The Queen of Teen drama is back with Plan A, a coming of age story about Ivy, a teen who has become pregnant and wants to get an abortion. The problem: she lives in Texas and they just passed the strictest abortion laws in the country. Ivy's boyfriend Ivy's boyfriend, along with her mom, develop a plan to not just get Ivy an abortion, but to travel the "world" without leaving the US. Will they make it to Oregon to Ivy's grandmothers to have the "A" or will their trip turn sour because of circumstances beyond their control?

Plan A is a poignant, yet needed novel at a time when things are changing for women and girls across the US. Deb Caletti writes Plan A with not only Ivy's story to tell, but the stories of the many women before her who have have had similar situations and seen their way through.

Book Review

Title: Plan A by Deb Caletti

Genre: Contemporary

Rating: 5 Stars

I read The Story of Every Living Thing last year by the same author and despite it having a slow start it ended up becoming one of the my favourite books of that month and ended up ranking pretty high in my favourite books of the year, so I was excited to see what her new book had in store for me. Essentially in this book we are following Ivy on a road trip across the country in order to legally obtain an abortion with her boyfriend along for the ride, determined to make the trip memorable for the right reasons.

The first thing I was really stuck by, in a good way, was how quickly Ivy made her decision. In many books I’ve read where characters get abortions or contemplate getting one, the decision is one that weighs heavy on them but this isn’t the case in reality for a lot of people and Ivy reflects that. She knows that the sensible and right thing to do for herself is to have an abortion but she lives somewhere where she can’t get one legally and has to travel in order to do so. Caletti also makes sure to drive the point home that abortions are completely normal and commonplace as we see in Ivy’s interacts with people that have had abortions or know people that have.

Ivy is also a really sympathetic person as she is clearly shown to be an ordinary girl from Texas, who wants to go to college and has dreams for her life outside of becoming a mother, showing us why her choice is the right one at this stage in her life. However, she is shown to be more open-minded than a lot of her family and feels like an outsider in her small town which is a sentiment that her boyfriend shares coming from California himself. They aren’t part of the old boys’ network, of the church community, they haven’t lived there for generations.

When we see the town turn on Ivy for her decision, they clearly don’t see her as one of their own and while a little over the top it does feel like something you can imagining happening in real life. Lorenzo, the boyfriend, was my favourite character because of how sweet and supportive he is over Ivy’s choice. While he isn’t responsible for the pregnancy and could very easily walk away from all the trouble, he decides to stick by Ivy, accompanying her on her journey and making memories together.

While the road trip itself and the abortion make up the bulk of the novel that isn’t the end as even after returning home, Ivy is harassed and bullied for her decision. She ends up losing her job, someone calls Child Protective Services and much more which stresses the pressures she is under even at such a young age. Honestly, while I want to believe that people aren’t like this in real life, I have witnesses similar events in my own country although they don’t go the extremes that we tend to see in the US.

Overall, I thought this was an insightful and respectful look into US abortion culture at the moment and what happens to people who actively seek out an abortion in other states when it is not permitted in their own. It really focused hard on the human elements, from Ivy’s reasoning for the decision to both the positive and negative reactions she gets because of her decision. I also felt that given what has been happening in America over the last few years more books like this are needed and Caletti isn’t afraid to tackle to more taboo topics in these modern times. Highly Recommended!

Plan A tells the story of Ivy, a sixteen-year-old girl living in a conservative town in Texas. After being sexually assaulted she finds herself pregnant, saying "I didn't know I could get pregnant that way". With the help of an incredibly understanding and supportive boyfriend and her mom and brother's support, Ivy and Lorenzo organize a cross country trip "world" trip to Oregon where her mom's family lives and has arranged for an abortion. She just has to make it the last few days before school lets out, a task easier said than done. When word leaks out that she's pregnant, both she and Lorenzo are attacked and bullied, she more so than he. When they're finally able to escape town for their trip the trouble back home follows them, and Ivy learns that her circumstances are far more common than she could have imagined.

