Dear Diary, I'm Pregnant: Teenagers Talk About Their Pregnancy
Grade 7 Up.  Dear Diary provides a much-needed voice?that of personal experience?to the literature on the subject. Unfortunately, it raises more questions than it answers. Ten young women recount their pregnancy experiences, how they chose to handle their situations, and the consequences of their actions. The teens represent a variety of ethnic and economic backgrounds, but many of them lived in group homes or in temporary housing. A significant number came from broken homes or had abusive father figures. Most of the interviewees also reported having multiple pregnancies before the age of 20. The book fails on several points. In the introduction, statements about the prevalence of teen abortion and reference to various "studies" are made without citations or other formal support. Also, the text includes limited information to contextualize the stories told. It suggests counseling without defining it or mentioning mental-health professionals and promotes prenatal care for women keeping their babies, but not for those opting for adoption. Also, the normal sense of loss that can accompany abortion and adoption, postpartum depression, postpartum sexuality, and contraception are some of the issues brought up in the narratives but never resolved. Susan Kuklin's What Do I Do Now? (Putnam, 1991) includes personal experiences and objective information, making it a better choice.?Melissa Gross, Beverly Hills Public Library, CACopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.