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Prom Babies
A compelling, multi-generational novel from the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and The Minus-One Club, Prom Babies chronicles the stories of three teen girls who become pregnant on prom night. Eighteen years later, their three babies, now high school seniors, are headed to prom and facing their own set of complicated issues and questions.
Mina, Penny, and Sheryl have the typical expectations of prom night in 2005: dresses, dancing, and of course some coming of age moments. None of them plans to get pregnant, but when all three do, they band together as they face decisions that have the power to shape the rest of their lives.
In 2024, their three children--Blossom, Amber, and Cole--are high school seniors, gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom.
A generation later, will this prom night change lives too?
Mina, Penny, and Sheryl have the typical expectations of prom night in 2005: dresses, dancing, and of course some coming of age moments. None of them plans to get pregnant, but when all three do, they band together as they face decisions that have the power to shape the rest of their lives.
In 2024, their three children--Blossom, Amber, and Cole--are high school seniors, gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom.
A generation later, will this prom night change lives too?
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2024
9 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 11, 2024
I would love to see more multigenerational stories in YA, this was so interesting. It offers an engaging exploration of teen pregnancy, sexual assault, abortion and consent through several perspectives, which I think will really make readers think. There are six different POV characters but they were all distinctive, and really added to each others' storylines. I would have liked to spend more time with both the mums and the children as friends, but I respect that this wasn't the aim of the story, but rather something I was hoping for.
April 16, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Kekla Magoon, Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley.
This was surprisingly good. I plan to pick up a physical copy for my grandkids. They're too young now but won't always be. I was engaged from the beginning and very quickly became invested in these characters. The story is told using 2 alternating timelines with 3 main characters from the 2005 storyline: Penny daughter of a teen single mom, Mina biracial with a father from Ghana and an upper middle class family, and Sheryl a foster kid who has bounced around a bit because her mom struggled with substance abuse. The second timeline from 2024 included 3 new main characters in addition to those from the 2005 storyline: Amber, Penny's daughter, Blossom, Mina's daughter, and Cole, Sheryl's son. In both timelines the story is centered around and focused on high school senior prom.
This deals with some heavy issues including abortion, birth control, foster care, sexual assault, substance abuse, LGBTQA+ struggles, gender expectations, the politics of consent and adoption. Some of these issues are merely mentioned and others are plot points. I don't want to be more specific because of spoilers. So I would say the publishers suggested age of 14 is probably a good benchmark for parents. These issues are crucial for understanding for teens of all genders so I'm glad this novel exists.
I loved that this audiobook has multiple narrators to go with its multiple pov characters. This was narrated by Andy Garcia, Imani Jade Powers, Krysta Gonzales, Matt Bridges, Victoria Connelly and Yinka Ladeinde. The individuality of each separate character voiced by their own narrator truly helped to differentiate the characters as well as made the story easier to follow.
Thank you to Kekla Magoon, Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This was surprisingly good. I plan to pick up a physical copy for my grandkids. They're too young now but won't always be. I was engaged from the beginning and very quickly became invested in these characters. The story is told using 2 alternating timelines with 3 main characters from the 2005 storyline: Penny daughter of a teen single mom, Mina biracial with a father from Ghana and an upper middle class family, and Sheryl a foster kid who has bounced around a bit because her mom struggled with substance abuse. The second timeline from 2024 included 3 new main characters in addition to those from the 2005 storyline: Amber, Penny's daughter, Blossom, Mina's daughter, and Cole, Sheryl's son. In both timelines the story is centered around and focused on high school senior prom.
This deals with some heavy issues including abortion, birth control, foster care, sexual assault, substance abuse, LGBTQA+ struggles, gender expectations, the politics of consent and adoption. Some of these issues are merely mentioned and others are plot points. I don't want to be more specific because of spoilers. So I would say the publishers suggested age of 14 is probably a good benchmark for parents. These issues are crucial for understanding for teens of all genders so I'm glad this novel exists.
I loved that this audiobook has multiple narrators to go with its multiple pov characters. This was narrated by Andy Garcia, Imani Jade Powers, Krysta Gonzales, Matt Bridges, Victoria Connelly and Yinka Ladeinde. The individuality of each separate character voiced by their own narrator truly helped to differentiate the characters as well as made the story easier to follow.
