By Deb Caletti
Labyrinth Road, 2023. 404 pages. Young Adult
After finding herself pregnant by unexpected means, 16-year-old Ivy and her steadfast boyfriend Lorenzo, embark on a cross-country trip from Texas (where abortion is illegal after six weeks) to her grandmother’s house in Oregon. They visit friends and family along the way, where stories of vulnerability, strength, and above all, choice, help Ivy realize she isn’t alone.
This was such a thought-provoking read. It’s not revealed until late in the book exactly what happened to Ivy, allowing readers to speculate, yet this also allows readers to evaluate their own biases and stereotypes through how we view Ivy, her decision, and the various women she encounters. As a character, I love Ivy. She’s trying so hard to do everything right (work hard, get good grades, plan for college, etc.), yet she’s forced into a position where she has to make a very controversial decision that sets many in her very religious community against her. She handles it the best she can, but she’s still ostracized and friendships fall apart. This is a great reminder that we don’t fully know what anyone else is going through, and kindness goes a long way.
If you liked Plan A, you might also like:
By Rebecca Barrow
HarperTeen, 2017. 323 pages. Young Adult
Ignoring a letter written years earlier by her biological mother, Audrey attempts to fill in the missing pieces of her life until an unexpected pregnancy compels her to learn the truth about the history and choices that led to her own existence.
By Marisa Reichardt
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2021. 341 pages. Young Adult
The Jade family lives an all-organic homeschool lifestyle that means no plastics, no cell phones, and no vaccines. Juniper contracts the measles and unknowingly passes the disease along, with tragic consequences. She is shell-shocked. Now, with the help of Nico, the boy who works at the library and loves movies and may just be more than a friend, Juniper comes to a decision: she is going to get vaccinated. How much is Juniper willing to risk for a shot at normal?
ACS
1 comment:
I read Plan A last summer and also enjoyed it thoroughly. I loved the open dialogue about sensitive topics that characters were having throughout the book. Although faced with many realistic challenges, the character of Ivy gave me hope for a young generation with a strong foundation. I highly recommend this one!
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