What if only teenagers could get pregnant? And the earth's survival depended on every girl having a couple of babies from the ages of 16-18, to be adopted by older, infertile couples?
This is what life is like in the technologically advanced, futuristic world of "Bumped" by Megan McCafferty. The area is split between two different cultures, "Otherside" which praises, encourages and even pays teen girls to have babies for society, and "Goodside" which is a conservative religious community reminiscent of Amish or Mormon communities. Think veils and purity clothing.
That's where Harmony and Melody come in. Identical 16 year old twins, adopted by two different families as infants, one raised in Otherside and one in Goodside. Neither one knowing of the other's existence until recently.
Then Harmony shows up unannounced at Melody's door with the mission of bringing her to God and having her return to Goodside with her. Melody has no intention of ever doing so, and the two sisters get to know each other, each with their own set of values and upbringing. Not everything is black and white.
Melody has been groomed her whole life to be a surrogate for infertile couples. Harmony has been groomed to be a Godly housewife and mother. Both are highly judgmental of the other's way of thinking. What happens when their two worlds collide? Can these two sisters find a common ground? And what are the effects these sisters will have on each other's lives?
This was such a lovely, well-written book and social commentary on the extremes we find in society today, where some pregnant teens become celebrities while others are vilified. I found this book was not only entertaining, it challenged those extremes, convicting me of my own judgments and making me re-consider my own views. I challenge you to read it as well and see where you find yourself on the spectrum.
This book is available for pre-order and is scheduled for release on April 26, 2011.
