In this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship—from the boy who pretends to be her baby’s father.
When the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn’t seem to want to get into Hannah’s pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah’s unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying “yes.”
Told in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron, Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you’ll remember your first, real best friend—and how they were like a first love.
ABOUT NON
Jaime’s Thoughts
Trouble by Non Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
From the moment I saw the summary of Trouble I knew I had to get my hands on it. The quick and dirty summary is when Hannah finds out she is pregnant, she can’t disclose who the father of the baby is. Aaron the new boy at school does something unthinkable and offers to take on the role and support her in every way that he can.
Trouble is at times a gritty and realistic portrayal of the lives of teens and teen issues – Pratt touches on drinking, drugs and definitely sex and she doesn’t hold back, and at times, a lighthearted story of friendship and love. She approaches the sensitive subjects with a bit of humor and a lot of seriousness, because above all the situation the characters find themselves in is absolutely a serious one.
Pratt has created amazingly layered and captivating characters in the form of Hannah and Aaron and we get their stories in alternating chapters. Both of them are struggling with what is going on in their lives… Hannah in a very apparent way, and Aaron in a way that is a bit less apparent but none-the-less hard for him.
I truly loved the eventual rallying of Hannah’s family upon hearing her news. Her relationship with her grandmother was such a wonderful part of her story. And Aaron’s relationship with the cranky Neville added some necessary levity to the overall story.
What I loved most though was that Pratt isn’t preachy in telling her story. She doesn’t use this opportunity to present a cautionary tale to scare young girls into not having sex. Hannah isn’t shamed by her peers for having sex or even for getting pregnant and that’s something to commend.
And while it may seem that a romance might be imminent for our two main characters, that isn’t what this story is about. Instead both have much more important things to think about. And you’re going to be surprised by this… but I loved that about the story. Instead these two focus on building a true friendship.
I don’t know if I can pinpoint what exactly it was about this story that hooked me… but I found that I couldn’t put this book down once I started it, staying up all night to read. There are no huge moments filled with action and suspense, but what you will find here is a lovely story about family… both the family you are born with, and the family that ends up choosing you. And life with them is messy and confusing and frustrating and sad but ultimately filled with love, and that’s what shines through. Mistakes may be made, and there is definitely some disappointment, but the love is always there.
I know… you’re probably wondering why I didn’t give this five full stars. So here are my nit-picky comments – I thought the end was a bit rushed, and even though I know it’s a bit greedy, I wanted a bit more there at the end. But that’s it. This was pretty much a perfect read for me.
If you’re looking for an issue book that isn’t preachy … a story with characters that will have you wishing they were real people, then you definitely need to pick up Trouble as soon as you can!
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