Thank you to Kekla Magoon, Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
July 5, 2025
Very intriguing and I read it in two days, I was just disappointed because I feel like more teen moms would have mental issues that weren’t discussed, however these seems like capable and adaptive women. I was also unsure about having the main character, Cole cast as a “player” because while I’m glad he makes a change in the end, I feel it gave way to stereotypes of who men supposedly are. I’m glad they were discussed and changed - I think the close-out fixed that for me, but it just didn’t sit right intimating those actions. Also, one no should’ve meant no. Glad he’s changing and apologized, but irl that should never have happened, yet irl it does. Also Mina’s dad 😞 - how parents may act or push dreams on their children or how like Chip just left😢. Yet again, good showcasing. The author did a good job overall and it was a page turner. I am interested in Kekla’s other book perhaps. 9/10 great showcase
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
Tropes
•YA
•Teen Pregnancies
•Duel Timeline
•Multi POVs
Trigger Warning ⚠️
•Rape | Sexual Assault
♤ Release April.30 ♤
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4.5 🌟
I think this book might just be my favorite book | audiobook for this month (April) .
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First, the audiobook is phenomenal, the narrators "Chief kiss 💋 * I love it when an author give each character a different narrator, and they don't all sound alike. *Chief kisses 💋 again*
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Second, the storyline is phenomenal and should be talked about more, teen pregnancies.
The storyline is done in Then (Past) and" Now "(Present). In the Then (Past) we have the moms ... Penny, whose mother was also a teen mom, decided to have consental sex with her partner on prom night, and the condom breaks, and she gets pregnant. Mina story is the same as Penny's has cobsental sex with her partner, and the condom breaks and whe gets pregnant. Sheryl is a fostered kid who was unfortunately raped on prom night, which resulted in her getting pregnant. The Now (Present) is the story of their children and how they are coming up on their prom night. We have Blossom, Amber, and Cole are gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom.
-
I gave this story 4.5 🌟 because I wanted to know what happened after prom with the teen if they followed their parent footsteps or picked a different path. But overall, this is a great YA book for teens to read and very informative.
-
♡ Audiobook Review ♡
Thank you, Netgalley, and Spotify Audiobook for this ALC (audiobook) for my honest review
•YA
•Teen Pregnancies
•Duel Timeline
•Multi POVs
Trigger Warning ⚠️
•Rape | Sexual Assault
♤ Release April.30 ♤
-
4.5 🌟
I think this book might just be my favorite book | audiobook for this month (April) .
-
First, the audiobook is phenomenal, the narrators "Chief kiss 💋 * I love it when an author give each character a different narrator, and they don't all sound alike. *Chief kisses 💋 again*
-
Second, the storyline is phenomenal and should be talked about more, teen pregnancies.
The storyline is done in Then (Past) and" Now "(Present). In the Then (Past) we have the moms ... Penny, whose mother was also a teen mom, decided to have consental sex with her partner on prom night, and the condom breaks, and she gets pregnant. Mina story is the same as Penny's has cobsental sex with her partner, and the condom breaks and whe gets pregnant. Sheryl is a fostered kid who was unfortunately raped on prom night, which resulted in her getting pregnant. The Now (Present) is the story of their children and how they are coming up on their prom night. We have Blossom, Amber, and Cole are gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom.
-
I gave this story 4.5 🌟 because I wanted to know what happened after prom with the teen if they followed their parent footsteps or picked a different path. But overall, this is a great YA book for teens to read and very informative.
-
♡ Audiobook Review ♡
Thank you, Netgalley, and Spotify Audiobook for this ALC (audiobook) for my honest review
May 2, 2024
How powerful would it be if THIS was a book that kids read in school??
May 4, 2024
4.5⭐️
Thank you, @spotify & @tlcbooktours for my free audiobook copy!
This audiobook was so good and I was kind of surprised at how much I did like it. I think this is a great story to read/listen and discuss with teens as they deal with high school issues and pressures. It deals with some real life things. It shows that the issues teens face can be a repeated cycle if not discussed. I would personally suggest that parents read it first and then read and discuss with their teens so they are prepared for the discussion and possible questions from teens.
