Susan Carlton

Chloe is seventeen and pregnant- even though she used protection the one and only time she had sex. It’s 1971 and Roe v Wade is still two years in the future, and abortion is only legal in California and New York. Chloe lives in Arizona. Lucky for her, she has an aunt who lives in San Francisco and a friend willing to take a road trip with her over winter break. So Chloe and MJ find themselves in ‘Frisco with no real idea where aunt Kiki lives, unable to get hold of her by phone, and it’s getting late. That pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the trip- nothing goes easily or as planned. Abortion may be legal, but there are still hoops to jump through to obtain one, especially for someone under 18. Add to this Chloe’s occasional doubts about her proposed action, her feelings about her previous relationship with MJ’s brother, and the fact that Kiki is a stoner performance artist and you’ve got it.

The book is very short, and I think because of this the characters aren’t developed very well. MJ seems to serve as chauffer and conscience; Kiki is the cool adult; Chloe’s mother is the feminist. MJ’s brother, Teddy, is the good guy Chloe should have waited for- the perfect, understanding guy. Even Chloe’s portrayal seems rather surface, which is odd, given that the book is from her POV. But the author does get the feel of the time and place well. The characters all fit that time and place, even if they aren’t deep. I knew people like Kiki and Chloe’s mother! It’s a very quick read, and while not great, it’s not bad, either, and would serve as a good book for a young teen to introduce them to the issue of abortion.

I do have to say that it was alarming to find an era I lived through listed as ‘historical fiction’!… (más)

I love historical fiction! Okay, the seventies was not that long ago, but that decade is completely different from now (or any other time really). While the story didn't completely grab me, the setting sure did.

Chloe is seventeen and pregnant. More specifically, Chloe is seventeen and pregnant and does not plan to be for much longer. She travels to San Francisco with her best friend to get an abortion where it is legal (although there are a few hoops to jump through). While there though, things are not as quick and snappy as she had hoped. She gets wrapped up in a summer romance that wasn't quite as over as she thought, a best friend who is trying to be supportive but does not approve, and a wacky free-love type hippy aunt.

This was one of those books where I felt like a was reading a story. I know, that sounds like "well.... duh." But what I mean is, it was so short that I didn't have time to really connect to the characters, whiteness development or care about what was going to happen. I was reading a story rather than being in the story, or completely immersed. I wanted to see what was going to happen next, I just wasn't effected either way. With a book so short, it is hard to not turn out like that. That being said, that is not really a criticism, that is just a statement.

I really liked "witnessing" the seventies. Spoiler Alert (not really) I was not alive during the seventies. It is interesting to read about a time that was not that long ago, but still completely different from anything I've witnessed. Like I said, I love historical fiction, however; a lot of times it seems rather fake. The flower-power setting of Love and Haight seemed highly realistic and was definitely entertaining.… (más)

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book since I first heard about it. It was a breath of fresh air. A young adult book that was original, light, and fun to read. I love the way the main character, Charlotte, thinks and speaks and all of the other characters are able to stand on their own as well. Every one is so uniquely different which makes each character instantly likable, even on their not-so-good days.

While the book covers only a short time within Charlotte’s life, it’s a very important week that will change her life forever. It was a joy to read and breeze through, no need to over think anything or try to unravel any underlying messages. It was just the type of book I needed after being weighed down with so many life or death heavy paranormal books as of late. While there was one moment that got me upset with a few characters within the book, it was so realistic, it had to happen, and things had to be better in the end for it. A great read for anyone who’s ever dreamed of escaping!… (más)

personal response: I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't quite what I initially thought it would be. I am a big fan of Maine so I grabbed it from the library not knowing what to expect. I enjoyed the humor and reading about the small town Maine life, but I couldn't really get into the story as I had a hard time identifying with the main character's struggles. I haven't really felt this way about a book before to the point where it was that apparent.
Grades 9 - 12

curricular connections:
Language Arts / English / Literature: group read and discussion. Complexities of character and similar experience… (más)