Saturday, April 17, 2010

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

This author was on a read-alike list for Jodi Picoult, whose work I love. From the beginning, the similarities were obvious. The story evolved similar to Picoult's, but without a legal battle or "big" surprise twist at the end--neither of which I missed.

This book is the story of four women and their daughters, all best friends. The girls, instigated by one's attempt to hide her own unplanned pregnancy, agree to a pregnancy pact. Because they love their own mothers, they want to create another generation and they want to do it together. As their secrets unfold, we learn the details of the pact, as well as the complexities of their relationships with each other, their families, and the community.

As principal of the small town's high school, one of the mothers, Susan, is dealt the majority of the blame for the girls' pact. Because she was pregnant at 17 and overcame many obstacles to rise to her current position, some of the town's elders push Susan to resign because they think she is not the right type of role model for their children. Ultimately, Susan's friends, students and the majority of the community rally around her and help secure her position.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, and I, for one, will be reading others by this author.

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