Description
Set in 1983, at the height of Canada's abortion debate, this powerful, nuanced YA novel follows a young girl as she grapples with an unplanned pregnancy.
At fifteen, Leesa is preoccupied with friends, crushes, and schoolwork and looking forward to the freedom of earning her own money and learning to drive. Although she doesn’t think much about politics, she has marched alongside her mother and friend Jenny, protesting the planned opening of an abortion clinic in her city. In her traditional, close-knit community, abortion feels like a black-and-white issue, with little connection to her real life.
But after she is raped at a party, Leesa’s life suddenly merges with the headlines of the day. Now she is the one dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, and everything she ever believed is turned upside down. As she struggles to make a decision that could determine her whole future, Leesa comes to realize that she is only one who should have the right to make a choice about her own body. But will opening up to her family and friends mean losing them forever?
Author Bio
Harriet Zaidman has a lifelong interest in history, and as a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg for 25 years, saw how historical fiction can teach young people about important events that shaped their own lives. As well as two novels, she has written three picture books. Harriet is a lifelong Winnipegger, food blogger (Northendnosh.weebly.com). She has had three children and a few badly-behaved dogs. Harriet has five grandchildren now, too. She loves to see the world, and her most favourite trip recently was to the Olympics in Paris.
