Synopsis: In The Pregnancy Project, Gaby details how she was able to fake her own pregnancy—hiding the truth from even her siblings and boyfriend’s parents—and reveals all that she learned from the experience. But more than that, Gaby’s story is about fighting stereotypes, and how one girl found the strength to come out from the shadow of low expectations to forge a bright future for herself.
The Pregnancy Project first came on my radar in January, when I watched the Lifetime movie based on the book . I had never heard the story and how could it not peak my interest? A teenager who faked her pregnancy for a school project? What was that all about? While the movie was decent, it left me with more questions, so I headed to the library for the book.
Luckily, this memoir provides a concise and pretty powerful story of not just Gabby’s struggles, but her family’s struggles as well. This is the first book in a while I’ve actually had an emotional reaction too.
To truly understand what Gabby did you have to learn the story of her mom who became a teen mom at 14 and was forced to drop out of school and into marriage with an abusive man who treated her like a maid. Her mother goes through a lot before she and her 8 kids are able to get back on their feet.
As Gabby says Teen pregnancy is something of an epidemic in her family, Gabby has 31 nieces and nephews. At one point in the book, Gabby notes her mom was single handly taking care of 4 generations of her family at once.
Gabby lives in Toppenish, Washington a place where 98% of the kids in her class are on reduced lunch. Though her project she discovers the hardships of teen pregnancy and the prejudices associated with it. I think she does a remarkable job of explaining the reality of teen pregnancy and what is so wrong with MTV’s Teen Mom.
This was just a good book and pretty easy read, I read it in one sitting. I think it’s a great intro to people who want to read non-fiction.
With a movie and a book out, I hope Gabby is helping get herself through college and making her and her mom’s life a little bit easier. They truly deserve it.
I’m a lifelong reader who started blogging about YA books in 2011 but now I read in just about every genre! I love YA coming of age stories, compelling memoirs and genre bending SFF. You can find me talking all things romance at Romance and Sensibility.