Name of Book: Think About Teenage Pregnancy

Author: Cathryn Jakobson

Publication Data: Walker and Company, 720 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y.

10019

Appropriate Grade Levels: Middle School (6^th-9^th grades)

Developmental Domains: Personal/Social, Educational, Career

Summary of Book: This book starts by telling a story about pregnancy that is very realistic. The story is one where it has the reader imagine that a friend is pregnant and has just told you during lunch hour. It then asks the reader some thought provoking questions such as, “What would you tell the friend?” This book starts with a lot of power and emotion by the first example. Next, the book goes into statistics on pregnancy. The statistics are also very powerful and realistic. This book basically covers everything that a reader could possibly want to know about pregnancy, choices when pregnant, having a baby, statistics, why the U.S. has so many teenage pregnancies, resources, myths about getting pregnant, etc. This book is very thorough. This book also has a story about a teenager who has a baby and tells what the teenager’s day is like. This story is very real and very powerful. At the end of each chapter there are though provoking questions for the reader about that chapter’s particular subject.

Best Presentation of Lesson/Book: Small group setting. Would also be appropriate for a full classroom presentation or a health type developmental guidance lesson. Also could be used for one-on-ones with a student and a counselor, social worker, nurse or school psychologist.

Relationship or Themes to Identified Developmental Domains: Personal/Social—This book talks about the very important issue of teenage pregnancy. Educational—Students have the opportunity to learn about pregnancy and many other subcategories that revolve around this important issue. Career—Career choices and/or finishing school may have to be altered if a teenage girl becomes pregnant or if a teenage boy gets a girl pregnant.

Possible Activities Related to the Book/Lesson: This book is very educational for students in the middle school. It would also be very appropriate for high school students. This book could be used in a small group setting and each chapter could be used as a group session. This book could also be used for part of the curriculum in the area of sex education/health area. Also this book could be used in a one-on-one counseling session with a student that is sexually active, pregnant, and/or is thinking about becoming sexually active. There are already pre made questions by the author at the end of each chapter. The questions cover things such as: What are the choices for a pregnant teen? What are some of the “sexual myths” out there? What is the best way to avoid teenage pregnancy? Do you think sex on television has a good influence on teenagers or a bad influence and why? What kind of sex education is in place in your school? You could also make up some additional questions not covered in the book such as: Where could you go in your area if you wanted to get some contraceptives? What would you do if your friend told you that she was pregnant? Is there any “safe times” in a month where a girl cannot get pregnant?

Review Submitted by: Kay Nordgren, Intern

Professional School Counseling Program

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Interning 2001-2002 at Nicollet Junior High

Middle School

Burnsville, Minnesota

Intern Supervisor: Ross Braland