This is such a powerful book and really we need more like it in the world. Not only does it cover the challenging subject of abortion, but it touches on a subject we don't often think about with sex ed, at least in my blue state. "I didn't even know I could get pregnant that way" is not a phrase we hear as often these days. It reminded me, once again, how lucky I am to have had decent sex ed in school and how not all states have that. Health class is not a fun class for students or teachers alike, it's awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. But it is so so important. I'm not saying she could have avoided her circumstances with the knowledge, but she might not have been so blindsided. One of the things I really enjoyed was her discovery along the journey of so many women who shared their stories, whether they had an abortion, a miscarriage, or followed through with a pregnancy. I loved her Aunt's work on family history and can't help wondering how on earth she got all that information on some of the ancestors. One in four. One in four women will have an abortion. I'm sure I know people who have had one, but have no idea because even in my blue state, it's a taboo subject.

Now. Is this book super realistic? Yes and no. Not many teens would have had the ability to go all the way across the country for the procedure. She was extremely lucky in that regard. Especially knowing that she traveled through multiple states that support abortion, including my home state. It would have been slightly more realistic for her to visit a state closer to home. And on another note, how many families would have been as supportive as hers? Probably more than I expected, especially when thinking about Texas. And would the town really have turned on her the way that it did? Absolutely, kids can be cruel, but would all those adults have really been that interested? I start to doubt that and then I think about my experiences with some churches and... yeah, with a subject like this one, I can absolutely believe that many adults would be interested and more.

Deb Caletti has been one of my favorite authors since I discovered The Nature of Jade over ten years ago in my high school library and I'm so excited to see this book out of her. And even more excited that I was honored with an ARC. I did find a couple of areas a little wordy and skimmed through some pages because there was just so much there. But overall I really enjoyed this book and I hope it reaches the hands of those people who need it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via NetGalley & Random House Children in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Random House Children's for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Ivy is a high school student trying to do well in school and help out her mom and brother in small town Texas. When she discovers she is pregnant after an assault, there are few choices for her in Texas. Her family arranges for her to travel to her grandmother’s house across the country to have an abortion. Along the way Ivy learns that she has more in common with many women than she realized and that some people will turn their backs on you no matter what kind of history you have with them. The author takes a controversial topic and writes a story giving realistic faces to the present and past of abortion care in the U.S. Navigation of regulations and laws in present day America for a woman to access health care was explored in a practical way, for example, who could get in trouble for helping Ivy. The main character is likable and her growth throughout the story make Plan A an engaging, timely, and heartfelt read.

This is yet another powerful novel from Caletti in which she challenges her reader, teen or adult, to see both sides of the complex abortion issue. In Plan A, she is sensitive to as many perspectives as I can think of in a captivating road-trip story full of emotional challenges which are counterbalanced by youthful desire to explore with hopes of finding joy in the midst of a stressful time. The main character’s awakening to the complexity of the lives and secrets of adults brings her to further understanding others as well as her own path forward. Caletti gives us yet another important book that reflects the dialogues and conflicts of today’s society for older teens to dive into as they engage in their own reflections on their beliefs and how to hear those on the other side of the issues.

Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse Children’s, Labyrinth Road, and the author for early access to this well-crafted novel.

This topic means a lot to me and I’m so happy to read a book that FINALLY portrays a teen abortion as NOT something she’s not ready for, that’s it’s agonizing, terrible, abhorrent. Our main character is ready, firm, prepared, and doesn’t regret it. This books purpose seeming to show that abortion is more common place than people like to believe. That it has always been here and always SHOULD be. The town turning on her was quite intense and I think more of a metaphor for how quick people are to turn on something they don’t believe in even if it’s to someone who did the best they could. Absolutely amazing read.

What happens when you are in high school and get pregnant from not having sex? That is what happens to Ivy. After she tells her boyfriend Lorenzo and her family, her and Lorenzo make an "Abortion road trip love story".

