Butterflies in May by Karen Hart

May, 2007 by Bancroft Press

Paperback, 201 Pages

Review Copy

Review

Starting your senior year is an exciting time, college is on the horizon, the woes of high school drama are coming to an end and if your Ali Parker- your senior editor of the paper, you have supportive loving parents and an amazing boyfriend.

Ali and Matt fell in love a year ago, she being a somewhat shy, smart girl, he being the over good-looking art type. The love blossoms during the summer before their senior years and passionately take it to a new level. with the choice to engage in a sexually active relationship Matt and Ali never thought it could lead to an unwanted pregnancy, but a few months into the school year and that’s exactly what has happened. At first Ali ignores the situation, hoping and pretending the situation isn’t real. Finally after she is in her 9th week she faces up to the pregnancy, tells Matt and her parents. Ali is now faced with a life changing decision, that has three options- all which will effect her for the rest of her life.

I thought this book was wonderfully written and presented an accurate portrayal of teen pregnancy. Ali is at first set on an abortion and Matt thinks it’s the best as well, but once in the room and faced with this option she cannot go threw with it. Matt is mad but slowly accepts Ali’s decision to give the child up for adoption. Months into the pregnancy Ali becomes emotionally attached to the baby and decides maybe keeping him/her is for the best. Her parents while upset, still support her and are willing to help, they encourage Ali to follow her heart, but also insist she go to college. Matt on the other hand becomes distant, angry and to my disappointment eventually turns into every other statistic teen father. For all the I loves you shared between Ali and Matt and the I want to be with you forever…added up to a whole lot of nothing when faced with the seriousness of pregnancy. Most teen sexual relationships are not committed, strong relationships that can handle situations like this, sometimes all that love boils down to infatuation and hormones, which is why Im an outspoken and open parent about sexual relationships and support abstinence over condoms/birth control first, while still educating my own teen about safety, STD's, morality and the emotional baggage that comes with sex. 

I’ve shared before that I myself was a teen mom at 18. It was painful, heartbreaking, and wonderful all at the same time. The day my daughter was born life as young person ended for me and Ali faced the same things I went through making her 100% relatable to me, although I didn’t have supportive parents, I did beat the odds with my child’s father. He was freaked but did the right thing and stayed. We got married when our daughter was three months old and we are still married today (14 years later) and have two other kids. He is an amazing man and just proves that not all teen dads walk away. 

Rating

Butterflies in May is recommended to mature teens and adults alike. While not containing anything graphic, the story deals with teen pregnancy, sexual situations, dialog on virginity, birth control, abortion, adoption and teen marriage.

4/5- YA- Pregnancy-Coming of Age

Thank you to Bancroft Press for review Galley.