Product Description
Sharing experiences and insights that will help other teens face the realities of impending parenthood, pregnant and parenting teens offer young expectant mothers advice for carrying and delivering a healthy baby. Medical concerns such as fetal development, nutrition, and risks related to smoking, alcohol, and drugs are discussed, and labor and delivery are described in detail-often through the words of teenagers who have already delivered. Focusing on the needs of the young mother and those of her partner, this guide also stresses the importance of staying in school, graduating, and gaining job skills. Including numerous quotes from teenage fathers, but sensitive to the fact that many pregnant teens do not have a positive relationship with their baby's father, this book provides knowledge that will improve a young mother's chances of having a satisfying experience with or without a partner's assistance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Easy to read
This book was a very easy to read guide on every aspect of pregnancy. Offered stories and insight from other pregnant teens and teenage mothers. It answered every possible question I could think of. Very helpful book. ... Read more

Product Description
I Think I'm Pregnant. What Should I Do????Educate yourself.Make a plan.Take action.

Okay, you're pregnant and this is now how you planned things. It was a surprise, an accident, and unexpected event and you just don't know what to do.

The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students is a helpful guide written to provide you with information and resources that can help you come to terms with how to handle your unplanned pregnancy. This book is not written to influence you or to change your mind about how you should deal with your unplanned pregnancy. This book aims to education. Only you and the people who are helping you with your current situation can help you determine what is the best thing for you to do. Whether you plan to continue your pregnancy and become a parent, decide to terminate your pregnancy, or if you decide that adoption is the best option for you, The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students is here to help you.

Special features include prenatal care guide, new baby item check list, DNA paternity testing information, listing of universities that offer family housing, information about programs such as WIC, Food Stamps, and Medicaid for low income mothers, information about mandatory waiting laws and parental consent and notification laws, information about types of adoption, birth control guide, web links and other valuable resources.Also includes real life stories from women who faced unplanned pregnancies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

More of a reference guide
I bought this book thinking it was more of a pregnancy guide for my teenage daughter.What it turned out to be was more of a reference guide for things like adoption, abortion and abandonment.It had a few short personal stories for each section.Definately not a book for a teen who plans to keep her baby.

Straight talk about pregnancy
The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students is an excellent resource for young parents-to-be.Williams-Wheeler has compiled a step-by-step guide so an individual can formulate a course of action and gain insight into their purpose in life.The chapters are detailed and offer a non-judgmental description of all the options available.Particular attention is given to determining if you are actually pregnant, how to have conversations with parents and boyfriend/child's father, what to expect during the pregnancy, parental assistance programs, what will the baby need, the 411 on abortion, adoption, future contraception, and an extensive resource section with addresses, telephone numbers and internet addresses.

Williams-Wheeler has taken the time to develop a resource that will enlighten lives and encourage young people.It is written in easy to read language and organized to answer the questions young parents may have.She offers first-hand stories and testimonies from teens and young adults who found themselves in similar situations.There is also a section with questions to stimulate conversation and activities to be used in conjunction with the reading.This is a superb resource for every high school counselor, youth group advisor, or organization that works with teens.
Reviewed by M. Bruner for Loose Leaves Book Review

A Great Resource
You suspect you're pregnant: you're young, in high school, college or the workforce.What is your next step, what does the future hold for you?
THE UNPLANNED PREGNANCY BOOK FOR TEENS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS by Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the perfect stop to get advice and a sense of purpose.

Williams-Wheeler lays out a step-by-step guide, beginning with suspected pregnancy to confirmation and the road to follow throughout.Highlighted in great detail are the stages of pregnancy, assistance programs, childcare options, and expectations during prenatal care, breastfeeding and much more.

THE UNPLANNED PREGNANCY BOOK FOR TEENS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS is written in an easy to read language just for teens.Many resources are listed via the web, telephone contacts and reading material.She also offers encouragement for the future and showcases stories of young women faced with an unplanned pregnancy and their coping mechanisms.This is a great resource for young women who find themselves faced with the fact that they are pregnant, alone and fear the judgment and rejection of others. (RAW Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Educate Yourself.Make a Plan.Take Action.
What am I going to do?What is my family going to think?What will my boyfriend think?What will he do?