This book read as a text book at times with the abortion facts but I understand why they were put in there. Ivy learns that she is not alone on her journey to have an abortion just like everyone reading this book. Lorenzo is so perfect and I love that she has him with her on this journey.

Throughout this book and road trip Ivy learns not just the facts about how many people have abortions but that her friends might not be as close as she thought they were.

This is an important book, especially with our current political climate.

I had to DNF this one. I'm not sure if it was because it felt to close to home or I'm just not a fan of Caletti's writing style but either way, it's not for me. I do see the appeal and I do think it is a very important novel especially for today's teens.

“Why does it suddenly seem like there’s a sea of abortion stories? Because there’s always been a sea of stories about women and sex. Stories about women and the choices they make and don’t make—those, too. There are the stories that she’s never told, but there are the stories he does tell, that they tell, about her”.

This book, once released, will 100% get banned somewhere and it’ll be an absolute shame. A teenage girl in Texas, Ivy, becomes pregnant after a sexual assault and decided to go on a road trip with her boyfriend (not the father) to get an abortion in a state that allows it. It is such an important story about choice and personal decisions, but also about the way women who make this decision are wrongfully vilified. I felt like it was incredibly accurate and not at all over dramatic or blown out of proportion to prove some liberal point. I grew up in Texas in a school and church environment very similar to Ivy’s and people’s reaction to her choice to have an abortion was spot on, in my opinion. The thing I liked most about this story was Ivy hearing stories from other women in her family and life and their experiences with abortion. I will say, the story did drag a bit in certain parts of the road trip, but the way this topic was handled more than made up for that. I really loved Ivy’s mother, brother and boyfriend. Her having their support made all the difference and it broke my heart thinking of all the women who didn’t or don’t have that support. I think this is an extremely important book and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

TW: Abortion, bullying, sexual assault, mentions of a shooting, sexual harassment, mentions of forced medical procedures and sterilization

Thank you to NetGalley and Labyrinth Road for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

When Ivy sees the plus sign on the pregnancy test, she knows her entire life is about to change no matter what she decides. In rural Texas, there's only one choice, but thanks to her family, she and her boyfriend Lorenzo take off on a trip to her grandmother's in the Pacific Northwest so she can get an abortion. Along the way, she examines her thoughts and feelings about what happened to her, and the plight of women as a whole in the world today. She hears stories about women in her family that she's never heard and discovers she's not as alone as she feels.

This book deals with some tough subjects and is appropriate for teens. It isn't graphic or anything. I think it's an important book for teens to read and examine. While I did find it a bit repetitive at times, it was a good, solid read that wasn't too heavy-handed with lessons or parables.

Great narrative exploring girl-power, the power of choice, and the strength - or lack therof - of our relationships. When the protagonist finds herself pregnant, the author's bold choice of not actually using the word until the first time she says it out loud is very impactful. The journey of the protagonist is one that deserves to be shared, because even though this book may be fiction, the topics explored are things that are happening to girls, their families, and their friends, all over the country every single day.

Ivy is pregnant. She knows how it happened, but she didn’t have sex! She planned to work this summer and spend time with her boyfriend; now she is planning a road trip to her grandmother’s house where abortions are still legal. Lorenzo has planned their road trip to hit small towns along the way … from Paris, Texas to Rome, Oregon. As Ivy meets people, she learns there are many stories and many feelings about what she plans to do.

Plan A is a stand-alone realistic story that covers a very tough issue but definitely has an agenda. Caletti takes a controversial topic and breaks it down for young readers to contemplate. I will admit that I do not agree with many ideas that were expressed in the pages, but I can also see people in the United States having these views and opinions. An OK read, just know that this book does have an agenda and it is not hidden.

Ivy, a sixteen-year-old girl, takes a road trip with her boyfriend, Lorenzo, to get an abortion (in Oregon) because it is illegal in the state where she lives (Texas). All along the way she connects with family members and friends who have had similar experiences as her, and she realizes that maybe her journey/situation isn't all that uncommon. What a powerful story! This book is so relevant in today's world.

