, 15, is pregnant. By the time she visits Planned Parenthood, an abortion is not an easy option. Both sets of parents are against her marrying Peter, and, to keep them apart, the young man is sent to live with his father in Santa Barbara. This six-month excerpt from the young woman's diary reflects her thoughts and feelings from suspecting the pregnancy to setting up an appointment with an adoption agency. Cole's research and proven writing ability combine to create characters and a plot credible enough to hold readers' interest. By limiting the book to only a part of Valerie's story, the author leaves readers wondering whether or not she will go through with the adoption and what her life will be like if she doesn't, effectively causing them to relate to her dilemma and to ponder the consequences of her decision.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book but I felt it had a few too many holes. I didn’t like that it started and stopped in such strange places. It just bothered me. I liked Valerie and felt some emotions for her. I think it could have better if it started before she got pregnant and ended when the baby was born.

If you like books about teen pregnancy this is for you.

Jumping Off Swings

Jumping off Swings

Jo Knowles

Candlewick

$16.99

August 2009

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 15/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: above moderate

Violence: mild

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: mild

Swearing: high

Total rating: 15+

Summary: (Amazon)

Ellie has sex with boys who make her feel wanted and beautiful and then never call again. Even seemingly decent Josh, a virgin, leaves right after their tryst and never speaks to her again. It turns out the condom "slipped off" and she gets pregnant. The next nine months are narrated by four characters—Ellie, Josh, and their best friends, Corinne and Caleb. Ellie's and Josh's families are filled with stock dysfunction—from Ellie's shrill, uptight mother and perfect-on-the-outside home to Josh's washed-up, hard-drinking father and hapless mother. The plot of this novel is tired, but Corinne and Caleb, at least, are mercifully convincing and thoughtful. Each, of course, comes from a stable family. Caleb's single mother is the novel's moral center.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this fun novel. It handled a delicate issue in a way that was amazing. The issue of teen girls having sex because they want to feel love is real. The girls who do that are often labeled sluts. This book made me realize how difficult the girls have it. This was an important book to read. The choice Ellie made is not easy but I feel it was important to the story.

Ellie was an incredible character. I loved how self wise she became. Josh pissed me off. He needed to grow up and actually take some REAL responsibility. As for Ellie’s friends… I want them as my friends. They were awesome.

I recommend this book to all teen girls.

Planet Pregnancy

Planet Pregnancy

Linda Oatman High

Publisher:

$16.99

2008

FTC: This is a library book. I am not being compensated in any way for reviewing this book.

Characters 20/20

Plot 20/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 10/20

Ending 20/20

Total grade: 90% A

Sexual content: Moderate

Violence: none

Drugs: none

Underage drinking: none

Swearing: mild

Total rating: 13+

Summary: (Amazon)

If you’re a mom / can you still / go to the prom? Pregnant at 16, Sahara, a former Dixie Queen pageant winner, considers her choices in her small Texas town: adoption, abortion, or keeping the child. No way will she marry the baby’s father: He’s a bum. / He doesn’t work. / He’s a jerk. / He’d be / a bad dad, just like the dad / I never had. She lies to her mom and says her pregnancy resulted from date rape, but Mom is not supportive, at least at first, and Sahara worries that her religious best friend will reject her as a knocked-up sleaze. There is too little about what it is like to go to school after a pregnancy begins to show. But true to the teen’s voice, the gripping narrative, written in very short lines of free verse with occasional rhyme, makes for a roller-coaster read. Even teens who do not agree with Sahara’s final choice will be caught up in the rising tension as she copes with her guilt, regret, despair, and hope.

My Thoughts:

This was a quick, light read. Okay maybe teen pregnancy is not a light issue but the way it was written made it so. I read this within 2 hours, probably a lot less because I was mostly reading between commercials.

The plot was interesting and well written. It was comical and cheesy but in an enjoyable way. I would recommend this to just about anyone. It’s super fun!

