Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard

Bechard, Margaret. (2003) Hanging on to Max. NY: Simon Pulse.
ISBN: 978-0689862687
Awards/Honors: ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2003)
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2005.04|Read ‘Em & Weep, 2005)
Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2005-2006)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2003)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2002)
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee (2005)
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Teen Pregnancy, Teen Father, Adoption, Responsibility
Genre: Fiction
Annotation: When Sam's girlfriend decides she can't handle the responsibility of being a teen mom, Sam steps up. He takes on the role of single father along with that of student, but can he handle giving up his now very complicated life?
Summary: Sam Pettigrew is 17 and a father. When Sam's girlfriend decides she can't handle the responsibility and sacrifice of raising a child, Sam decides to raise Max on his own. All of the sudden he goes from planning college and trying out for the football team to changing diapers and feeding schedules. He also starts going to an alternative high school that provides day care. Here he is surrounded by teen mothers, and one in particular, Claire, that he makes a connection with. Sam, who gets almost no support from his family, gets to compare his situation to that of Claire's, who has help from her mom and sister. The pressure and chaos of his life catches up to him one day when Max has to be rushed to the emergency room for a bad cut on his hand. This makes Sam look at what is best for Max, and for himself, with new eyes. Although Sam loves Max very much, he decides to give him up for adoption.
Evaluation: A quick but interesting read. I found the book emotionally honest and heart wrenching at the same time. This certainly falls under the category of problem novel, but looks at the hard choice of adoption - it is not a neatly tied ending and I like that.