Jane Against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reporductive Rights

From the publisher: From award-winning author Karen Blumenthal, Jane Against the World is

deep and passionate look at the riveting history of the fight for reproductive rights in the United States.

Tracing the path to the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade and the continuing battle for women's rights, Blumenthal examines, in a straightforward tone, the root causes of the current debate around abortion and repercussions that have affected generations of American women.
This eye-opening book is the perfect tool to facilitate difficult discussions and awareness of a topic that is rarely touched on in school but affects each and every young person. It's also perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Deborah Heiligman.
This journalistic look at the history of abortion and the landmark case of Roe v. Wade is an important and necessary book.

Jane Against the World is a comprehensive review of the history of reproductive rights in the United States that led up to the landmark trial. In the early 1800s, abortion in the early stages of pregnancy was completely legal in the US. As had been the case throughout much of recorded history, a fetus wasn't considered alive or human until the woman felt it moving inside ('quickening'). Until this point, both the public and churches had little issue with abortion. The book follows the history of women's rights through the decades, through the work of Margaret Sanger and later the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion, a group of religious leaders from various denominations who united to refer women for abortions. Jane Roe isn't even introduced until halfway through the book, underscoring the importance of laying the foundation of the legal and social framework that came before the trial. The case takes up the majority of the second half of the book with some space allotted for the impact of the decision.

I found this book to be incredibly informative. Although marketed as a YA book, I never felt like the language or subject matter was watered down, and I especially appreciated the legal aspects of the cases being explained so well. The section dealing with the court case itself is (necessarily) dry. I do wish that the section detailing the 80s through today, when abortion protests became more violent and state's laws came under attack, was able to have more pages devoted to it. All in all, I highly recommend this book.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

I will be honest - I read this book because of the cover. I was intrigued by it from the first time I saw it. Realistic fictional YA novels, especially those narrated in the first person, are not high on my preferred reading list. But this is one of the best I've read lately.

I liked the book. It had a strong main character and good narrative flow. I think this could be a fine reading choice for any young woman feeling judged. There were many good secondary characters who helped Hermione through her trauma.  When Hermione tells her minister that she is scheduled for an abortion, for example, he says, “If someone starts throwing around stupid words like ‘It’s a gift,’ or ‘It’s in God’s plan,’ you come right here, and I’ll find you ten ways in which it isn’t.” (p. 129) 

The cover photo turned out to be a perfect choice for the book as well. It's an excellent representation of the story inside. The cheerleader on the cover is both at the top of her game and extremely vulnerable, partly in sunlight and partly in shadow.

The publisher description is misleading, I think. The thing I would emphasize most when describing this book is not the relationship between Hermione and Polly but how Hermione stays strong, grows into adulthood, and capably handles her traumatic experience.

A “reveal” about three fifths of the way in was hinted at from the first chapter and didn't come as a surprise, nor did I think it really added to the story. It's not enough to write an issue book these days, you must write an issues book. 

I originally thought it was too soon to have a teen heroine named Hermione, but that didn't end up bothering me at all. One thing I didn't feel was the connection to Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, aside from the character names. It’s cute that the team name is the Golden Bears, but some of the language trying to tie this book to the plot of The Winter’s Tale is quite belabored.

That aside, I recommend this to readers of realistic young adult fiction, especially readers looking for empowering messages for young women about rape and choice.