After

*No pictures since I am still being hated by Barnes and Noble*

After
Amy Efaw
Viking
$17.99
August 2009
FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review for no compensation.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting 15/20
Cover 20/20
Ending 18/20
Total grade: 93% A

Sexual content: 12/20
Violence: 8/20
Drugs: 4/20
Underage drinking: 5/20
Swearing: 5/20
Total rating: 14+

Summary: (Amazon)
Fifteen-year-old Devon Davenport lies on the sofa mindlessly watching morning TV. She is in physical pain, and her only recourse is to mentally disconnect. Suddenly her life turns upside down and she is left wondering what happened. Why is she being charged with attempted murder? Through a series of conversations with her court-appointed attorney, Devon begins to uncover deep-seated resentments and awaken to the fact that she had been pregnant, has given birth to a baby, and thrown the infant into a Dumpster.

My Thoughts:
I took some notes again while reading this one so hopefully I can give you all a good review (: !! First off I want to say I love this cover. At first glance it looks so simple, like there isn’t much going on, but then once you really look at it you can see a whole story.

As I started this book I was impressed. The start was unusual and intriguing. I felt like I had to know more, right then and there. From the start the point of view was a bit weird though. It felt like we were in Devon’s head but someone else was narrating. I don’t know how to explain it other then that really. I have to say I liked it though.

The plot itself was heart wrenching! I was almost in tears at many points. I was constantly thinking “who could do that” and “why would she”. The explanations for her actions were so deep. You had to really dig in to the character, you had to be her. I love that in a book.

Parts of this book were super hard to read. I love babies and I hope to be a mom when I’m older. This girl is a year younger than me or so. I couldn’t believe someone so much like me could do something so horrendous. As you get deeper into the plot the reasons become clearer. You won’t condone what she did but you can understand at least. I think another reason this book was so hard on me were the words. Each word set the tone perfectly. There was a constant voice pulling at your heart. The incorporation of poetry in one chapter also did that.

As Devon starts having flashbacks we can start figuring out who she really is. I love that we are learning with her. Nether one of us knows before the other. She was seeing things in a different light, discovering who she is as a person.

I would recommend this to teenage girls, probably only the older ones. I also recommend this to those involved in shaping teens lives. This may include parents and educators.

Quotes:
Here are some quotes I found while reading the book.

“There are so many freaking weirdos around.” –Devon’s mom

“What kind of mother wouldn’t know her own daughters pregnant?” –Devon’s mom screaming at the cops.

“They’d laughed at her. Yeah, they’d be the kind to have lice and stds.” –Devon thinks upon her arrival at the detention center.

Must Monday

This is what I'm waiting to be released as of this week.

For Keeps
by Natasha Friend

Summary: Barnes and Noble

Josie's never met her dad, and that's fine with her. To Josie, Paul Tucci is just a guy who got her mom pregnant and then moved away. It all happened sixteen years ago, when Josie's mom was still a teenager herself. But now Paul Tucci is back in town, and Josie has to deal with not one but two men in her life—her father and her first boyfriend, who Josie fears will hurt her just like Paul hurt her mother.

Why?

The plot of this book sounds really intriguing and like something I would LOVE!

Undiscovered Gyrl

Title: Undiscovered Gyrl
Author: Allison Burnett
Publisher: Vintage Paperback
Price: $14.00
Release: August 2009
FTC: I received this novel from the publisher with the understanding that I would provide an honest review with no compensation.

Characters 20/20
Plot 20/20
Setting20 /20
Cover 15/20
Ending 20/20
Total grade: 95% A

Sexual content: 15/20
Violence: 0/20
Drugs: 10/20
Underage drinking: 15/20
Swearing: 15/20
Total rating: 16+

Summary: (Amazon)
Undiscovered Gyrl is the blog of beautiful, blond, Katie Kampenfelt, an 18-year-old girl who seeks to record, for her own edification, the year following her high school graduation.
The novel begins as the diary of an ebullient, funny teenager, filled with the musings, mood swings, and escapades of youth. We are in her skin as she plots her break-up with her college-age boyfriend, battles with her mother, considers whether to sleep with a 32-year-old film professor, confronts a terrible truth about her new boss, and lands a new job as nanny to a newborn.

Soon, however, the story deepens into the engrossing record of a young soul in peril.

My Thoughts:
This novel was amazing! I have never been so impressed with a book that is in blog/diary format! I enjoyed every minute of this book and could not stop reading. I even got in trouble for reading too much in a class but hey, it was so worth it!

The ending pissed me off at first but after a little bit I realized that’s how it had to be. I loved how honest it was and I have my own ideas as to how the story came to an end… J

Go read this book! NOW!