Push

by Sapphire

So, I chose this novel because the movie is out and getting great reviews.

Claireece Precious Jones is sixteen years old. She is pregnant for the second time. She had her first baby at twelve. Her mother abuses her, her father impregnated her twice, and the education system has failed her. At the age of sixteen, Precious can neither read nor write.

Uplifting, eh? Well, it is a bit much. But Precious is a sympathetic character. She doesn’t want to be obese. She doesn’t want to be a victim of incest. She wants to be skinny and light-skinned and virginal.

The good news? Precious enrolls in an alternative school. She does learn to read and write. She removes herself from the bad situation at home. And she carefully raises her second child. There is hope for Precious because she pushes her way out of a terrible situation and keeps pushing towards a better life for herself and her child.

A bit of overkill (how many bad things can happen to one person?), but still worth reading.

11/22/09