I especially loved how we went from past to present showing how the now parents had the same issues and how they decide to handle the situations with their now teens. Some handled it perfectly and some not so much. I loved how the story also shows different family dynamics with each teens. Such a great book!
Thank you, @spotify & @tlcbooktours for my free audiobook copy!
This audiobook was so good and I was kind of surprised at how much I did like it. I think this is a great story to read/listen and discuss with teens as they deal with high school issues and pressures. It deals with some real life things. It shows that the issues teens face can be a repeated cycle if not discussed. I would personally suggest that parents read it first and then read and discuss with their teens so they are prepared for the discussion and possible questions from teens.
I especially loved how we went from past to present showing how the now parents had the same issues and how they decide to handle the situations with their now teens. Some handled it perfectly and some not so much. I loved how the story also shows different family dynamics with each teens. Such a great book!
Read
June 2, 2024This is very good, even though I want to die a little thinking about a prom year EYE remember as historical fiction. But really, this is extremely well rendered and really heartfelt and Kekla is just a quiet star who should be much more famous
December 24, 2024
It was a nice concept, but it felt rushed/compact due to the struggle of fitting six narratives into one 300 page novel. I wanted way more interactions than they were able to fit into the book. Whenever it switched to the “now” narrative, I had such a hard time keeping track of whose kid was whose mom was whose partner. (Then you add in the OTHER children some of the original prom babies had… it got confusing quick.)
I think it valiantly tried to cover a lot of different issues, but it was suuuuuper heavy handed. (It’s a little tiring to have the super radical character yelling about the patriarchy every other page.)
Probably just a book that wasn’t for me, but it may help some younger readers make some new discoveries.
I think it valiantly tried to cover a lot of different issues, but it was suuuuuper heavy handed. (It’s a little tiring to have the super radical character yelling about the patriarchy every other page.)
Probably just a book that wasn’t for me, but it may help some younger readers make some new discoveries.
January 20, 2024
Two generations of teens tell the story of their high school prom experience. From 2005, Mina, Penny, and Sheryl and from 2024 Blossom, Amber, and Cole....their three children resulting from prom night (or close to it) pregnancies. While some things have changed, others remain the same as feelings churn and big decisions are made leading up to and after prom "dreams" are realized or destroyed.
This novel is really unique when it comes to looking at teen sexuality, sex, gender, and consent. I really like how the topic of sex is discussed and explored without the act itself every becoming explicitly graphic, but the ideas of pleasure, discomfort, and consent are. All of the characters from 2005 become pregnant via different relationships (loving couple, casual fling, and rape) and all consider abortion, but ultimately decide to keep their babies for different reasons. I appreciated how inside each characters head the reader got to be during this decision and think it brought to light considerations beyond the typical good and bad logic while not underplaying the validity of either choice. As the children of the 2005 protagonist come of age in 2024, the conversation around sex, pregnancy, and a woman's right to choose changes highlighting some of the more pressing concerns around access to health care teens today may have. No subject is off base when it comes to virginity, gender, heteronormative expectations, and dismantling the patriarchy. I think this is a book that will resonate with teen readers. My biggest critique is that even at 304 pages, with six perspectives, there was more I wanted to know about everyone!
This novel is really unique when it comes to looking at teen sexuality, sex, gender, and consent. I really like how the topic of sex is discussed and explored without the act itself every becoming explicitly graphic, but the ideas of pleasure, discomfort, and consent are. All of the characters from 2005 become pregnant via different relationships (loving couple, casual fling, and rape) and all consider abortion, but ultimately decide to keep their babies for different reasons. I appreciated how inside each characters head the reader got to be during this decision and think it brought to light considerations beyond the typical good and bad logic while not underplaying the validity of either choice. As the children of the 2005 protagonist come of age in 2024, the conversation around sex, pregnancy, and a woman's right to choose changes highlighting some of the more pressing concerns around access to health care teens today may have. No subject is off base when it comes to virginity, gender, heteronormative expectations, and dismantling the patriarchy. I think this is a book that will resonate with teen readers. My biggest critique is that even at 304 pages, with six perspectives, there was more I wanted to know about everyone!