These are just a few of the many questions that might go through the mind of a teenage female (soon to be woman) that discovers that she is or might be pregnant.Unfortunately, if the test proves positive, her life as she knew it ends and those personal questions become extremely important.Not only will she be bombarded with emotional stress but financial stress to supply healthcare and support for a `new edition' to the world.Within such a short amount of time, a young woman is forced to make life-changing decisions at a time she is extremely emotional and least equipped to do so.What on Earth could lighten the load for a young woman who has suddenly found herself with this seemingly unbearable responsibility?

The answer to this question, in my opinion, is the following."Educate yourself.Make a plan.Take action." Author Dorrie Williams-Wheeler has written "The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students" for exactly this purpose.

"The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students" is less than 120 pages, however, it is an encyclopedia of information.It could serve as the OnStar© for any young woman who has become lost in the wilderness of unplanned pregnancy.Its advice provides them something they don't always know they have-Options.

Confusion without hope becomes destruction.This book provides hope.Not only is it packed with information on adoption, safe haven laws, paternity testing, financial assistance and valuable phone numbers and web resources, it contains stories of young women who have been in the same situation.It contains stories, from young women who've been in those shoes, who were still able to forge ahead.These stories reassure young women that they are not alone and that they are not helpless.

In the spirit of the author, I believe I can say that no young woman wants to find herself in this situation.It is a situation that people wish not to discuss until they are faced with it.I will also go further to say that you might not need this book on your bookshelf...however, I would not necessarily recommend you buy this book for yourself.Those in need of it are probably not thinking "Is there a book out there for me?"Nevertheless, I guarantee you that within the last 5 years, or maybe even now, you've known a young woman who desperately needed this book.What these young women need is education and support and this book more than provides this for them.Buy it for them...because for them, it is essential reading.

Author, Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, holds a Masters of Science of Education degree from Southern Illinois University.

Review by Robert Denson III
Managing Editor of Sunpiper Press

Just the Facts, Ma'am
Williams-Wheeler's book is a plain English guide to everything a teen needs to know if they become pregnant. It encourages girls to educate themselves, decide on an option, and act without delay in a situation that could easily be paralyzing. It opens with how to determine whether you are pregnant, then moves to who to tell--and who not to.

The book is comprehensive, giving all the options for dealing with teen pregnancy, and a step-by-step guide through each.It also covers after-care for each option, then stresses preventing a subsequent pregnancy--from abstinence to all other forms of birth control. Each chapter contains stories from girls who have experienced pregnancy--from age 12 - 22. Some were heart-rending. I appreciate that Williams-Wheeler urges girls to continue their education and to take care of their bodies.

An excellent resource for a girl in a bad situation. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Pregnancy outside marriage is a common challenge in America today. In fact, the CDC notes that births to single mothers reached a record high in 2005. Many parents face the crisis of having their grandchildren born to a single mom, so you are not alone. However, it is probably little consolation to be told that 342,976 teens (aged 15-19) gave birth in 2005, or that more than one in three of all children born in America are born out of wedlock (36.8% in 2005). 69.5% of the children in the African American community are born to single mothers, as are 63.3% of children in the American Indian or Alaska Native population, and 47.9% of children with Hispanic mothers. The Christian community is not immune to the problem of pregnancy outside marriage. Each year, thousands of church leaders and church-going families suddenly find themselves with a pregnant daughter (whether a teen or older young woman) who is not married. But you never thought it would happen in your own Christian family. Wondering what steps to take first? Where to find emotional support? Nervous about the response of family, friends, or the church? Overwhelmed by the options related to housing, finishing school, medical care, parenting, and adoption? There is help and hope even in the midst of your shock and pain. Be assured that you are not alone in your pain. Others have been where you are. Designed as a step-by-step guide and workbook to help parents of a pregnant teen or college student, How To Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy will help you through the shock, disappointment, and anger, and show you how to redeem beauty from the ashes of this crisis. When we wrote the manuscript for the first edition in 2002, there were very few reports and studies that had yet been published based on the 2000 Census data. We felt bad referencing so many sources that were published in the late 80s and throughout the 1990s because they were very dated by the time the first edition went to the printer. We are very proud to have updated all the statistics throughout the second edition! In every case (but one) we were able to find a source reference from this millenium, and this make the second edition very fresh and timely. We've also added new material throughout the book, especially a chapter about the importance of a father. We expanded the information about the grief cycle, and added some new illustrations. We love hearing from you, dear reader, and we thank you in advance for the comments and personal stories that you'll send us regarding this new edition. Written in a devotional workbook format, each chapter of this 192-page book lovingly addresses an issue to discuss, a decision to examine, or an action to take. Read a related portion of Scripture, identify with a real-life story from those who have survived their teen's pregnancy, and work through journaling exercises and practical action steps. Appendices list resource books and agencies. You'll want to keep a spare copy on hand to give to your friend when they call to share the grief that their single daughter is pregnant. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

