Watch and Read: 'The Pregnancy Project'—Book and TV Movie
RSSBy Joy Fleishhacker
A top student, a member of the ASB Leadership Group, and president of her school's chapter of M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán/ Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán), Rodriguez was determined to take on a senior project that would have personal meaning as well as an impact on her school and her small, economically disadvantaged town. She decided to conduct a social experiment concerning teen pregnancy, one that would bring attention to an important issue, explore stereotypes, and perhaps empower young adults to change their lives. Rodriguez comments on the inspiration for her experiment: "...my mom and four of my seven older siblings were teen parents and it was a major issue in my community. I wanted to raise awareness and help the teens in my high school think more about the consequences of having unprotected sex. Also, to help people realize that ostracizing teen parents doesn't help; instead, they need encouragement to continue their education and get on a positive path." The Book Rodriguez, now 18 and currently attending college, shares her experiences and insights in The Pregnancy Project (S&S, Jan. 2012; Gr 8 Up), a memoir written with Jenna Glatzer. Rodriguez begins by revealing to readers the more personal side of her experiment, candidly describing her mother's experiences (she had her first child at age 15) and struggle to raise a family as a single parent; her siblings' tendency to "repeat the cycle" and become teen parents themselves; and her own determination not to follow in their footsteps but to instead focus on her education and seek out a better life. She clearly presents her reasons for the project: to better understand what her mother and sisters—and other teen moms in her community—had gone through; to open up discussion about statistics ("Being a Hispanic girl from a family full of teen pregnancies meant that my odds of also becoming a teen mom were way higher than average") and stereotypes ("I'd been told for so long that I was going to end up just like my sister Jessica. If I gave people what they predicted, how would they react?"); and to encourage her peers to take teen pregnancy seriously and "make responsible decisions about their bodies and sexuality." After getting the support of her mother and her boyfriend Jorge, and the permission of school officials, Rodriguez went forward with the project, researching and determining how to best emulate the stages of pregnancy and eventually wearing a fake belly fabricated by her mother out of wire, clay, and cotton. Very few people were in on the ruse; these included her best friend and one sister, who were charged with recording the reactions of friends and family members. Perceived by everyone as a pregnant teen, the author conveys her experiences and emotions, including feelings of isolation and frustration at being gossiped about and judged by classmates, while also struggling with her guilt about lying to the people she cares about. The last part of the book discusses "The Big Reveal" (which took place at an assembly in front of the entire student body), her conclusions, reactions from her classmates and community, and the ensuing media frenzy. Throughout, the account is presented with unwavering honesty, as the author writes about her motivations, aspirations, and realizations. Her very personal recollections are balanced by lucid observations and factual information. Readers get an intimate glimpse at an important issue, while also gaining a sense of one young woman's commitment to her community and her beliefs, her courage to continue when the challenges mounted up, and the life-changing lessons she learned from her experiences. With its high-interest subject matter and attention-grabbing approach, the book is certain to generate buzz among teens, and makes a useful starting point for contemplation and discussion. Rodriguez states that she has learned much from the venture, including the importance of defying stereotypes: "no matter what box society tries to put you in, you can break out and fight toward your goals." She hopes that young adults will come away from the book with a deeper understanding of the issue: "I hope teens realize that anyone who is sexually active in high school can get pregnant and they have to be prepared for every possible consequence. Also, that those who ostracize [pregnant teens] realize their life is hard enough and that they need support and encouragement. And to those who are being ostracized, not to feel like it is the end of the road and that they can fight all odds to fight toward their goals." She also believes that the book, which describes her strong relationship with her mother, has much to say to parents of teens, and encourages them "to be honest and open with their children and also to support them 100%." The Movie l. to r. Gaby Rodriguez & Alexa Vega Photo by James Dittig Scheduled to premiere on Lifetime on January 28, the TV movie of the same title stars Alexa Vega as Gaby, Judy Reyes as her mother, and Walter Perez as Jorge. According to Sharlene Martin, Rodriguez's literary agent and a producer on the film, both the memoir and screenplay were developed simultaneously, with the movie version "remaining 98% faithful to the book." Rodriguez consulted with screenwriter Teena Booth about the script, and also had the opportunity to visit the set during filming, where she took on the role of extra and answered questions from Vega about specific scenes to help the actress better "tie into the emotions." Teens can visit the Lifetime website for a preview video and photos, background about the cast, and upcoming airdates. Also available are several resources created in conjunction with the nonprofit organization, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, to help viewers explore themes introduced in the film and encourage conversation in both family and classroom settings. A discussion guide includes dialogue-starting questions related to the movie, facts about teen pregnancy, and helpful websites and books. A "Teen Pregnancy Resources" section provides a list of eye-opening statistics, advice for teens to help them prevent pregnancy, and a link to the National Campaign's teen-friendly website. Publication Information RODRIGUEZ, Gaby. The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir. with Jenna Glatzer. S&S. Jan. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4622-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4624-3. Sounds like Gaby totally needs to meet the protag of my YA novel, WHAT
CAN'T WAIT. Teen pregnancy (and its fallout) is all around her, too...
www.ashleyperez.com This was a great show my daughter was a teen mom and we help
her in any way we can she went to college aftet gradation she did
home school because she was being stereotype at school she is
now 28 years old and are grandson is now12 years old she is
doing great because her dad and I help her a lot their is no need
to get mad at your child when things do not go right you just
make the best out of life
Thank you so much for this review, Ms. Fleishhacker. I hope Gaby's message has a big impact on teens! I really would like to do something like this at my school. * = Required information
January 24, 2012
In the spring of 2011, 17-year old Gaby Rodriguez, a high school senior from Toppenish, WA, made national headlines when she revealed that she had faked her own pregnancy for a class project in order to observe firsthand her community's reactions. She soon found herself at the center of a media whirlwind that included multiple interviews and an appearance on NBC's Today Show. Now, her story will be told through both a memoir published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and a Lifetime TV movie.
Reader Comments (7)
Posted by Ashley Hope Pérez on January 25, 2012 09:20:17AM
Posted by Virginia Hardisty on January 28, 2012 10:46:28PM
Posted by Jenna Glatzer on January 29, 2012 09:01:19PM
Posted by Saralynn on February 3, 2012 04:31:04PM
