Teenage pregnancy has always been a controversial issue. What happens when three girls, with bright futures, form a pact and intentionally become pregnant? Who's to blame? Most importantly, what is the driving force for making such a pact?In Barbara Delinsky's latest novel, Not My Daughter, we meet Lily and her friends, Jessica and Mary Kate, three academic achievers, well-liked by the students and faculty, and who are also pregnant. Lily is Susan's daughter. Susan gave birth to Lily at a young age and doesn't want her daughter to face any of the problems she had when she became pregnant. And one more thing: Susan is the principal at Lily's high school.
Teenage pregnancy is difficult to discuss and deal with as Susan quickly comes to realize. She's treated unfairly when it's revealed Lily is one of the girls who is pregnant. Susan's life is scrutinized at every angle and some feel she's not the right person to run the school as she cannot prevent her own daughter from getting pregnant.
Are Susan and the other mothers being treated and judged too harshly? Are parents to blame when an unwanted pregnancy occurs? Is the responsibility solely placed on the two individuals who are about to become parents? These are some of the questions Ms. Delinsky tackles in Not My Daughter.
I enjoyed reading this book. A look inside the three girls' reasons for becoming pregnant was both alarmingly and naive. I did want the author to delve deeper into the unknowing fathers' perspectives. How did these young boys feel after hearing these girls were pregnant? The author, however did spend some time with the father of Lily's baby and the growth of their relationship.
I recommend reading Not My Daughter. I'd also consider it as a book club selection. There's a reading guide included that will help facilitate a discussion.
Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-52498-8
Pages: 338
Year Published: 2010
Genre: Fiction
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
I liked this story as well. Every mother's nightmare :)
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