November Blues

Draper, S. M. (2007). November blues. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

I did not love this book.  It's about November Nelson, a teenager in Ohio, whose boyfriend has just died.  Josh and November had been a teenage "power couple" in their school, and he died in a hazing incident.  Soon after, November realizes she is pregnant.  The discomforts of pregnancy are realistic, but I thought the slang was forced.  November has a disabled brother, which has made her interested in a career helping the disabled, but there's no other mention of him... where he lives or anything.  November's mother is devastated, but supportive.  School friends named Olivia and Jericho also lend their support.  The climax, a roadside labor and helicopter evacuation, with Josh's parents trying to buy the baby, seems forced.