Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a book about teenage pregnancy, which means that teens (in this case, 15-year-olds) have sex and the girl gets pregnant. None of it is described, but there are discussions about condom use, abortion (the girl refuses), and other sexual references. There is also some swearing, and numerous products are mentioned.
Families who read this book could discuss the issues it raises. Why do adults insist that teens should not have sex? How will the baby affect the lives of the two teens in the future? Is the level of support and understanding they receive from their families realistic? Given Sam's family history, was this inevitable? Whose fault is it? Why did Alicia want to have, and to keep, the baby? Should her parents, or Sam, have insisted she give it up for adoption? Why or why not?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
The jacket copy says, "Nick Hornby has made a career writing about men who act like boys. Now he gives us a boy who acts like a man." That's about as perfect a description as you can get about where Hornby's first book for teens falls in his oeuvre so far. The book is filled with his characteristic wit, incisive insight, and appealingly quirky characters -- especially Sam, who thinks Tony Hawk is a god, and who gets all the advice he needs by talking to Hawk's poster.
Unlike many books on this subject, this is not a didactic screed. While it certainly doesn't soft-pedal the difficulties of Sam's life, it is in many ways a best-case scenario. The teens practice safe sex. Once Alicia becomes pregnant anyway, they tell their parents immediately, and both Sam's and Alicia's families are supportive, understanding, and help them learn how to shoulder the adult responsibilities they have stumbled into. While Sam's reactions are always believable, and truly in character, he also behaves the way you would hope a teenage boy would, given that you hope he'd never have to.
It may seem odd to say about a book on this theme, but with the author's touches of magic realism, humor, and warmhearted respect for his characters, this is a delightful read. Adult authors often stumble when they try to tackle writing a kids' book. But given the kinds of books Hornby has been writing, perhaps it should be no surprise that his first YA novel is so well done.
From The Book
Does this sound mad to you? It probably does, but I don't care, really. Who doesn't talk to someone in their heads? Who doesn't talk to God, or a pet, or someone they love who has died, or maybe just to themselves? TH . . . he wasn't me. But he was who I wanted to be, so that makes him the best version of myself, and that can't be a bad thing, to have the best version of yourself standing there on a bedroom wall and watching you. It makes you feel as though you mustn't let yourself down.
Anyway, all I'm saying is that there was this time--maybe it was a day, maybe a few days, I can't remember now--when everything seemed to have come together. And so obviously it was time to go and screw it all up.
Plot Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Sam is an ordinary, nice kid. He gets along pretty well with his single mom, who had him when she was 16. He does OK in school, and has a few not-very-close friends. He likes to skateboard, and idolizes Tony Hawk, whose poster he talks to about his troubles, and gets answers that are quotes from Hawk's autobiography, which Sam has memorized.
When he meets a pretty girl, Alicia, who wants to have sex with him, he is naturally thrilled, and they start a passionate relationship. They are careful and use condoms. After awhile the passion cools, and they split up. Soon after, Alicia discovers she is pregnant, and she is determined to have and keep the baby. So begins a journey for which neither of them is ready.
Related Books:
Nick Hornby's Adult Books:
About a Boy
High Fidelity
How to Be Good
A Long Way Down
Books about Teen Pregnancy:
Lucy Peale by Colby Rodowsky
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Related Web site:
Author's site
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Sexual ContentIt is about teen pregnancy. 15-year-olds have sex, not described, and the girl gets pregnant. A mention of "pulling out," references to people who are gay, discussions of condoms and abortion. |
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ViolenceOne brief fight. |
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LanguageSome swearing, including "s--t" and "f--k." |
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Social BehaviorTeens have sex, but deal honorably and fairly maturely with the consequences, firmly supported by their families. |
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CommercialismProducts and stores mentioned. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoSmoking, underage drinking, reference to marijuana. |
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