afro8921's review against another edition
5.0
Angela Johnson is one of my favorite teen authors. Her stories combine just the right element of realism with lyrical language. I absolutely loved Bobby's description of his baby feather and the love he feels for her is so poignant! Ms. Johnson has not painted a portrait of a glossed over unrealistic view of fatherhood through the eyes of a young man. Bobby experiences the pain of being separated from past pursuits, changes in the relationships with his mom, dad, and his friends. Most notably, the change in the relationship with his girlfriend. The story centers around two teen aged parents trying to make the best decision for their unborn child. Excellent read for tweens and teens who have dealt with the topic of teen aged pregnancy, or knows someone who has.
sde's review against another edition
4.0
This was an extremely quick read, and a moving story about a teenage boy becoming a father and having to take care of his daughter. I thought it was very honest - all is not good or bad. The difficulty of being a dad, getting no sleep and not being able to hang out with his friends is balanced with his extreme and unexpected love for his daughter and the chance it gives him to gain maturity and insight. I felt that the ending was melodramatic and unnecessarily scary - most people do not go into a vegetative state due to preeclampsia, especially a girl with caring parents and, it appears, a bit of money. I know the author had to have some sort of explanation as to why the boy is the one who ends up with the baby, but there are other scenarios she could have used. Also, the back cover makes it sound like the bulk of the book is about the couple deciding what to do about the baby - abortion, adoption, keep it, but that is only a small part of the story.
sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
Bobby is sixteen and has a child. This novel provides a refreshingly new perspective on teen pregnancy. Bobby, the child's father, and sole caretaker expresses the challenges and triumphs of being a young father.
The language in this novel was so vivid that I felt I could touch it.
The language in this novel was so vivid that I felt I could touch it.
sjeffery15's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
nonime's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kwbat12's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this as an audiobook, which I really enjoyed. The tone of the voice really fit the character, and I enjoyed it. I found I had to consult the book to fully comprehend what was happening. The now/then thing, the changes in tense, confused me sometimes. I really didn't expect her to die and had to re-listen to tracks because I got so puzzled about it.
kellyjcm's review against another edition
Such a moving story. Rings with truth. Spare, yet very vivid writing. Just beautiful. A quick and worthwhile read. Can't believe it took me this long.