The Pregnancy Project

Bibliographic Information: Rodriguez, G., & Glatzer, J. (2012). The pregnancy project. New York: Simon & Schuster. 

Plot Summary: Gaby Rodriguez needed an idea for her senior project, an assignment meant to demonstrate her skills learned from the past twelve years of school.  She thought long and hard about the topic for her senior project, and during a discussion in her Biology class the idea struck her: she would fake a pregnancy.  All seven of Gaby’s siblings became parents as teenagers, following in the footsteps of their mother, who gave birth to her first child at fifteen.  Gaby watched her siblings struggle through relationships, dead-end jobs, addiction, and rearing children, so she vowed that she would never make the same mistake.  Gaby was an honors student and involved in various extracurricular activities, which made her scenario perfect.  She wanted to see how people would react to her pregnancy.  Gaby firmly believes that no one should live down to the negative expectations others have for them- something she felt her siblings did all the time.  After receiving clearance to complete her project, and asking permission from her mother and boyfriend, it was time fake her pregnancy.  Gaby had no idea what kind of effect she would have on her community.  

Critical Evaluation:  What Gaby does well in her memoir is explore the theme of stereotypes.  In the book she mentioned that daughters of teen mothers are three times as likely to become teen mothers themselves, and that girls without fathers start having sex earlier and are more likely to become teen moms (22).  So far, her sisters have proven that statistic true.  In one heartbreaking experience Gaby recounts the night of her Quincenera when she was supposed to dance with her oldest brother Genaro, but he was too drunk to fulfil her request, and she was crushed.  Genaro blames his alcoholism on her father, to which Gaby replies, “Just because people expect something of you doesn’t mean you have to give them what they expect” (58).  Genaro was a classic example of living down to the expectations others had of him.  Gaby suffered stereotyping as well when she started dating. People told her she was going to end up pregnant like her sister Jessica.  Gaby was able to tell a story about fighting stereotypes, fighting rumors, and fighting for what you want in life.   

Reader’s Annotation: Gaby wanted to learn how to live beyond stereotypes, so what did she do?  She faked a pregnancy.

Information about the author: Gaby Rodriguez grew up in a family plagued by teen pregnancy.  Her mother became pregnant the first time at age 14.  All seven of her brothers and sisters became teen parents, and as she grew up and entered adolescence, they warned her to avoid their mistakes and focus on her studies.  

Rodriguez’s goal during her fake pregnancy was to experience what her mother and sisters went through when they became teen mothers.  She wanted to teach her community about stereotypes and making the most of a bad situation.  Rodriguez, this first child in her family to graduate from high school, is now in college studying psychology and wants to focus on child development.  She and her boyfriend Jorge are still together after four years (Cohen, n.d.).

Genre: YA Non-fiction

Curriculum Ties: Psychology

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. Teen pregnancy statistics

Reading level/Interest age: 14+

Challenge Issues: This book talks about teen pregnancy.

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I included this book: The Pregnancy Project is a great non-fiction recount of Gaby Rodriguez's senior project to fake her own pregnancy.  The memoir provides insight into the stereotypes and struggles teen moms experience, and encourages young adults to ignore the low expectations people have of them.  Gaby's story was featured on the Today show, TIME magazine, and made into a Lifetime Original Movie.  

References:

Cohen, R. (n.d.) An interview with Gaby Rodriguez. Lifetime. Retrieved 7 May 2013 from

http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/the-pregnancy-project/article/gaby-rodriguez-interview