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.

First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Johnson, Angela. (2004). First Part Last. NY: Simon Pulse.
ISBN: 978-0689849237
Awards: Printz Award (2004)
Coretta Scott King Award (Author, 2004)
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee (2005-2006)
ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2004)
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2008.03|What Makes a Family?, 2008)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers - Top Ten (2004)
Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2006-2007)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2004)
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee (2006)
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Teen Pregnancy, Independence, Grief, Love, Family
Genre: Fiction
Annotation: Bobby is only sixteen but his girlfriend, Nia, is going to have a baby. When she becomes too ill to leave the hospital, Bobby chooses to raise the baby on his own. Can a sixteen year old boy do the job of a man?
Summary: Bobby's story is told in his own voice; the voice of a sixteen year old boy with a new baby living in urban New York. Johnson goes back and forth with chapters from "then" and "now". Readers slowly learn the story of Bobby finding out his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant, wavering on the adoption choice, and finally Nia's lapse into a coma leaving Bobby with the newborn girl. Bobby's parents are strong and supportive, but insist that he do the real work of a father. Bobby constantly must make choices between his child, Feather, and his regular teen life.
Evaluation: I would label this a sweet book. Frightening things happen in The First Part Last, but Bobby is consistently a good person and loving father. While he does make some poor choices, I was left feeling hopeful for him and for Feather. A quick read.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Hopkins, Ellen. (2004). Crank. NY: Margaret K. McElderry.
ISBN: 978-0689865190
Awards: ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2005.04|Read ‘Em & Weep, 2005)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2005)
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee (2009)
Abraham Lincoln Award Winner (2009)
Gateway Readers Award
Genre: Fiction
Annotation: Good girl Kristina takes a turn for the worse during a visit to her druggie father. Addicted, raped, and pregnant Kristina faces a difficult road ahead.
Summary: Kristina lives with her mother, step-father, and brother; is well-behaved, and a good student. When an opportunity comes up for her to visit her father, whom she hasn't seen in years, Kristina jumps at it. It turns out that her father works "under-the-table" at a local bowling alley, drinks too much, and is a druggie. During this visit Kristina has a transformation, embracing her wild side. She begins calling herself Bree, and herself becomes addicted to crank, thanks to attractive drug dealer, Adam. When Bree returns to her mother's, she brings her new addiction with her. She is later raped and becomes pregnant with the rapist's child. She keeps the child, and also the addiction.
Evaluation: I did not like this book. Kristina's transformation happens too fast to be believable; her choices all of the sudden incredibly bad. Also unbelievable is the fact that her middle-class, conservative mom let her stay with a man as vile as her father. If you can get by the questionable premise, Kristina's (Bree's) story and de-evolution is interesting and scary.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin (Dial, 2008)

Werlin, Nancy. (2008). Impossible. NY: Dial
ISBN: 0142414913
Awards:ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2009)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008)
National Book Award Finalist
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Teen Pregnancy, Rape, Mental Illness, Family, Love
Genre: Fantasy
Annotation: Lucy Scarborough is seventeen, pregnant, and living with foster parents because her mother is mentally ill. Lucy lives in the modern day, but a dark and magical force is wreaking havoc on her family. Can she break free of it's grasp?
Summary:Circling around a magical rendition of the song, Scarborough Fair, the story Impossible follows foster child Lucy Scarborough as she learns of a family curse that is generations old. Lucy’s story is set in conventional modern day, but we learn that there is a magical presence able to influence and wreak havoc on humanity. The Elfin Knight has done just that with his curse on the Scarborough women. Seventeen, pregnant, and facing impending madness, Lucy must accomplish three impossible tasks for the curse to be broken. With the love and support of her foster parents and friend Zach, Lucy is determined to bring the madness to an end.
Evaluation: While I would not describe this book as a page turner, there is a soft and easy tone that mirrors the unconditional love between Zach, Lucy, and her foster parents. Impossible deals with such heavy topics as rape, teen pregnancy, and mental illness, but does so with genuine emotion, and avoids melodrama.