Judge A Book By Its Cover

Bechard, Margaret. Hanging on to Max. Perma-Bound. New York, New York. 2003.

If you enjoy books about compassion and sacrifice then you should consider Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard. She makes sure to capture your emotions and bring them to life.This books was awarded best selling novel in the year 2003.

Hanging on to Max is a book about a young teenage boy named Sam. He is involved with many sports and after school activities. Many people look up to him as the all-star athlete, who can do no wrong. Sam has been looking forward to this year for a long time! He can't wait to be a senior in high school. There is nothing to worry about. He' ll have football scholarships, parties with his friends, and sports all year round. He is definitely living the high life this year.

All goes well starting off his senior year; everyone enjoys Sam's work on the football field. He gets an acceptance letter from the college with the best football program, and he has a gorgeous girlfriend named Jennie. She supports him in everything he does, and helps him with all his school work. His parents are happy that they have raised such a fantastic son.

Just as the football season is ending Sam finds out that he will be having a very different year then he was expecting. Jennie tells him that she is pregnant and is due at the beginning of February. Sam is horrified and falls into disbelief. What will become of his life now? Will he still be going to college? Will they keep the child? Must he now get married? The whole school becomes outraged, that one mistake could ruin his life.

Sam knows what is right and wrong because of the way he was raised. He knows it was his actions must pay for and take all the steps to becoming a father. He and Jennie go to a private school that is for soon to be parents. Once it is time for Jennie to have her baby, Sam decides to step up as a father. Jennie is afraid to ruin her life and wants to put the baby up for adoption, but Sam cannot bear to give up his son.

Sam must now decide to raise his soon to be son, Max, alone or give him to a more stable family....

Margaret Bechard's books are very realistic that it' s bone chilling. It shows how hard kids are struggling in school with peer pressure. This book shows how one's life can change with one mistake.

5 out of 5 stars

Contributed by C. Brown
Jan. 12th 2007