June 14, 2024
3 girls, 1 prom night, 18 years later—3 babies attend their own prom night.
🪩
Prom Night 2005: Mina, Penny and Sheryl all have plans to have a great night. None of them planned to get pregnant, but when they see one another at Planned Parenthood, they realize they all have the repercussions of that night in common and become friends. Now eighteen years later their own children are headed to prom, dealing with their own issues such as consent, virginity, gender norms, protests, and society’s heteronormative and patriarchal expectations of what prom night should be. Will history repeat itself?
🪩
This YA book by @keklamagoon was incredibly well-written, had a very diverse cast and dealt with so many issues teens are struggling with both back then (when I was in high school) and now. I highly recommend this to all high school readers so they can begin to ponder some of life’s big questions during a time of transition and change in their lives.
CW: sexual assault/rape, pregnancy, alcohol, misogyny, parental abandonment
The multiple POVs had me confused sometimes, but such a strong and important book.
🪩
Prom Night 2005: Mina, Penny and Sheryl all have plans to have a great night. None of them planned to get pregnant, but when they see one another at Planned Parenthood, they realize they all have the repercussions of that night in common and become friends. Now eighteen years later their own children are headed to prom, dealing with their own issues such as consent, virginity, gender norms, protests, and society’s heteronormative and patriarchal expectations of what prom night should be. Will history repeat itself?
🪩
This YA book by @keklamagoon was incredibly well-written, had a very diverse cast and dealt with so many issues teens are struggling with both back then (when I was in high school) and now. I highly recommend this to all high school readers so they can begin to ponder some of life’s big questions during a time of transition and change in their lives.
CW: sexual assault/rape, pregnancy, alcohol, misogyny, parental abandonment
The multiple POVs had me confused sometimes, but such a strong and important book.
June 4, 2025
This book was great! I loved the story and the characters. The way the povs shifted between the different characters and the two time periods was super cool. This book dealt with a lot of real life problems in a really well done way. Overall it was an awesome read.
April 8, 2024
Wow, this book was compelling and one that’s going to stick in my mind. I am not generous with 5 star reviews but this deserved it in that I believe I will circle back down the line to read it again and I definitely will recommend it to young adults as a book that should be in every high school library.
I want to thank NetGalley and Spotify Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
As soon as I saw the description of this title I hit the request button immediately. I set other books aside to start it as something pulled me to it and it met my one of my 2024 reading challenges to read authors from marginalized groups.
The basic premise is 3 teens who got pregnant on their prom night. The story unfolds of how they dealt with their situations . The three having very different relationships from one another. The other part of the book is the off spring of those parents who are now attending prom.
It explores sexuality and intercourse and all that goes with it from a respectful, informative and open minded place.
You get to take the journey of the decisions all the teens take on their journeys with the original 3 all debating abortion but ultimately deciding against it while not demonizing if the decision was made differently.
In the current time period it also explores gender norms, the patriarchy and teens access to healthcare (that part is in the past too).
I don’t want to give spoilers so I’ll just leave it that the exploration it takes is one that so many can identify with as teens confront sex and the decisions that come with it as well as relationships. Whether those relationships are peer, romantic, criminal or parental. The story has so many touch points for folk’s to identify with.
While this title is in the YA genre, don’t let that scare you off, especially if you’re raising a child. It’s a must read.
Lastly, I consumed the audio book version. While some of the voices weren’t as enjoyable as some others, it was fine to listen to. I liked having various people to narrate the different characters, which there are many.
The only criticism I have is that you do need to stay present as there are many characters to keep track of. This is a good book to have a journal handy if that’s something you enjoy. It’ll help keep everyone straight. I know this is a stand alone book and it wrap things up but there is room for more to be written about the characters. If the author ever decided to write novellas on each character I definitely would read them. I look forward to reading more of this authors works.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
I want to thank NetGalley and Spotify Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
As soon as I saw the description of this title I hit the request button immediately. I set other books aside to start it as something pulled me to it and it met my one of my 2024 reading challenges to read authors from marginalized groups.
The basic premise is 3 teens who got pregnant on their prom night. The story unfolds of how they dealt with their situations . The three having very different relationships from one another. The other part of the book is the off spring of those parents who are now attending prom.
It explores sexuality and intercourse and all that goes with it from a respectful, informative and open minded place.
You get to take the journey of the decisions all the teens take on their journeys with the original 3 all debating abortion but ultimately deciding against it while not demonizing if the decision was made differently.
In the current time period it also explores gender norms, the patriarchy and teens access to healthcare (that part is in the past too).
I don’t want to give spoilers so I’ll just leave it that the exploration it takes is one that so many can identify with as teens confront sex and the decisions that come with it as well as relationships. Whether those relationships are peer, romantic, criminal or parental. The story has so many touch points for folk’s to identify with.
While this title is in the YA genre, don’t let that scare you off, especially if you’re raising a child. It’s a must read.
Lastly, I consumed the audio book version. While some of the voices weren’t as enjoyable as some others, it was fine to listen to. I liked having various people to narrate the different characters, which there are many.
The only criticism I have is that you do need to stay present as there are many characters to keep track of. This is a good book to have a journal handy if that’s something you enjoy. It’ll help keep everyone straight. I know this is a stand alone book and it wrap things up but there is room for more to be written about the characters. If the author ever decided to write novellas on each character I definitely would read them. I look forward to reading more of this authors works.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
April 16, 2024
!! TW: rape, sexual assault
Thank you to NetGalley + Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced digital copy!
Prom Babies tells the story of two generations going to prom and the life changing events that happen during the event. Penny, Mina, and Cheryl attend prom in 2005 and form a friendship as they all ended up pregnant. The book follows the girls as they raise their kids and send them off to their own prom in 2024.
I loved how many topics this book covered!! It gets into virginity, consent, gender norms, patriarchal dress codes, and all the options women have when it comes to pregnancy (shout out Planned Parenthood!!). I also enjoyed the “found family” that is created as Cheryl, Mina, and Penny raise their kids side by side. I really wish more of that was shown as the kids don’t even interact with each other until over halfway into the book when we start getting more backstory into how they were raised together. This book would be a PHENOMENAL read for any high school English or Health class.
The book overall felt more like a Cole / Cheryl story, with Amber and Mina as side plot characters. I would say 75% of the book is about Cole / Cheryl overall. This left Blossom and Penny completely put off to the side and rarely heard from which was disappointing to me because as a mixed Afro-Latina, i was very excited for Mina / Blossom. I was also looking forward to Penny’s arc as her mom was a teen mom and they didn’t have a good relationship. I was hoping to see how she would put in the work to ensure she and Amber did not mirror that but she faded completely into the background as Amber was focused on her protest.
I also wish there had been a content warning because i was not expecting there to be such a heavy theme of sexual assault and rape within this book. I found both Cheryl and her son Cole’s chapters to be extremely triggering and had to fast forward through them. I did appreciate the note at the end going over all the different resources available to anyone who may be experiencing trauma and need assistance.
The audiobook was good however i found it hard to multitask while listening. I typically listen to audiobooks while working or gaming but this one took more brainpower to figure out what was going on or who was who due to the amount of characters. By about 40% i was able to power through. The women narrating did a great job, especially Amber! She truly captured her character’s complete essence. Cole’s narrator however was very robotic with little to no inflection. He sounded like all his chapters were recorded via “talk to text.”
I gave this 3 ⭐️ due to wanting so much more of the other 4 characters (Blossom, Mina, Penny, and Amber), wanting more interaction between the kids and a look into their found family lifestyle.
Thank you to NetGalley + Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced digital copy!
Prom Babies tells the story of two generations going to prom and the life changing events that happen during the event. Penny, Mina, and Cheryl attend prom in 2005 and form a friendship as they all ended up pregnant. The book follows the girls as they raise their kids and send them off to their own prom in 2024.
I loved how many topics this book covered!! It gets into virginity, consent, gender norms, patriarchal dress codes, and all the options women have when it comes to pregnancy (shout out Planned Parenthood!!). I also enjoyed the “found family” that is created as Cheryl, Mina, and Penny raise their kids side by side. I really wish more of that was shown as the kids don’t even interact with each other until over halfway into the book when we start getting more backstory into how they were raised together. This book would be a PHENOMENAL read for any high school English or Health class.
