Biology Lessons
CCBC Review:
Grace (white) loves her small-town Texas life with her tight-knit family and best friends Addie and Sebastian. Yet she cannot wait to go to Barnard College in New York City after graduation, having fallen in love with life in the Big Apple after visiting her beloved aunt, Wendy. Her senior year countdown is transformed into a ticking timebomb when Grace discovers that she is six weeks pregnant. Shocked that a not-so-serious relationship resulted in a life-changing predicament, Grace spirals into an all-out panic. She cannot envision abandoning her big-city dreams, nor would her parents support an adoption. With the confidential support of her best friends, Grace processes and attempts to solve her predicament, ultimately deciding that an abortion is her desired option. However, in the geographical and political confines of post-Dobbs Texas, Grace quickly discovers that an abortion is nearly impossible to obtain. Even a simple internet search about seeking one puts Grace and her friends in a position of liability. This intentional novel realistically explores the emotional, logistical, religious, and socioeconomic realities of an unwanted pregnancy. Tense, compelling chapters explore Grace’s difficult journey to cross the border to a clinic. An Author’s Note and interviews with a client services manager and a legal scholar round out this contemporary novel. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Friendship
Girls and Women
Judicial System
Sex and Sexuality
Teen Pregnancy
On CCBC Booklist:
Privacy Between the Pages: Selected Books for Older Children and Teens
Publishers:
Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 257
ISBN: 9781250334046
CCBC Location: Fiction, Kantor