Last Dance

Dj didn't know what to say. Really, all this was so outside of her comfort zone. She couldn't believe they were sitting in McHenry's talking about sex and being pregnant. What happened to the days when they would sit here and talk about soccer, or the latest movie?

Book: Last Dance by Melody Carlson, Zondervan Publishing, 2010

Genre: Modern Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 16-20

Subjects: Teen Pregnancy, popularity, depression, friendships, dating relationships, jealousy

Summary: No one is allowed to talk about what happened over spring break, but Eliza has carried that too far - she has not even let her parents know what happened to her. And now she's desperate to push it aside and become prom queen. So she puts the pressure on all the Carter House girls to help her campaign. School is finishing up - the final push to get the grades necessary for graduation is here. Letters are arriving from colleges accepting or denying applicants - there's even a daily show of hands at the table in the cafeteria to see who has been accepted to which Ivy League Schools. Of course DJ's grandmother is planning another fashion show for the girl. DJ finds herself agreeing to a summer job she in a field she doesn't even like - modeling -  in order to make it possible for Taylor to do it. But to top everything off, one of the girls has gotten pregnant and has a boyfriend demanding she get an abortion and not tell anyone. Will the stress finally send them all over the edge or will Casey, Kriti, and Eliza finally realize their desperate need for a Savior?

Notes: This is the end of the series, wrapping up a lot (but not telling all!) of the loose details. It deals with teen pregnancy and abortion - it's one thing to say you're pro-life, but quite another to be 18, unmarried, pregnant and have your boyfriend making demands on you, especially when you have no parents around supporting you. It makes for a challenging decision - stay true to what you believe is right, or give in to the pressure? It's also a look at how to help your friend in the midst of such struggles.

Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.