Book Review: Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter

SUMMARY: When Evelyn decided to piss off her parents with a bad reputation, she wasn't planning to ruin her valedictorian status. She also wasn't planning to fall for Todd-the guy she was just using for sex. And she definitely wasn't planning on getting pregnant. When Todd turns his back on her, Evelyn's not sure where to go. Can a distant mother, a cheating father, an angry best friend, and a (thankfully) loving aunt with adopted daughters of her own help Evelyn make the heart-wrenching decisions that follow?

With the popularity of Juno, Teen Mom, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, this novel has a built-in audience. Gripping, heartfelt, and responsible, Me, Him, Them, and It is not to be missed!


OPINION:

Wrenching, emotional, and unflinching, Me, Him, Them, and It is a stunningly realistic look at not just teen pregnancy but feeling lost and not really knowing what to do. The events that led to Evelyn's bad girl path are easily woven into the book, garnering a huge amount of sympathy for her while not outright excusing the mistakes she makes. With some huge choices ahead of her, none of them easy and none of them glossed over, either, Evelyn's story is a memorable and poignant one.

I love Evelyn. She is fiery in her own way, yet so vulnerable as well. Despite the choices she's made, she isn't one to be a total doormat, and she isn't one to easily forgive either. There is something just so, so raw about her, and I couldn't help but root for her and ache for her. Her relationship with Todd, the way he treats her, the issues that crop up between them, and even the way everything plays out in that regard, was one of my favorite aspects of the story. I was furious with Todd, yet I also felt for him, and Carter does a remarkable job of fleshing out her characters, showing their flaws as much as their strengths. The way Evelyn grows both as a result of Todd, and in spite of him, made for a completely engaged character and story.

There is nothing easy about this book. Not the unemotional way Evelyn originally sort of views sex, not the choices she makes or almost makes after she finds out she's pregnant, and certainly not the gauntlet of emotions she goes through as a result. And yet, there is something so quietly captivating about this book, with as much between the lines as there is on the pages. This book is a stand out debut, with solid, voicey writing, and a plot that doesn't hold back in any way. Though painful at times, it is well worth the emotional torment, and definitely a must read.

Details:

Source: Netgalley
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: February 26, 2013