Customer Reviews

Angel's Choice

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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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.

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"

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!

Angel's Choice was the best book I've read in a long time! I'm so glad that Lauren has written this book. My best friend is currently pregnant at 16 and it really helped me to understand her pregnancy better. It even helped me of what I thought of myself and my future goals. I think that every teenager should read this book. My favorite character was Angel because she was a very strong person to keep her baby even though she got accepted in to the college of her dreams and her family had very high expectations of her. I read Angel's Choice in 2 days. I just couldn't put it down!
- Courtney Jelonek

Lauren Baratz-Logsted writes a week-by-week young adult novel that chronicles the journey of a high school senior's pregnancy: from her decision to keep the baby to the obstacles she must overcome as she faces impending single motherhood.

After a few too many one night, high school senior, Angel Hansen, experiences her first time with a guy she hardly knows after her crush hooks up with someone else. Ironically, after he drops her off, he tosses Angel his phone number and sarcastically says, "Call me if you're pregnant". Two months later she makes the phone call. From difficult decisions to the consequences the decision presents to her family and friends, Angel's Choice is a brutally honest depiction of a teenage pregnancy.

A recommended read for both mothers and daughters. The dialogue is real, the voice is real, and the obstacles are real. For a frank peek into an expecting teen's world, without a pro-life or pro-choice hidden message, read Angel's Choice.

I bought this book and read it in one sitting. Angel, dealing with her unexpected pregnancy, is a smart, funny, self-aware kid who is learning not only to stop and think, but to trust herself and her choices. Her voice is fresh and never too adult (a pet peeve of mine). The story deals with questions of morality that many teens deal with every day, and its treatment of those issues is honest without being judgmental or sensational (which you see a lot in YA books dealing with "issues").

Teen readers will enjoy the chance to eavesdrop on the life of a girl whose choices (and lack of choices) changed her life forever.

This wonderfully written story about a young girl who makes a bad move and then decides to become an adult about the results is moving, touching and realistic.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Angel's story. You can see the maturity this teenage grows through as she has to make some tough choices -

Absolutely wonderfully written with grace and sensitivity.

Buy it.

I read Angel's Choice in one big gulp last night and had to come in here and say what I think of it. It is a really superb book on a really problematic topic. Teen pregnancy and the abortion debate are two topics which polarize people more quickly than almost anything in this country. Everyone is on one side of the fence or the other, and neither side listens to the other, it seems.

This book is refreshing in that it shows the topic from the point of view of the teenage girl herself, and portrays her anxieties clearly, both the ones that led her to have inappropriate sex and that led her to the choice she makes. I like that her parents and friends aren't sugarcoated, and you see the warts in them as they deal with the change in their lives that Angel's choice brings about, because it is never just one person who is affected by teen pregnancy, but the teen's whole community, family and friends. Ms. Baratz-Logsted is to be commended for showing all sides of the issue here in a very readable and entertaining way. I was really drawn into the world of the novel and really engaged by all the characters.

A side note to Amazon. Why don't you change the picture on the site to match the actual cover of the book?

ANGEL'S CHOICE begins in typical teenage fashion. A girl, a boy, a party and a very bad decision. Angel Hansen is a senior in high school and her plans for the future included graduating, going to Yale, and becoming a novelist. She's always been the smart girl. But at the end-of-summer party, she has a lapse in judgement that will change her reputation and affect the rest of her life. With all options available to her, what choice will Angel make?

ANGEL'S CHOICE takes an honest look at teenage pregnancy and the decisions that go along with such a difficult situation. Taking a walk in Angel's shoes is not easy. But it is heartwarming and emotional and realistic.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted tackles a difficult topic without judgement. ANGEL'S CHOICE is heart-warming and sincere and a must read for any teenage girl.

Couldn't put this book down. I read it over the weekend. really well written and believable. I've read all of Lauren's books and I think this is her best. I really cared about Angel and wanted to know what her decision would be. Great job Lauren.