First, this book is tagged Young Adult and it reads that way which isn't a negative or a positive, just an observation. The first half felt addicting whereas the second half fell flat.
I love the idea of this story and it could have been so much more powerful.
I still love a good "come back" kid.

Introduction
Abortion and teen pregnancy are hotly debated topics at the moment. I'm lucky enough not to be affected, but I feel very strongly for the girls who are suffering under the new laws. This book isn't specifically about abortion but it does feature a teen pregnancy and as such mentions some of the laws and problems.

Plot Summary
Ashley is a hard working teen getting ready for college. She and her boyfriend have tried to be responsible, but a broken condom leads to trouble when she realises she's pregnant. Poor and Black, shes reported to the system as a danger to her unborn baby and has to try and fight back without getting herself into even more trouble.

Characters
Amber is smart and hardworking, but has a tendency to drift along with things that she has to work to overcome. She also has to learn to lean on her friends when she needs them rather than suffering alone. Her friends, meanwhile, have to overcome some prejudices they didn't know they had!

Writing Style
This is written as a hilo, so there's no overblown description or tricky metaphors; it's all very straightforward and simple, which is a great plus for it. Everything is easy to follow.

Themes and Messages
The right of Ashley to decide what happens to her baby is the main theme here. The state thinks they know better than she does what her living state is and how well she'll be able to provide, and she has to try and prove them wrong while staying within their rules.

Strengths
Hilo can help encourage reluctant readers
The story is topical and the topics need discussing

Weaknesses
Some readers will find it too short or simple

Personal Connection
As I said above, I'm not impacted by these laws, but I hate seeing them be passed and I feel strongly for the girls (and boys) affected by them. These topics need to be talked about and brought up and kept in the public eye and books like this are a great way to do that.

Conclusion
Highly recommend. A great read.

This was my first book by this author and boy will it stay with me.

This book dives into the power struggles of teenage pregnancy and the legal system that goes along with it. The main character Ashley deals with the nightmare and the law toward pregnant woman. This book has you hooked from page 1 and keeps you engaged in the story. This is uplifting as well as heartbreaking.

I think everyone should read this as it is the reality of teenagers and pregnancy.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This is a really great realistic book! It's well-written and I think the author handles the subject matter really well and this is perfect for the targeted audience. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Maya Chhabra, North Star Editions and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

When I was approved to read this book, I was so excited because I was looking for an impactful story mostly because of the description from the synopsis and the subject of the story, especially with what is currently happening in the real world. This is a short Young Adult story. This book, while short, could have been so impactful, with important messages, and really look at how things could really be, if they continue the way they are. However, this was not that book. The beginning half of this book had me hooked and at times, with a very serious tone, but by the second half the writing was not descriptive or had any details or the seriousness of the first half. We sped fast through a number of things that were happening, so they came across glossed over, really lacking in depth that I was looking for based on the synopsis and the first half of this short story.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

I do believe this book is MEANT to make the reader feel a bit uncomfortable. The realities of teen pregnancy and the legal system are explored in this book. Everyone should be aware of these facts displayed in the book.

The book was well-written and powerful. Well worth the read.

This reads like an info graphic on teen pregnancy. I did not like it. Too informational and not so much showing than there was telling. It felt really unrealistic. Bah.

Firebird Caged s a powerful and eye-opening read that dives deep into the struggles of teenage pregnancy and the harsh realities of the legal system. Ashley's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring as she navigates the nightmare of being forcibly detained under a secretive law for pregnant women. The book does an excellent job of portraying her fight for autonomy and justice, with a fast-paced plot that keeps you hooked. Ashley’s resilience and the support from her friends make for an uplifting narrative amid the tension. Perfect for reluctant teen readers, this book's accessible format and relevant themes make it a standout choice. Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in stories of strength and perseverance. 🌟📚

Ohhhh this book was so good! Absolutely devoured it! Can't wait for more from this author. Thanks to the author and Netgalley

I personally was not a huge fan of the writing style in the book. It started off very heavy for me. It touches on sensitive topics so make sure to check trigger warnings.

The image on the cover is what initially drew me to the book. The cover conveys the desperation of a young woman, a teen in this case taking a pregnancy test and all her fears being confirmed the test is positive meaning she has a huge decision to make.

Ashley lives with her mum, her dad has moved on with a new wife and baby meaning the support checks are minimal and any other support is non-existent. So, its Ahley and her mum against the world really, they get by but don’t have money to splash about and live in a run down rented property where the landlord is reluctant to do any repairs or updates.

Ashley has broken up with her boyfriend Danny, he was more interested in his computer game world than Ashley and when he fails to support her dancing dream it’s the final straw for her. Its just a couple of weeks after the break up that Ashley thinks she may be pregnant, she buys a test and tries to play down its importance, comparing it to a Covid test just not snot that she’s testing.
She finally sneaks off to the bathroom at to take the test wondering how something so small as the pregnancy test in front of her can loom so large over her. Ashley is still trying to stay in the “its probably nothing” mind set until the test confirms otherwise. In the three minutes waiting for the test her whole life changes. Suddenly she is faced with a large, difficult decision that she cannot put off for very long. Ashley and her mother are close and when she confides in her mum, though she can see her mothers disappointment that she didn’t want her daughter to go down this difficult road that she herself had travelled. Ashleys mum offers to help sort out travelling to get an abortion as it is illegal in the state they presently live in, but doesn’t pressurise Ashley to decide right away, though she does caution her that the longer Ashley waits for an abortion the more complicated and expensive the procedure will be.
Just when decisions are made, things go terribly wrong with Ashley and her mother being made homeless. Madi offers Ashley a place to stay in her large house, and Ashleys mum finds a place to sleep at a friend’s home. It’s whilst living with the Wendt family that Ashley encounters Xanax and its effects. When she feels she is somehow becoming addicted she confides in a Doctor, and is suddenly arrested for the protection of her unborn baby. Ashley finds herself in a sort of home for girls pregnant or those considered by society as in need of such a home. Ashley has to prove herself to not only get out of the home but to make sure that she can keep her own baby! Ashley has to grow up quickly, and after reaching out to Danny, he puts her in touch with a compute game group friend who is a lawyer and who helps Ashley put her case across to the judge.

