Allegedly

Allegedly
By Tiffany D. Jackson
Katherine Tegen Books, 2017. 387 pages. Young Adult

When Mary was nine, she killed a baby. Allegedly. After spending six years in “baby jail,” she’s now a teenager living in a group home, getting bullied and abused by the other girls and the women who work there. Her one solace is spending time with Ted as they volunteer. When Mary gets pregnant, she decides she wants a better life for her baby, which means she needs to make a better life for herself. She starts studying for the SAT and contacts a lawyer to work toward clearing her name. However, her freedom relies on her manipulative and self-centered mother telling the truth.

 This is a dark and gritty book, highlighting flaws in the criminal justice system, and the ways social services can fall apart. The challenges and abuses Mary faces are disturbing and heart breaking. She’s a fascinating character and my heart hurt for her. The story was compelling, Mary has a wonderfully distinct voice, but the ending fell short for me. That said, I still really enjoyed this book. It sparks some important questions and was quite thought provoking.

 ACS