The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir

In April 2011, 17-year-old Rodriguez attracted widespread media attention when she revealed that she had faked a pregnancy for her senior project. In this initially slow-paced account, the honor student discusses the rationale behind and technicalities of her ruse, which she hoped would make her peers “take teen pregnancy seriously... and encourage them to make responsible decisions about their bodies and sexuality.” Rodriguez also wanted her experiment to help shatter negative stereotypes—in her case, that she is predisposed to teen pregnancy given her family history. Rodriguez spends the first third of the book detailing her family background, including several teenage pregnancies, broken relationships, births (she has seven older siblings and 31 nieces and nephews), and deaths. She then reveals the emotional repercussions of her experiment (including her feelings of isolation and her guilt about lying to friends, family, and teachers). Writing clearly and offering incisive observations on her experiences, Rodriguez leaves readers with plenty to think about regarding teen pregnancy and society’s reactions to it. Rodriguez’s story is slated to become a Lifetime movie. Ages 14–up. Agent: Martin Literary Management. (Jan.)■