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Not My Daughterby Barbara Delinsky |
Wanda Cohen: I picked this up because
I had read a review about it and thought it sounded interesting.
It was. As the mother of a daughter it certainly hit close to home
but you don't have to be a mother of girls or even a mother to read
this story. Susan Tate is a single mother and the principal of the high
school. She is in a position of authority in the community. She is
looked upon as the guardian of not only her own child but also of
all the pupils who attend her school. Imagine what happens when her
own daughter and two of her daughter's best friends, all high
achieving, college bound, admired and involved, young women
make a pact to get pregnant during the summer before their
senior year. The fallout from the personal choice made by
these young girls carries far into the community and into
the lives of their immediate and extended families in ways
that remind the reader of Witch trials in Salem and the
Scarlet Letter. How can that happen in this day and time.
It makes us ask ourselves, how do we feel about the concept
of unwed mothers? Are we progressive? Are we traditional?
What would we do? The story is thought provoking to say
the least. Should the decisions of our children determine
how we are treaded by society. Should we be judged by our
children's actions? Should our jobs be determined by
how other's see our morality? I recommend this book.
It's a well written, quick read that raises timely
questions while telling a really good story.
Rating: ****
