Baby Help (Hamilton High series) [Paperback]

Marilyn Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1997 | Series: Hamilton High series

Melissa doesn't consider herself abused—Rudy only hits her occasionally when he's drinking—until she realizes the effect his abuse is having on their child. Finally Melissa leaves Rudy, and she and Cheyenne go to the shelter for battered women. As difficulties with group living arise, however, she misses the good times with Rudy. The clarity of Melissa's decision soon fades, and she finds herself again in a dangerous situation, more trapped than ever before.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?Melissa, a senior at Hamilton High School, lives with her child, the child's father, and his mother. The teen has convinced herself that Rudy's need to control and abuse her isn't really a problem, but when he turns on their daughter, she knows she must get out and get help. As with Reynolds's other titles, this offering is a bit didactic in its intent to raise the consciousness of readers about pertinent personal and social issues. The author is very successful in creating characters that YAs will relate to and be interested in. The plot development successfully depicts the protagonist's growing awareness of her situation. Her gradual understanding of her personal rights and the increasing severity of the abuse are realistic and familiarize readers with both the emotional and practical issues involved. The dialogue is authentic and is more likely to hold the interest of reluctant readers than nonfiction titles on this topic. The title is repeated throughout as the protagonist's baby's expression of the need to do things for herself, a not-so-subtle message that asks young people to stand up for themselves and take charge of their own futures.?Melissa Gross, Beverly Hills Public Library,
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 8^-12. Being a teen mom, living with your boyfriend and his mother, and trying to finish high school are even more difficult when your boyfriend is physically and verbally abusive and his mother claims it's your fault. This is Melissa Fisher's life--a life she accepts until boyfriend Rudy begins the same abusive patterns with two-year-old Cheyenne. True to other books in her Hamilton High series (Too Soon for Jeff [1994], among others), Reynolds carefully explores the problem of partner abuse, guiding Melissa through the complexities of identifying the problem, exploring ways to escape its destructive effects, and facing the reality of living with its solution. Although she occasionally verges on the didactic, Reynolds understands Melissa's dilemma: her need for love and support and a dad for Cheyenne, the pull to return to the patterns and security of old ways, and the legal ramifications of escaping them. Good parenting techniques are incorporated naturally into the narration. Frances Bradburn --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Morning Glory Press (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885356277
• ISBN-13: 978-1885356277
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #604,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Dysfunctional Relationships
  • #97 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Social Issues > Violence

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerfully written fictional treatment, May 16, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Help (Hamilton High series) (Paperback)

The latest in the "True-to-Life from Hamilton High" series, Marilyn Reynolds' Baby Help is a novel of the nightmare of teen domestic abuse. A young mother doesn't see herself as battered because her boyfriend "only" hits her when he's been drinking... until he starts behaving abusively toward her daughter. That's when she realizes it's time to get out of the relationship - but after she reaches a shelter for battered women, she has second thoughts about leaving, which place her and her daughter's life in mortal jeopardy. Baby Help is a powerfully written fictional treatment of a very real and dangerous issue facing teens today.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner!, July 23, 2004

By 

PunkRockKitty "Amanda" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Help (Hamilton High series) (Paperback)

Marilyn Reynolds is my new favorite author! Her books capture teen issues, and all of them are so realistic. When I saw this book in the library, I decided to read it. It was the first book by Marilyn Reynolds I ever read.

~*~

'Baby Help' is the story of seventeen-year-old Melissa, who struggles with her two-year-old, Cheyenne, and her abusive boyfriend. Melissa loves Rudy, her boyfriend and the father of Cheyenne, but Rudy hits Melissa. He has for a long time, but nobody's perfect, right? That's what Melissa says, but she can't stand the fact that Rudy is so cruel. But when Rudy really hurts her, Melissa and Cheyenne go to a shelter for battered women.

This is a page-gripping, powerful story of how a teen Mom deals with her abusive lover. I reccomend this for ages 12-90! This book is great!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marilyn Reynolds does it again!, May 27, 2000

By 

PATTY RANGEL (Alhambra, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Help (Hamilton High series) (Paperback)

I first read Marilyn Reynolds' books when I was working with her son, Matt, at Alhambra High School. I was very impressed with how insightful her writing is. Baby help is no acception. I now recommend her books to my high school students and they all say the same thing - "I couldn't put it down." These books even appeal to reluctant readers because they are so well written. Everyone should read these books!