The Best and Hardest Thing

August 23, 2010
Written in verse, picture book author Brisson's first work for teens explores the intense emotions of a 15-year-old over the course of her pregnancy. Molly has grown up with her grandmother, shouldering responsibilities beyond her age, and learning to make herself "quiet, small, and good." Tired of going unnoticed, Molly believes that cute and enigmatic Grady may help to change her persona: "I'm giving myself a makeover,/ head to foot,/ inside and out./ No more/ Good Girl/Saint of the Day/Miss Perfect." But following their one-night stand, Molly grapples with shame and fear that she might be pregnant. Experimenting with different forms (from villanelle to limerick) introduced in poetry class, Molly's tone is often contrite ("I don't know much about him at all—/ so why did I think I knew/ he would use a condom?"), while other poems are humorous ("Question: How Is a Pregnant Girl Like a Library Book?). Molly's decision may move readers, but her earlier vacillation between difficult choices—"My problem isn't making a decision;/ it's recognizing the right one/ once I've made it"—is where the material is most inspired. Ages 12–up.

May 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Fifteen-year-old Molly Biden is finished with being the good girl. Armed with a new look, she targets the mysterious, hot new guy, Grady Dillon. Fearful that she might be outmaneuvered by an older girl in the scramble for his affections, Molly makes a quick and fateful decision to have unprotected sex with him. Predictably (a clearly pregnant teen girl graces the book's cover), Molly becomes pregnant. She tells her story in verse, a format ripe for the emotional immediacy of an unplanned teen pregnancy. In this case, however, the format's potential is left untapped. Molly's voice does not ring true to a teen, and her words often feel forced into the verse. This clunkiness is heightened when free verse turns into specific poetic forms, which often feel incongruous with the subject at hand. Ultimately, Molly's story skims the surface, but never deeply immerses readers in the loneliness and depth of her current situation. For a deeper, raw glimpse into teen pregnancy and a fall from grace, steer readers to Ellen Hopkins"'s Crank" (S & S, 2004) or Linda Oatman High's "Planet Pregnancy" (Front St, 2008)."Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT"

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