The Lit Report
Written by: Sarah N. Harvey
Orca Book Publishers $12.95
Recommended for ages 14 and up

Julia and Ruth have been friends since preschool. It is the summer of their twelfth grade year and things have gone askew. Ruth is the daughter of a holier-than-thou, born again preacher and his loyal wife while Julia’s parents are divorced. Ruth likes to live on the edge. Julia is more comfortable at home with a good book. The two friends are different in many ways but their history keeps their friendship alive. Lucky for Ruth.

Weeks after an especially wild party, Ruth finds herself in a predicament. A predicament that changes the course of her life unlike anything she could imagine. Through a series of fibs and truth-stretching, the girls are able to hide Ruth’s pregnancy and only let Jonah (Ruth’s brother) in on the secret.

Coincidentally, Julia’s stepmother is also expecting a baby so Julia is able to gain a great deal of knowledge from the attending midwife and passes this on to Ruth. Perhaps it is the attention that Julia pays to Ruth that leads to a healthy delivery of baby Jane.

At times, the story seems a little unbelievable (at least to a mother) however the underlying theme is that good friendships can withstand all sorts of curveballs. With a true friend, you can get through most anything in life.