How to Survive Your Teen's Prenancy
Very helpful information from a Christian perspective. Bible scripture verses are given throughout the book on the many helpful topics covered.

I am in the process of starting an outreach ministry for parents whose teenagers find themselves on the brink of parenthood or who are raising their teen, along with a grandchild, and yet still live under their parents roof and authority. I have first hand knowledge of this topic since it happened in my own family. I only wish that I had found this book when I needed the help and guidance it offers.

Parents need a strong support system when this happens to their teen (and them!). They need a place where they can vent their grief and frustrations but also gain encouragement, wisdom, and healing. Boundaries are often times blurred when parents find themselves in the middle of this kind of crisis and thus find themselves (unknowingly) being enablers to their teen. Please consider starting a support group for parents in your area...it is greatly needed today.

This book helps sort out conflicting feelings and is also guide that helps answer questions on the issues they will be facing. I also highly recommend the book "Boundaries" by Dr. Henry Cloud along with this one.

A must read for parents of teen moms
If you ever find yourself to be the parent of a teen mom or hear of someone in that position, rush out and buy this book.The sooner that a parent reads this book, the better, since it contains information that is not only important for decision making but encouraging at a time when discouragement abounds.In our opinion, every church, every crisis pregnancy center, and every youth group should have this in their library.

Essential resource for parents trying to deal with the heartbreak of a daughter's pregnancy
No! Neither of my teens are going to have a baby! Just to get that immediately out of the way. :) The publishers of How to Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy by Linda Ellen Perry sent me a copy and asked me to review it, because while I haven't been a parent whose had to face this, I was a teen mom myself. I'll never forget the way I had to tell my parents that I was pregnant; I had hoped to procrastinate as long as possible. But Mom had made an appointment for me to get my MMR booster shot the next day, and I was afraid that there may be birth defects if I went ahead with the shot, so I had to drop the bomb on them two weeks before school started. I wish now that they had a book like this to turn to for advice, and that we had a better support system through our church and community. While Dad tried to remain calm and talk sensibly, Mom was broken and couldn't bear to discuss the details.



If I could go back and change things, I wouldn't change the big stuff (getting married, keeping my baby), because if I did, I wouldn't have the two beautiful older kids I have, but I would change the way that my parents and I interacted in the two weeks before I was quickly married and moved out. Perry has years of experience counseling teens and their parents, and she uses that knowledge to create a workbook for parents that takes them step by step through the first discovery through the birth of the baby with stops along the way for forgiving their daughter, the baby's father, and the themselves. She encourages with Scripture and uses different Bible stories and some Christian fiction to help bring deeper understanding to the situation. Perry urges parents to really listen to their daughter to help her come up with a viable plan for her and her child. She supports both adoption and parenting with the pros and cons of both laid out neatly. This is a Christian book, so while abortion is mentioned, she encourages every other option and includes statistics about possible outcomes if a teenage girl has or is forced to have an abortion.


