e-Audio, 07:40:35
Narrated by: Angel Pean & Bahni Turpin
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Read from: January 4-5, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: Simon & Schuster ALC (I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Abortion (on page), Birth (on page), Gang mentions, Mention of gun violence
For Readers Interested In: Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Pregnancy and it’s options, Contemporary Realistic Fiction, YAErykah was looking forward to junior year at East Prep High. She has a cute boyfriend, gets good grades, and has the best bestie. Money is tight, though that’s nothing new in her world. But everything changes when she gets pregnant. Having a baby at sixteen was definitely not part of the plan.
Kelly’s plan was to dominate junior year—grade-wise and on the basketball court—and eventually get an athletic scholarship. It did not include helping her best friend through a pregnancy. But that’s what best friends do, right? Besides, Kelly has every intention of being a good auntie.
As the two girls navigate the pregnancy, they’ll learn some harsh realities about the world and be forced to make some huge decisions. They’ll also discover a deep reserve of strength and compassion…for each other and themselves.
16 & Pregnant: A Novel honestly and openly explores pregnancy through the eyes of two young Black teens in modern-day Nevada. Debut author LaLa Thomas combines personal insights, heartfelt dialogue, and authentic emotions in this powerful portrait of American teen life.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I can’t lie, when I first saw this I was a little worried. Teen pregnancy is a touchy subject to everyone, so I knew this was going to ruffle some feathers. But of all the books on teen pregnancy that I’ve read, this one seemed to be the most accurate, I think it’s because it showed both sides of the choice. And it doesn’t hold back on the emotional side either.
Ok so first I wanna talk about the characters. I can truthfully say I only liked Kelly. She was the only one that was consistent throughout the entire book. Even when things got dark for her, she stayed the same, level headed teen who owned up to her mistakes and took charge of every situation head on. Did I agree with everything she did? No. In fact I was really mad at one thing she di, but I was glad she did what was best with her. Now for Erykah, the reason I didn’t like her was because she didn’t keep the same energy throughout the book. She talked all that hot shit, but when Kelly needed her most, she wasn’t there for her. After all the things she had done for her. And like, I know they’re teens, but what she did was the grossest thing. Kelly was there for every choice she made, even when she didn’t like them, but the one time Kelly made a choice she didn’t like, she couldn’t do the same. That bothered me. To be honest, I think she was a little jealous that she chose herself when Erykah didn’t. I was so frustrated with the way they treated each other. I had to remind myself I was reading a YA book, because they were so moody and mean to each other.
This was a coming of age story for both girls. The plot follows their lives as both teens encounter the same happening, but handling it with different decisions. But the best thing about this? The way Thomas tackles this without making it preachy towards either decision. She just shows the lives of them both and gives out only facts about the way people look at or treat you, the names you’re called, and how you have to make the hardest decisions for you and you only. And I love that she doesn’t treat either girl like they alone made the right decision. She truly pushed the narrative that “you should make the decision that’s best for you.” And honestly, that was my favorite part.
There is some medical content in this, so please be careful with yourself. Now when I say this, I mean it for both sides. It doesn’t go into in-depth descriptions, but it is enough detail for you to know what’s going on. I know that this won’t be ok for some people, but just like in this book, you have a choice. And I am grateful to Thomas for depicting that choice. AND I’m happy that Thomas mentions that it’s still not a choice everywhere and all the recent changes these laws have been through.
As if the story itself wasn’t already good, the narrators were two of my faves. I almost didn’t even want to comment on this because what do you say besides, “it was bussin?!” Because that’s all I have right now. They sucked me into this story with their narration and inflection and emotion and just everything. Basically, I loved every second of it and I couldn’t stop reading.
If you’re put off by the title like I was at first, don’t worry about it. There is something in this book for everyone. I would hope by reading this no matter your stance, you take both accounts into consideration and start to look at both sides. I hope this book opens your eyes as much as it did so for the characters.
Overall, I give this
