Draper, S. M. (2007). November Blues. Antheneum Books for Young Readers.
Summary
Not only is November dealing with the loss of her boyfriend, Josh, but now she has discovered she is pregnant with his child. Her life has changed dramatically, and telling both her parents and Josh's is something she must face.
At the same time, Jericho, Josh's cousin, is faced with the loss of his best friend. Instead of enjoying the things he did when Josh was alive, Jericho turns to physical pain to push away his emotional pain.
Brought together by the pain of the past, will Jericho and November be able to face their futures?
A Teacher's Perspective
Teen pregnancy is one of those taboo topics that is often shied away from, but many could use a fresh perspective on how to deal with these types of situations. Add loss of someone you love dearly to the mix, and you've got the makings of this realistic fiction novel.
From a teacher's standpoint, I must confess that this second book would be my first choice for a class novel, but many would want to start at the beginning. The topics faced in this novel are universal, and can show students they're not alone. Books like these teach students empathy, as well as self-reflection, and should be in the classrooms and libraries.
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Here is a student book talk that you can use as inspiration for book reviews from students: