Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bracing, Compelling Story, December 19, 2006
This review is from: Angel's Choice (Paperback)
It's impossible to put ANGEL'S CHOICE down. Unusually realistic, the story charts the plight of the teenaged Angel, who discovers that she's pregnant. Far from being a polemic, the author instead stays inside Angel's head as she tries to maneuver the mine field of choices that she has, both large and small. Should she get an abortion? Should she have the baby and forego college? Every avenue open to her seems fraught with compromise, and readers will be struck by the "this-is-you" verisimilitude of the author's prose. There are many surprises, including the reaction of the boyfriend's parents, and the boyfriend himself, whom Angel is devoted to. And yet, best of all is Angel herself. With sharp clarity, the author brings her to life in compelling three-dimensions. Her choice could be any young girl's choice.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, December 18, 2006
This review is from: Angel's Choice (Paperback)
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. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, Authentic Read, April 12, 2008
This review is from: Angel's Choice (Paperback)
To me, the most important factor in any book is the characters and their voices. This book, judging by how much I love it, really delivered. Angel Hansen finds herself pregnant in the middle of senior year, and while everyone else is worried about getting into college, their SATs, usual high school stuff, she's got much bigger things to worry about. Does she ever complain about it? No. Does she ever let herself wallow in self-pity? Again, no. She is, throughout the book, met with many conflicts that she does not wiggle herself out of--she combats them full-on. By no means is her pregnancy easy. Being a pregnant teen in today's society means you're constantly the object of judgment, ostracism and alienation. It takes its toll on a person. But, again, does Angel cower away? You guessed it--she doesn't. The choice she makes has strong repercussions in very important relationships in her life--with her best friend, Karin, her parents, her aunt, and Danny, a guy from school who is more than a friend but less than a boyfriend. This is what makes this novel so, so authentic. Nothing comes without a certain weight. And of course, Angel is a truly identifiable character. Sometimes while I read this book, in the many times I have read it, I was struck by how many introspective passages sounded like my own thoughts and my own reasoning. She's got her weaknesses, her fears, her imperfections, all of which perfectly shape an admirable heroine. All in all, this book's got it all: superb writing, characters you can relate to, authenticity, and one great main character. 9/10!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
