Review: Teen Pregnancy"This volume in the Issues that Concern You series opens with the group of girls from Massachusetts whose notorious "pregnancy pact" made news in 2008. Bristol Palin is another of the teenage mothers who is familiar trope in many of the articles taken from newspapers and general interest magazines ranging from "The Washington Post" to "CosmoGirl!". Given that the teen birth rate in the U.S. is double that of any other industrialized nation, and that pregnancy among girls 15 to 17 increased by 3 percent 2005 to 2006 alone, teen pregnancy is a reality for most school communities. This collection of articles provides excellent fodder for students in health education courses or working on social issues projects. Each essay includes full original publication information, and the text is chunked into subheadings that make the articles accessible. There is a mix of research and commentary.

There are dismal statistics throughout. There is discussion of adoption as an option for unwed teens, and first-person narratives from two girls. The introduction advances that whatever their side of the political spectrum, ideologues agree that teen pregnancy is undesirable. That absolute sharply contradicts the demonstrated feelings of the young mothers themselves. The range of perspectives also includes descriptions of the feelings of validation and purpose these young women experience from child-rearing, as well as the sense of accomplishment, unconditional love and purpose in their lives that a baby can engender. The validation of that relationship makes the book unique. Teen Pregnancy features an appendix with quick demographic facts in bullet format. There is a bibliography of books and periodicals, organizational contact information including websites, and an index.

Recommended for school libraries."--Reference Unbound, April 2010.