Screwed by: Laurie Plissner

Title: Screwed
Author: Laurie Plissner
Publisher: Merit Press
Pages: 300
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher Requested Review

Description:

Grace was the girl who always did everything right, until the night she fell for a boy's sleazy line and became pregnant. Nick couldn't care less about pretty math-geek Grace or the baby he fathered. He's had a dozen girls like her, and he'll have a dozen more. When Grace confesses to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they deliver a shocker: They've scheduled an abortion. All they want is to pretend this never happened.

When Grace balks, they literally throw her out in the street. A rich, elderly neighbor takes her in, and, with the help of the friendship she needs in Charlie, the old woman's great-nephew, she must make the toughest choice of her young life. The people she believed in were only playing a role, while others, in an unlikely way, are true heroes.

Grace can never have the life she planned, but she has one chance to be the person she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Her choice will cost her, big time, either way--and no one can make it except her.

My Thoughts: 

Grace is in so much trouble when the book starts out.  After 7 pregnancy tests she learns that she is pregnant and totally screwed.  Good girl Grace ended up confiding in her best friend Jennifer not sure where to go.  Jennifer can't believe how badly Grace has screwed up first by having sex and not telling her best friend then being so stupid as to get knocked up.  Jennifer warns Grace about telling her parents knowing their religious views will only lead Grace to more drama then she needs.  

Of course Grace believing or wanting to believe her parents will be her parents and not cold calculating morons well let's say all hell breaks loose.  They cut her off and refuse to talk to her and only change their mind to drive Grace to a clinic for an abortion.  This stuns Grace as they have always been pro-life.  After learning through the clinic what an abortion is about decides she won't have one which leaves Grace's parents with one option throwing Grace out of the house.  Grace's neighbor Mrs. Teitelbaum comes to Grace's rescue much to Grace's parents dismay, she takes Grace to her house and helps her figure out what to do.  Grace also meets Mrs. Teitelbaum's great-nephew Charlie who seems to be on Grace's side.  He even has a strong dislike for Nick who wants Grace to have an abortion.  Nick even went so far as to wonder if the child is his.

For one thing I had a huge dislike for Nick and Grace's parents for just kicking the young Grace to the curb, yes she made a mistake but throwing her out won't help her.  I applaud Mrs. T for helping Grace in her time of need.  Jennifer I could give or take, she can be a tad brutal for my taste but it works in this book.  I think Grace gets handed a bad deal with Nick.  They may have only had three dates but his treating of her leaves much to be desired.  

I also applaud Ms. Plissner for her ability to write this book as a raw look into teenage pregnancy, add in religious parents who are afraid of public image and I think she really hit it with this story.  Having had a baby at nineteen I can relate to some of the feelings Grace has and they are so real.  It's a great coming of age story for a young girl who made one mistake the first time she had sex, then tries to make the best of a crappy situation.

What an incredible up and down story about finding yourself and making your own way.  And finding out that someone can love us even when we think we've hit rock bottom and sometimes you have to do what works for you regardless of what others want for you.