Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan
Publication Date: September 19, 2011
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 352
Source: Around the World ARC
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads Synopsis
Nobody gets away with telling Eleanor Crowe what to do. But as a pregnant sixteen-year-old, her options are limited: move to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry the baby’s father and work at his family’s summer camp for overweight kids.
Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised that she actually enjoys working with the campers. But a tragedy on the very day her baby is born starts a series of events that overwhelms Elly with unexpected emotions and difficult choices. Somehow, she must turn her usual obstinance in a direction that can ensure a future for herself—and for the new life she has created.
My Review
Eleanor is sixteen years old. She is stubborn, rebellious, and pregnant. After telling her parents the shocking news, they and her boyfriend’s parents decide what is best is for Eleanor and Lam to get married. Now, Elly is moved into one of the cabins, with her lazy new husband, at her new in-laws WeightAway camp.
Soon, Elly discovers that she very much enjoys working and teaching children, even the snotty girls that make her blood boil. She finds her nitch at the camp, and even become close to one of the other counselors.
After a tragedy rips through her life and the camp, and an unexpected surprise with her baby arises, Elly’s life is turned on its head, again. All Elly wants is to be wanted and loved by those in her life. Now that she has a child of her own, will she step up to be the best mother that she can be or will her family finally get to her and turn her away from what is right in her heart?
My Thoughts
I absolutely love this book! I have not read any books about teen pregnancy before, and now I find myself wishing that I knew about more. Eleanor’s thoughts front and center is an amazing look into the mind of someone that is constantly growing and learning about herself and her world. The shift in her thoughts from the beginning to the very end is fun to read. She starts off being so rebellious and “I’ll show them” attitude, to really thinking about life, what she deserves and finally begins to come to reality with the fact that she is going to have a baby. I really enjoyed this part of the book.
Elly’s parents, in-laws, and husband absolutely disgust me. I found myself swearing at the book, crying and gaping at it in disbelief. The relationship between Elly and these people is absolutely necessary for the story, but I was so angry about it! And just when I begin to think that her family is coming along, they crap on her again! I wanted to scream. Even though I was so annoyed with these characters, I still liked that they were in the book and for the way they were. Elly would not be so stubborn and strong if it were not for the challenges she has to face.
Elly herself was my favorite character. She very much underestimated herself and didn’t realize just how great and amazing she could be. With everything that had happened in her life and all that she has put her parents through, she is a little damaged. But her imperfections are what makes her interesting and her growth well deserved and anticipated.
In the end, I am so happy for the decision that Elly has made. I just could not put this book down until I was closing the cover. Even after that, it was constantly in my mind. I only with that I knew what had happened after the last words were written.
Favorite Character: Eleanor
Least Favorite: Sarah- Elly’s sister
My Rating
Love it!
1 comment:
Yeah, I'm not really big on pregnancy books. Ellie sounds like an interesting character though. Great review!
Post a Comment