The book includes resources for parents with places to find Christian and pro-life doctors, adoption agencies, pregnancy resource centers, and more. While some of the activities for dealing with the emotions were a little artsy for me (I can't imagine drawing pictures or making a collage to express myself), for others it may be just what's needed. It took my parents and I several years to repair the damage done by my pregnancy and my attitude toward them during it. While a parent can't change their child's reaction to the pregnancy, mothers and fathers can change how they react, hopefully bringing healing and growth. This book is a fantastic resource for helping them to work through the grief, anger, and guilt that follows a teen's pregnancy.

Excellent Book
If you are having this issue please get the book it will help you see clearly.

Practical and Biblical
This is a wise book full of practical and biblical advice for steering your family through the crisis of a teen pregnancy. There is an emphasis on forgiveness and restoration throughout as the author addresses issue such as secondary virginity, adoption, marriage, etc. Recommended Scripture reading, application questions, guidance for prayer, and helpful checklists for preparing for the baby are also included, as well as personal stories from those who have walked through this situation before. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Teen Dads
Great book written for the teenage dad that covers all aspects of pregnancy from the question "Is she pregnant?" and establishing paternity, to the early developmental stages of childhood and childhood safety. I highly recommend this book for high school libraries.

Feast of "Food for Thought"
This book is part of a series by Jeanne Warren Lindsay. The other books in the series are: "Your Pregnancy and Newborn Journey: A Guide for Pregnant Teens"; "Nurturing Your Newborn: Young Parents' Guide to Baby's First Month"; "Your Baby's First Year: A Guide for Teenage Parents"; "The Challenge of Toddlers: Parenting Your Child from One to Three"; and "Discipline from Birth to Three: How Teen Parents Can Prevent and Deal with Discipline Problems with Babies and Toddlers".

Lindsay has worked with teens for many years, and writes out of her experiences using simple language and short sentences for a book that is approachable even by those without great reading skills.This book contains quotes from more than 52 teen-aged fathers, who share their thoughts and feelings on the topics covered.

Information presented covers the areas of: establishing paternity; having a relationship with your child even if the mom and dad aren't together anymore; how the mom feels during pregnancy; schooling options; adoption rights; the mom's health during pregnancy; the baby's development in the womb; the labor and delivery of the baby; caring for the needs of a newborn infant including feeding holding, and diapering; taking care of a baby that can crawl; nutrition for babies and toddlers; health and safety issues for babies; the development and behaviors of one-year-olds and two-year-olds; disciplining your child; gang involvement; living arrangements; marriage; planning another baby; and planning for the future.

There is an annotated bibliography of further resources, and an index of the covered topics for quick reference.

This book provides a gentle, broad introduction for teen dads but is missing one major component: religion. Many (not all, but many) teen parents will want to participate in the religious ceremonies surrounding the birth of a child. Lindsay does not mention religion in any way. Thus she leaves out a major talking point and planning point that many teens do care about.She also fails to remind teens that they might want to consult with their religious leader when talking about contraceptives in their sexual relationship. She also does teens a disservice by claiming that condoms will prevent AIDS...there are several studies showing that this is a dangerous assumption. ... Read more

Product Description
Incubator Views is an exciting, moving account in which the author relays a compelling narrative from four different viewpoints—the diametrically opposing perspectives of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, the teen mother, her younger brother, and the preemie herself.

Incubator Views reveals the preemie's struggle to survive against confounding odds in a harrowing and tragic family life and the crucial transfer to the foster care system.

This story is an utterly engaging, vivid, often painful look at the struggle of distinctly different members of a family and those around them at a critical juncture in all of their lives.

Liquid warmth and darkness: it surrounded me in a shroud of comfort, a gentle awakening into an awareness of my life and of the womb that held me. I sensed and responded even though I couldn't always understand. The cocoon of peace and solace: mine until I came to sense that I shared in the life of another--larger, stronger. She may have held me in her womb; but somehow I didn't know her. She remained a stranger that carried me down a path, provided for me, yet only acknowledged me with tears. I wondered: have I harmed her? My dependence upon her left me no choice but to wait: observe in a quiet role while our lives together, then separate, unraveled into a dark future unbeknownst to either of us.

