I read this in one sitting. Thought it was very insightful and was a nice change seeing a girl stand up against everyone telling her one thing and her choosing the right thing.
In Angel's Choice you read about a teenage girl who becomes pregnant and all the decisions she must make. While I did enjoy the book I felt that some of it was pretty obvious that it could not, or would not happen in real life.
When I was a teenager my teen best friend did become pregnant and then married and became pregnant again. She was not treated badly by the other students in the school becuase of it, if anything she was treated much better than she was before she became a pregnant teen.
I do think that Lauren did an excellent job describing the feelings of the parents. That was very realistic. I was even moved to tears when Angel's father told her how much her loved her while they went on their fishing trip. I was dissapointed however that just because Angel was having a baby it was said that this would probably be their last fishing trip. Well ok, maybe the author was just trying to express that when you have a baby some parts of your life are never the same but I can think of a million different ways to express that without using a fishing trip (which imo is rediculous). Of course you can always get a baby sitter and go fishing with your dad!
All in all this was a pretty enjoyable read.
When I was a teenager my teen best friend did become pregnant and then married and became pregnant again. She was not treated badly by the other students in the school becuase of it, if anything she was treated much better than she was before she became a pregnant teen.
I do think that Lauren did an excellent job describing the feelings of the parents. That was very realistic. I was even moved to tears when Angel's father told her how much her loved her while they went on their fishing trip. I was dissapointed however that just because Angel was having a baby it was said that this would probably be their last fishing trip. Well ok, maybe the author was just trying to express that when you have a baby some parts of your life are never the same but I can think of a million different ways to express that without using a fishing trip (which imo is rediculous). Of course you can always get a baby sitter and go fishing with your dad!
All in all this was a pretty enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Teenage pregnancy can't realistically be lived in only 250 pages, but Lauren Baratz-Logsted handles this controversial topic more successfully than most. ANGEL'S CHOICE begins like many other teen pregnancy stories with one bad decision; however, Angel's voice narrates a little something extra into the story that's really hard to explain.
There is the upset family, the lost friendships, the ostracism in the school classroom, plus the roller coaster of emotional and physical turmoil a teen pregnancy entails. Angel is faced with the choices of abortion, adoption, or becoming a young mother. She knows what a friend before her has chosen but realizes it isn't right for her. The less-than-happy teen father and her own unhappy parents have ideas of their own. Ultimately, the choice is hers and hers alone.
Although this subject is complicated and huge, the dialogue in much of the novel seems real and genuine. Angel confronts her obstacles bravely. After discussions with her grandmother and her aunt, she learns others before her have made similar painful decisions. Her attempts to remain a normal teen often succeed but are tempered with realism and an uncertain view of the future.
Angel's final realization is that survival would not be possible without the support and love of those around her. This is a book that should be included in any collection aimed at helping teens face the decisions of today and their consequences.
Teenage pregnancy can't realistically be lived in only 250 pages, but Lauren Baratz-Logsted handles this controversial topic more successfully than most. ANGEL'S CHOICE begins like many other teen pregnancy stories with one bad decision; however, Angel's voice narrates a little something extra into the story that's really hard to explain.
There is the upset family, the lost friendships, the ostracism in the school classroom, plus the roller coaster of emotional and physical turmoil a teen pregnancy entails. Angel is faced with the choices of abortion, adoption, or becoming a young mother. She knows what a friend before her has chosen but realizes it isn't right for her. The less-than-happy teen father and her own unhappy parents have ideas of their own. Ultimately, the choice is hers and hers alone.
Although this subject is complicated and huge, the dialogue in much of the novel seems real and genuine. Angel confronts her obstacles bravely. After discussions with her grandmother and her aunt, she learns others before her have made similar painful decisions. Her attempts to remain a normal teen often succeed but are tempered with realism and an uncertain view of the future.
Angel's final realization is that survival would not be possible without the support and love of those around her. This is a book that should be included in any collection aimed at helping teens face the decisions of today and their consequences.