I really felt for Ashley who was perhaps at times a little naïve which ended in her making a succession of mistakes that took her situation from getting by to homeless and then into a group home. At times it felt like Ashley was a victim of circumstances. I could really understand the way Ashley looked at Madi’s life with rich parents, large house and her own car and envied it. Yet when Ashley moved in with Madi we caught a glimpse that not everything was perfect in the Wendt household either.

I liked the character of Danny, who eventually came through and how ironic it was his gaming contacts that provided he lawyer to help Ashley. It was a shame we didn’t get to know him a little better, though it became clear he still cared about Ashley and was going to support her and their baby in the future.

I think Ashley’s mum was amazing, having been a pregnant teen herself she didn’t jump for the obvious solution of abortion, she offered the option to her daughter and supported her in anyway she could to make her own mind up. It would have been easy for her to pressurise her daughter to have an abortion, as a baby would put further strain on the family finances. Ashleys mum was already working two jobs and barely covering their expenses.

This was a Hi Lo book aimed at reluctant readers, these books have a fast pace and are usually on subjects highly relevant to the age audience they are aimed at. I found the book really held my attention as an adult and I didn’t want to put it down!

I think the subject of teen pregnancy is covered quite well in the book as you see the different reactions through the generations. Ashleys mum was rushed into marriage, where as Ashleys mum gave Ashley choices and told her the decision was hers to make and that she would be there for her no matter what. Sadly, the subject of abortion is still a controversial subject and is a highly emotive subject especially as more and more obstacles and bans are being put in front of those seeking them. The book also mentions addiction, with Madi having Xanax and freely giving it to an agitated, upset Ashley without thinking of any side effects or consequences. I think the book also touches on the different way parents care for their children. Madi’s parents seem to throw medication at a problem rather than finding out the source of Madi’s issues. Ashleys mum takes time and listens to her daughter and includes her in the decision making. It would have been interesting to see what Danny’s parents thought about Ashley’s pregnancy and how involved they would have been. Though ultimately a teen pregnancy usually has to be dealt with by the young woman and her parents, in this case Ashley and her mum.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading Firebird Caged were that it was a really interesting, captivating short story about teen pregnancy and the increasingly growing legal minefield around it.

Summing up, Firebird Caged is an addictive read about a teen who finds herself repeating her own mother’s 'mistakes'. The big difference is she has her mother’s support to make up her own mind, but when their life and living arrangements take an unexpected turn and the teen makes another mistake then tries to do the right thing, social workers become involved, and it seems the state has their own ideas about the teen and her unborn baby.

Very well written. I was into the story right away. I thought Maya did an excellent job developing the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

While I think the message is extremely important the execution felt off for me.

There wasn't really any depth to the issues. Everything was very surface level and felt very flat which made the emotional impact pretty minimal. Everything felt overly dramatized while also underwhelming at the same time. I felt like the main issues were being more shoved in my face than told to me in a story.

I do greatly appreciate the message of the book and I think it's something more people should be aware of. People tend to think about these things in the abstract and not as a real problem because it doesn't happen to them.

This book was really good! I really enjoyed the glimpse into what life is like for teen parents, and it was a super interesting story. It was very well written, and I would definitely recommend!

This is a difficult book for me to read. While this covered some pretty heavy topics, I felt like the writing was too simple to truly grasp the severity...if that makes sense? As a teacher and new-ish mom myself, my heart breaks for Ashley - I can't imagine what she was facing, especially with so much stacked against her. I liked her as a character, but wanted to learn more about her and her backstory...I felt the same way with some of the other plot points. More depth and development would have really brought this one to life and given it the stronger voice it deserved. That being said, I could see this writing style being useful in spreading awareness and understanding to those who might not otherwise know. Thanks so much for this ARC in exchange for my review!

When I first started reading this book, I was pretty confused with regards to the writing style - it was choppy and simple, but still easy to read. I did a little research and it turns out this is a Hi-Lo book (I'm pretty sure?) which are intended for people with a high age level in terms of interest but a low age level in reading capacity. Knowing this made the book much more palatable to me, as a lot of my issues with it were its simplicity and surface-level depth of characters and situations. Knowing the intention of the book itself eased my concerns (like being annoyed that there is magic in an autobiographical novel, and then everything making sense when you realise it was a mislabelled fantasy!).

Some things were brought up in this book that I didn't know existed, and that I truly think need more awareness - especially Act 292, which was horrifying to read about and even more horrifying when I realised that it is a very real, current thing.

I did think there was a little excessive misrepresentation in terms of drug use, but I admit the possibility of a thorough examination of such things might be difficult in a Hi-Lo book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, in exchange for an honest review! This was a quick and easy read and overall I enjoyed it! I thought that despite it being a fast paced book, both the plot and characters were well written. I would love to know what happens next to Ashley and her baby.