Lean on Me by Candy Crum
When sixteen year old Briana Grace discovers that she’s pregnant after only having sex one time with her emotionally and physically abusive boyfriend, Mike Rhodes, her life begins to twist and turn upside down. She discovers who truly loves her and who she can really trust.
Her boyfriend turns on her and nearly kills her when she won’t agree to an abortion. Bri has to fight for her life and that of her little girl. She struggles to learn how to turn her life around and rise above all the bad after the world turns against her when more and more people learn of her pregnancy.
No matter what, there’s one friend that she can count on through thick and thin. He has been her best friend since childhood and they’ve never seen anything more from their friendship… Until now. She must learn to trust her heart again so she can see the bright future with the one who’s been there all along.
My thoughts about Lean on Me
This is such an emotionally turbulent novel. Briana is only 16 when she gets pregnant, something that far too many girls find themselves facing these days. So right there, you have the emotions and issues that come along with being a pregnant teenager. Despite shows on MTV, it’s not exactly all its cracked up to be. I believe strongly that a teenage girl can get through it with the right support system, though. Briana, unfortunately, does not find that support system in the baby’s father. He’s an abusive twit that you’ll find yourself wanting to throw in a dark basement and leave to rot.
So you have this sweet girl who has decided to have her baby and is facing the judgment of everyone around her, then you have a boyfriend that basically wants to kill her for that decision. Briana turns to her best friend, Matt. While Bri has never really thought of Matt as more than a friend, by the end of the book she may just feel differently. I don’t want to give anything away!
This is a fantastically written story that tackles several difficult issues affecting teens. Crum handles both the teenage pregnancy and the abusive boyfriend plots in a way that will resonate with older girls. While the story does contain some sex and violence, it’s still a fantastic read for teenagers, I’d say maybe 15 and older. It’s definitely a book that you won’t be able to put down!
Buy: Amazon | B&N Paperback