Customer Reviews (2)

a real page turner and tear jerker
I read this book in less than a day I couldn't put it down. I was interested in it because I myself was a teen mom to two preemies. While reading the story I found myself tearing up multiple times. I look back to when the two seperate times I was sitting in the nicu trying not to breakdown. After reading this story cover to cover I thought about how lucky I am to have not had to go through all of the same struggles that these characters endured. I would highly recommend reading this book. (I did spot a few errors though I believe peyton mathie needs a better editor :) )

Preemie, Teen Pregnancy
Reading about preemies has been a source of interest to me!I also had been born premature!However, I certainly didn't encounter the same types of problems that a micro preemie faces!I just experienced becoming a grand aunt of a 3 lb. 10 oz. baby girl!This little one just had open heart surgery on 9/8/09!She is a real fighter!I'm finding out that it really depends on the family of an unwed mother and how they accept the situation she's in!Dawn E. Lowenstein ... Read more

Product Description
A guide for pregnant adolescents in making decisions, getting help, planning the future, and generally, surviving. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

did you do this with your child?
"the problems with teens today is that they do not" care.Mostly Ithink that it's the parents fault fornot telling them about sex and then sitting downtalking to them about it.this way things like what happend inthis book dont happen to you.alot of parents say that wont happen tomy kids i ttaought them about sex,but the question is now is did you teachthem everything or just what you thaought they need to know?Think aboutit.Do you even know if your kid/kids are sexually active?You may think thattheywill tell you but it takes alot for a kid to tell there parents thatthey are having sex and that is what most parents dont think about. maybeyou should.Make the difference talk to your kids about sex and tell themeverything. ... Read more

Product Description
Finding yourself pregnant as a teenager is a scary thing. There are so many issues involved. Yet it is still difficult for teens to talk about sex. Teens share their own personal experiences to provide further insight on this issue. There is a further resources page that gives readers assistance in finding other books, Web sites, and organizations that provide additional information on teen pregnancy. ... Read more

Product Description
Written specifically for teenage parents, who must blend their own needs as adolescents with the tremendous needs of their children, this book advocates gentle teaching rather than the harsh punishment too often utilized by parents. Teen parents and former teen parents share their viewpoints on such issues as spanking, disciplining a child while living with one's own parents, toilet training, and other topics of concern during a child's first three years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must read for pregnant & parenting teenagers
I am very impressed by this book.It is well written and in language a teenager can understand.I used this book while preparing to teach a class to pregnant and parenting teens and found that even adults have something to learn by reading this book (although it is certainly not written for an adult reader.)The information is concise and correct.It focuses on positive parenting to improve the parent's self-esteem while teaching the parent to develop the self-esteem of their child.Not only does the book pose the difficulties of being a parent, it also points out support systems and strategies for inproving a child's behavior.Most importantly, the book looks at parenting from an adolecent's point-of-view.The authors did an excellent job of addressing real parenting dilemmas, but they were able to tailor the material to an adolescent's perspective.I also appreciated that the authors included comments from teen parent's in the teen's words.I think all parenting classes should have one book for each student to read.

Review from a teen mom
I thought that this book was very good. I loved the quotes from actual teen parents- I could really relate. The suggestions were very good. The only thing I didnt really like was that there wasn't enough focus on teen parents that were possitive. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for teens who straddle the world of adolescence and parenthood, this parenting guide is geared to the special needs of very young parents. Interviews with teen mothers and fathers reinforce discussions of the stages of development during the first year-breast- and bottle-feeding, moving to solid food, teaching and playing with babies, providing appropriate health care, and ensuring their safety. The needs of the young parents are stressed along with the developmental needs of the child. Presented in an accesible, teen-friendly format, this book is appropriate for all parents, whether they are married, single but living together, together but living separately, or a single parent alone. ... Read more

Product Description
If knowledge is power, then the knowledge sources we turn to are critically important. This handbook offers an accessible, reliable source of science-based facts on teen sex, contraception, pregnancy, parenthood, and sexually transmitted infections. The handbook can be used as supplementary material in sex education classes, as a resource left on the coffee table for teenagers to peruse, or as a stimulus for parent-teen discussions about sex and its consequences.

