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Book Review By Larkin
Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard

   Sam is a 17 year old who has a girlfriend, Brittany, and is sliding through highschool just fine until he and his girlfriend get into a huge fight. He seems fine until he meets her at a party and they reconnect and have sex. They continue having sex until Brittany comes to tell him that she is pregnant. His whole world shatters. Brittany decides to keep the baby. When Brittany realizes that having a baby is a lot of work, she decides to put him up for adoption. Sam steps in and takes Max, the baby, forever. Brittany and her family move away from this tradgedy to a new beginning.

   Sam begins school in an alternate school for teens with children. He has countless sleepless nights and dozes off in class every now and then. His math teacher suggests that he take the SATS to get into college and puts him in an afterschool study group. One day, Claire, a cute, popular girl from his old school, shows up in school one day with a kid! Sam and Claire begin to date and have a great connection. When Sam realizes that he isn't fit to be a parent, Claire deserts him.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Pregnancy/Child rearing Yes
Major part of story:
Loving/sexing? - bun/oven

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing - impregnation/reproduction
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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