Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan

Title: Pregnant Pause
Author: Han Nolan
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 83% or B-
Buy It: Amazon

Nobody gets away with telling Eleanor Crowe what to do. But as a pregnant sixteenyear-old, her options are limited: move to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry the baby’s father and work at his family’s summer camp for overweight kids. Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised that she actually enjoys working with the campers. But a tragedy on the very day her baby is born starts a series of events that overwhelms Elly with unexpected emotions and difficult choices. Somehow, she must turn her usual obstinance in a direction that can ensure a future for herself—and for the new life she has created.

My Thoughts::
I saw this one coming from a mile away. With all of the teen pregnancy in shows and magazines, I knew it wouldn't be long until it reached my lovely books. Fortunately it took away any celebrity appeal and it was actually quite terrifying.

I was worried when I first started out, that everyone would be super horrible to her, and us readers will have to cringe when we read as she cries and we feel sorry for her. I didn't want that. Pregnancy isn't a tragedy, and I didn't want to feel sorry for her for something she got herself into. Nolan took a different approach that made me respect our main character instead.

Elly was very honest, to the point that it hurt to watch her talk. It was like watching a train accident in slow motion and I just couldn't look away. Thankfully, she quickly learned the error in her ways. She spoke up when it was needed, and had no problem defending herself or people she cared about. She made a lot of mistakes but was able to own up to them and accept the consequences. In many books when I get to the end I wonder if the main character changed at all. I can easily say that question did not arise. It was obvious how much Elly learned at her times at camp, and while being pregnant.

The situation felt real, and the struggle was pure. Elly's hopes would rise and fall with each new situation. So many times I wanted to strangle her so she would get her act together and decide to be realistic, but she is just a teenager. She isn't supposed to be making these decisions yet. The ending was pretty sudden, and almost seemed too easy. Though when I look back it makes sense.

Overall I had a good time reading this book. It showed me some things that TV shows don't and I even teared up a few times. I would recommend this book to ANY teen who is thinking about having sex.