The five chapters include:
Chapter 1: Teen Sex
Puberty and Peers
Sexual Partners
Trends in Teen Sexual Activity: Women
Reasons to be Cautious The Risks of Early Sex
Trends in Teen Sexual Activity: Men
Family Influences
Knowledge and Behavior
Where You Grow Up Makes a Difference
The Transition to Being Sexually Experienced
Everyone s Doing It...Or Are They?
Quiz: Are You a Sexpert?

Chapter 2: Contraceptive Decision Making
Contraceptive Methods: They re Not All Alike
Barriers to Teen Contraceptive Use
Factors that Favor Teen Contraceptive Use
Choosing to Use Contraceptives
Trends in Teen Contraception: Women
Trends in Teen Contraception: Men
Contraceptive Use During First Intercourse
Contraceptive Use at Most Recent Intercourse
Contraceptive Failure
Quiz: Are You a Sexpert?

Chapter 3: Teen Pregnancy
The Scope of Teen Pregnancy in the U.S.
States Where Teen Pregnancy is Most Common
Cities Where Teen Pregnancy is Most Common
The Influence of Legislation
International Comparisons
From Sex to Birth
Yes, I m Pregnant
Quiz: Are You a Sexpert?

Chapter 4: Teen Parenting
Head Count of Babies Born to Teens
Adoption
Abortion
For Whom the Teen Wedding Bells Ring
Parenting Without Marriage
Education
Children of Teen Parents
Fathers: Effects on Teen Dads
Cost to Society
Earning Power
Quiz: Are You a Sexpert?

Chapter 5: Teen Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sex Can Do More Than Get Teens Pregnant: STIs
Common STIs and Their Symptoms
Health Consequences of STIs
Pregnancy Prevention Does Not Always Equal STI Prevention
Preventing STIs
Quiz: Are You a Sexpert? ... Read more

Product Description
Everyone in Kingswood Heights, Ohio, knows that Corrin McCrae, a stubby little PR director with great legs, chipmunk cheeks, a moderate overbite, and an oddball sense of humor that's often in conflict with her short fuse, is a success. A 42-year-old widow, she's vice president of an advertising and public relations agency and the mother of beautiful, brilliant 16-year-old Shelley, who's headed for a career in medicine. Corrin also is blessed with close friends, especially Tom Fielding, the rector of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, who has a secret only Corrin knows; Barbara Gibson, her college sorority sister; and Rob Haley, a client who becomes a lover.However, when Shelley becomes pregnant, the relationships that have formed Corrin's support structure undergo seismic change. In an odyssey that takes her from Ohio to Maine to Florida, she suffers the greatest tragedy of her life and learns that family ties, whether by blood or affinity, are the ones that last. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Characters You Can't Forget!
I'm pretty simple. If I enjoy a novel, it gets a good review. If I don't enjoy a novel, it doesn't!I liked "Back Again To Me,"Back Again to Me by Gretchen Hirsch. Shelley and Corrin and most of the others in "The Heights" are characters you keep thinking about even after you've finished the book.It's a quick read, but deeper than you might imagine!

Five Stars!!
Gretchen Hirsch's first work of fiction is a compelling tale of family, friends and teen pregnancy.Main character Corrin McCrae, a strong, independent woman, struggles to keep her life under control when her teenage daughter announces she's pregnant.As Corrin and her daughter tackle the tough decision of whether or not to keep the baby or put it up for adoption, their friends and family play both supporting and detracting roles, leaving Corrin to discover that sometimes friendships are not what they seem--and neither are relationships with family.

As Corrin learns who her allies--and her enemies--are, we are treated to a heartwarming story on what it means to be a true friend and the true meaning of family.The novel's title could well be a double entendre, in that it refers not only to the baby in question, but also to a story and characters that you will find coming back to you again and again.

