Monday, March 19, 2012
The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez
When I first heard about “The Pregnancy Project,” I thought it was a horrible idea: to fake a pregnancy for a school project. I was certain the project would end up insulting teachers and students when they discovered the pregnancy was fake. To my surprise, the project was well executed. The author did a good job of documenting not only her experiences, but also that of her classmates and family. While I assumed her classmates’ gossiping about her would be harsh, what really surprised me was the families. I assumed that families of a pregnant teen would be supportive and helpful—for Rodriguez, her family pressure was worse than her classmate’s gossip. This is an eye-opening book that I would recommend to anyone, not just teenagers. While it really goes to the heart of what it's like to be pregnant in high school, it also illustrates how hurtful stereotypes can be.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
No Turning Back by Bryan Anderson
Bryan Anderson is Iraq War Veteran and a triple-amputee (he lost his legs and an arm from a roadside explosion), but this book isn’t about the war or what he lost, this book is about what he did after that. After his accident, Anderson says he had basically two choices: "move on, or roll over and die." This book is about how he moved on. He has many life philosophies such as don’t be afraid to fall, do your best, and dream big. This book is bound to challenge readers to make positive life changes.