PUSH, again

The other day, my roommate walked into my room and noticed that I was reading PUSH, by Sapphire. She instantly asked what I thought about it, and told me that she read it a few years ago. My roommate is 18, black, and from Brooklyn. I was not just happy, I was thrilled, to be able to discuss this book with a young girl who is the same race and from a city just like Precious (PUSH’s main character). My roommate said that she read PUSH in 11th grade, after the recommendation of many male and female friends of hers. The novel was not available at her school, so she bought it at Barnes and Noble, and loved it. She surprised me when she said that the graphic and sexual nature of the book did not phase her. Evidently she has read several YA texts that are equally as bawdy AND sexually violent.

My roommate did say that her race and city upbringing did not aide in her pick of the novel or pleasure in reading it. She agreed that being able to relate to characters and the setting of a story are helpful, but not a pre-requisite for success. As a matter of fact, she was glad and grateful that she could not relate to or think of a friend who can relate to Precious – an illiterate, abused, HIV Positive 12-year old who is pregnant for the second time  after being raped by her father.

As depressing and frightening as the novel begins, it ends with a feeling of hope, empowerment, and pride. Precious eventually leaves the hell-hole known as her mother’s home, and embarks on a journey of literacy, companionship, trust, and self-worth.

I stand by my opinion that this novel is too risque for the classroom, but everyone should read it eventually. You would be shocked at what sort of lives some kids endure.

~Jessica

ANNIE’S BABY by Beatrice Sparks, Ph.D.

This week, I read ANNIE’S BABY by Beatrice Sparks, Ph.D. A quick read and written in the form of diary entries, most teenage girls would love this novel. Annie, short of “anonymous” is a fourteen-year old girl who ends up dating the new boy: athletic, good-looking, popular, desirable, definition of “masculine” and “sex appeal.” The relationship begins like a dream for Annie, but rapidly turns violent and frightening. Danny, Annie’s boyfriend, rapes Annie – she was a virgin before the rape – beats her, guilts her into drinking alcohol at parties, and compels her to lie to her mother of her whereabouts so that she have many-a-secret rendezvous with Danny.

A book recommended by Erica in her seminar on teen pregnancy and parenting, Annie subsequently gets pregnant. I do not want to ruin the ending, because this is a book all teachers of teenage girls should be knowledgeable of, so I will end here. Annie struggles with the concept of single parenthood, confronting her mother, the wrath of Danny, and the choices of how to handle the pregnancy. Birth control, “the first time,” physical and sexual abuse are major topics discussed in this short novel.

Most importantly, Annie feels guilty and responsible for Danny’s abuse. She thinks that she brought it on herself, and at other times, it’s the “alcohol” or “stress of working too many hours.” Warped justifications like these resonate so well with young, amateur relationships. I think Lesesne would agree that this is appropriate for the developmental stage of teenagers that are 14-18 years old.

~Jessica