I wanted to love this book so much because the topic is so relevant. But I didn’t. The writing style was not for me. The book takes place inside the head of a 16 year old girl who is pregnant in Texas where abortions are illegal. I never want to be inside the head of a 16 year old girl again, it was bad enough when I lived through it in my younger years. I would have given this book 2 stars, except I’m happy this books exists and could potentially help other young girls going through this. So I will raise it to 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was pretty good and liked the story. It doesn't feel all that new or fresh necessarily and the generalization of conservative and church people is irritating but I thought it would be a good title for an older teen book discussion.

PLAN A tells the story of Ivy, a sixteen-year-old girl, and her road trip with her boyfriend, Lorenzo, to get an abortion, as it's illegal in her home state. Along the way, she hears the stories of family members and friends who have had similar experiences, and she realizes her journey isn't as rare as she thought.

This was a powerful story, and I'm really glad I read it.

Ivy is a strong and deeply relatable character. When she found out she was pregnant, she knew immediately that she wanted an abortion; it wasn't a difficult decision for her. And when she got the procedure, it wasn't a complicated or dramatic scene; it was portrayed as the simple medical procedure that it is. I really appreciated the honesty in this story and how sincere it felt.

Another (unfortunately) realistic aspect of this book was the town's perception of Ivy. Ivy lives in a Red town in a Red state, and her community is openly against her decision to have an abortion. Though it was hard to read how horribly Ivy was treated, it felt like an honest ending that everyone in the town didn't magically end up accepting her decision just for the sake of a happy ending.

I loved Ivy and Lorenzo's relationship. Even though Lorenzo wasn't the one who got Ivy pregnant, he stuck by her side throughout the entire story and vocally supported her. I thought they were sweet together.

The ending was satisfying as well. I appreciated that it wasn't rushed after Ivy had the abortion and that we got to see the aftermath and how Ivy and her family handled it. The resolution was earned and given the space it needed, which I always love.

My main concern with the book was the sometimes inconsistent writing style. The writing varied from gripping and poignant to awkward and stilted when it wasn't meant to be, and at times the dialogue sounded forced, while at others it was much more natural. However, even though the story is informative, it never felt preachy, which can be a difficult balance to maintain.

Regardless, I think this is an important book and would recommend reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is on point. I have read similar tales before, but the stories from the women that Ivy encounters, and the stats compiled are unbelievable. I hope enough people read this book and decide that changes need to be made.

This was my first read from this author & im in shock of how much I lived this book. It is beautifully written & I don’t know what I expected from this book but I was definitely not expecting that.

5 ⭐️

I am glad that Deb Caletti chooses to tackle the tough topics and does it with such grace. This book was reminiscent of a Heart in a Body in the World (my favorite of her novels) with the road trip and the hints at how Ivy became pregnant. This kept me flipping the pages and wanting to know more. The story behind Ivy's pregnancy could have gone so many ways. I am still trying to decide how I feel about that aspect of the story, but it doesn't affect the import of the choices Ivy makes. What makes this book even more powerful are the stories Ivy collects along the way from the different girls and women whose paths she crosses. So many parts of this story ring true; I hope it reaches a wide audience.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Deb Caletti does not fail us. Taking on teen pregnancy, the legalities of abortion, families, small minds, and history, Deb takes us on a journey with Ivy and Lorenzo, and their families, as they face an attack, an unwanted pregnancy, and legal issues on Ivy's way to get an abortion in another state.

Mixing in historical information, we learn that this has been an ongoing battle over women's bodies, for centuries. And, that regardless of legal status, the only statistic that changes is the number of women who die from an extremely safe procedure, when done right.

Deb's characters are fully formed and exist in our world. As do the small mindedness AND open mindedness that we encounter.

Be prepared to have your eyes opened and your heart touched.