The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez & Jenna Glatzer

The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir by Gaby Rodriguez & Jenna Glatzer

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012
Language: English
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 1442446226

Plot Summary:
Gaby is a senior in high school that starts a senior project that relates to stereotypes of teen pregnancy and of her Latina heritage. Gaby's mother was a teen mom as were her older sisters, and many of her older brothers were teen fathers. She is part of a large family totalling seven siblings and over thirty nieces and nephews; it seemed that teen pregnancy was common in her family and at some level expected. Gaby was on track for academics (top percentage of her class), driven, and expected to do more with her life. So when Gaby decided to fake a teen pregnancy for her school project, it meant that her family now thought that she was following in the same footsteps. The only people that Gaby told about the project were her mother, boyfriend, a close friend, and some administrators that approved the project.
Every one's reactions were amazing when they found out that Gaby was pregnant. People thought that she was wasting her life and her academics achievements began to go unnoticed by family with the imminent thought of how she was going to have to give up school. Her friends and siblings alienated her (she was even ignored at Christmas) and her boyfriend had to deal with bullying and being told that he was a screw up. Gaby went through the stages of pregnancy with a fake belly that her mom made and even went to pregnancy classes that other teen moms went to. When Gaby finally reveals that she is not pregnant everyone is bewildered, and in the end Gaby details her fame because of the memoir's popularity, and ends it with the fact that she is going to college and that she raises awareness of teen pregnancy and support rather than alienation.

Critical Evaluation:
I thought that the plot for this book was interesting, but that it had the potential to go very bad, and it did in the book. The writing was well done, but I think that that would be because she had a ghost writer helping her in writing it. The theme of stereotypes both for Latina women, and teens who get pregnant are what the book is about in essence and I think that they carry through well. The relationships in the novel are interesting, and the fact that she only tells a few trusted people about her project shows that she took the project seriously and wanted sincere reactions. I found it interesting that she let her boyfriend's parents continue to think that she was pregnant because that affected him so in his life- not just her. Gaby's character is strong in the novel and I felt that the audience was on her side rooting for the best outcome in the project.

Reader's Annotation:
Gaby is a senior in high school when she decides that for a project she is going to fake a pregnancy to see what will happen to her; she is shocked at how school, family and friends act to her revelation.

Websites to look Into:
She does not have an official website, but this is close:
http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Gaby-Rodriguez/400436407

Awards:
ALA Quick Picks Nominee

Similar Books:
"The Girl who Couldn't say No" by Tracy Engelbrecht

Booktalking Ideas:
Teen Pregnancy
Stereotypes

Genre:
Non- Fiction, Memoirs

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Teen Pregnancy
The main issue of the book is teen pregnancy and the addressing when it happens and how society feels about it. I think that the book combats it well because it shows the results of it without the girl actually getting pregnant, and she really tries to tell people that they are able to move forward with their life even if they are pregnant.

Why this Book?
This book is so interesting and really goes into depth about teen pregnancy and the issues and stereotypes that society has with it. I think that it is important to read it in order to see the way that young girls like this or treated or make them more aware of these situations.