I can't recommend Back Again to Me highly enough!

Well written and emotionally moving

Back Again to Me is a moving story about relationships in our lives.Those connections between mother and daughter as well as family and friends. It explores the history of a single mother whose relationships through her life, both negative & postive, come to light when she and her pregnant teenage daughter have some tough decisions about the baby she's carrying.The characters are alive and the writing is impeccable. The story moved me to tears and is a good work to read and discuss with women's book clubs.

Reviewed for Midwest Book Review
Corrin McRae has a temper, is fast to voice her opinions, and tends to be a bit of a manipulator and controller. She married the love of her life, only to lose him a few weeks before her daughter Shelly was born. Corrin worked hard as a single mother and did her best to raise Shelly, now 16 years of age with aspirations of being a doctor. Having achieved the title of PR director with the goal of owning her own agency, Corrin is stunned when her daughter tells her she is pregnant and wants to keep the baby. Even more unsettling to Corrin is the fact that her daughter told two of her close friends before confiding in her because she was afraid of her reaction. Although Corrin initially wants Shelly to give the baby up for adoption, she soon discovers she agrees with Shelly's decision. As Shelly goes through her pregnancy, Corrin discovers things about herself through shared insights of family and friends and begins to realize that her perceptions of her own life and family may not have been as true as she thought them to be.

Back Again to Me offers fascinating character studies of Corrin, her daughter Shelly, and the friends and family that surround them. Family dynamics, interactions of characters, and conflicts between mother and daughter over life decisions are intriguing and well-delivered. The book moves at a fast pace, leading the reader through a young girl's journey through pregnancy and the difficult choices she must make, along with her mother's peripheral journey back to her past.

A Mother's Love
Back Again to Me will touch something in each reader's heart about what it means to be a family and, especially, a mother. This very realistic, heart-rending story depicts Corrin's balancing act of drawing close and letting go of her young daughter (Shelley) and then, in turn, her daughter's struggle with her own child. It is a timeless story for generations and one that can be enjoyed by grandmothers, mothers, and daughters. (Men, too!)

Ms. Hirsch is a gifted writer and provides the reader a wonderful story. I applaud her for her dispassionate portrayal of the choice of adoption; that in and of itself speaks volumes about the value of each life. I wish that in the discussion questions in the back there would have been more information about various forms of adoption beyond the one chosen in the story.

... Read more

Product Description

The terms 'teen pregnancy' and 'teenage parenting' are rife with moral accusations and factual ambiguities. Arising from a conference at Ryerson Polytechnical University, these nine original essays delimit and clarify the multifarious facts that affect how Canadian society both responds to, and creates, the phenomenon of the teen parent. The contributors bring expertise from diverse disciplines - sociology, history, and philosophy - to address the pressing question: what should social policy be on the issues of teen pregnancy and parenting?

An analysis of data from Nova Scotia discusses the material consequences of adolescent parenting - more poverty, less income, and less home ownership - but also challenges certain assumptions about the extent of such consequences. A discussion of focus-group results reveals that consideration of the socioeconomic barriers facing young single mothers, when given the necessary attention, suggests an often ignored set of issues relevant to judgments about responsibility: the experience of personal growth, the struggle to solve their own problems, and the search for independence. Delving in the ethics of responsibility and untangling the meaning of the term 'social construction' sets the context for policy debates on sophisticated, non-reductive terrain.

The study's new findings, the interdisciplinary approach, and the Canadian focus makes this unique gathering of facts and ideas of central importance to students of sociology, health and women's studies, philosophy, urban youth culture, and public policy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great
This book was awsome. It really showed the issue of Teen Pregnancy. I thought it was great because you could see that there are many different attitudes towards it. Enjoy. ... Read more

Product Description
Each year in the United States nearly 1 million girls between the ages of fifteen and nineteen become pregnant. The text looks at the realities of teen sexual activity, the theories for preventing and reducing teen pregnancy, the tough choices that pregnant teens are faced with, and offers personal stories from young mothers. (20020601) ... Read more