The book overall felt more like a Cole / Cheryl story, with Amber and Mina as side plot characters. I would say 75% of the book is about Cole / Cheryl overall. This left Blossom and Penny completely put off to the side and rarely heard from which was disappointing to me because as a mixed Afro-Latina, i was very excited for Mina / Blossom. I was also looking forward to Penny’s arc as her mom was a teen mom and they didn’t have a good relationship. I was hoping to see how she would put in the work to ensure she and Amber did not mirror that but she faded completely into the background as Amber was focused on her protest.
I also wish there had been a content warning because i was not expecting there to be such a heavy theme of sexual assault and rape within this book. I found both Cheryl and her son Cole’s chapters to be extremely triggering and had to fast forward through them. I did appreciate the note at the end going over all the different resources available to anyone who may be experiencing trauma and need assistance.
The audiobook was good however i found it hard to multitask while listening. I typically listen to audiobooks while working or gaming but this one took more brainpower to figure out what was going on or who was who due to the amount of characters. By about 40% i was able to power through. The women narrating did a great job, especially Amber! She truly captured her character’s complete essence. Cole’s narrator however was very robotic with little to no inflection. He sounded like all his chapters were recorded via “talk to text.”
I gave this 3 ⭐️ due to wanting so much more of the other 4 characters (Blossom, Mina, Penny, and Amber), wanting more interaction between the kids and a look into their found family lifestyle.
May 6, 2025
First, RUDE setting the "past" of this novel in 2005 and having that be 18 years from "present" day and have that be mathematically correct.
I do think we could do with more multi-generational YA novels and I really liked that aspect of Prom Babies. The found family between Mina, Penny, and Sheryl was precious and I loved how these three teenage girls who didn't really know each other before life threw all of them a left curve came together to protect and support each other. Unfortunately, I didn't like Blossom, Amber, and Cole as much as their moms. I felt like a lot of their lines were delivered as talking points and felt inauthentic. Also, Cole is kind of the WORST. He does redeem himself a bit by the end, but not enough.
With so many POVs, the plot does get a bit muddled and at least with the audiobook, it was hard to keep tracked of everyone and the timeline of everything. I appreciate what Magoon was doing with this novel but this one was a miss for me.
Imani Jade Powers, Yinka Ladeinde, Krysta Gonzales, Victoria Connolly, Andy Garcia, and Matthew Bridges do a good job with the audiobook narration.
I do think we could do with more multi-generational YA novels and I really liked that aspect of Prom Babies. The found family between Mina, Penny, and Sheryl was precious and I loved how these three teenage girls who didn't really know each other before life threw all of them a left curve came together to protect and support each other. Unfortunately, I didn't like Blossom, Amber, and Cole as much as their moms. I felt like a lot of their lines were delivered as talking points and felt inauthentic. Also, Cole is kind of the WORST. He does redeem himself a bit by the end, but not enough.
With so many POVs, the plot does get a bit muddled and at least with the audiobook, it was hard to keep tracked of everyone and the timeline of everything. I appreciate what Magoon was doing with this novel but this one was a miss for me.
Imani Jade Powers, Yinka Ladeinde, Krysta Gonzales, Victoria Connolly, Andy Garcia, and Matthew Bridges do a good job with the audiobook narration.
April 20, 2024
This was a great multigenerational story. Usually when a book has a lot of POVs it can get super confusing. This one had 6 and it didn't get as confusing as I thought it would. I loved each character's POV and seeing what they were each going through. Cole in particular was really interesting, given that he was the only guy in the group and he was the product of a rape. I loved how consent was a big part of his story as well as the rest of the characters' POVs. It was an important aspect to the story.
With the past POVs, aka the moms, we got to see how each of them dealt with getting pregnant from a different type of relationship, couple in love, casual hookups, and rape. Each of them considers abortion and we get to see all of their thought processes as they way the pros and cons of both options. I liked that because having an abortion or having the baby are both difficult decisions especially as a teenager and each girl had a very different perspective on their pregnancy because of how they got pregnant. SO this book definitely explores a lot of different things.
With the present POVs, aka the kids, we get more discussions about sex, sexuality, consent, sexism, heteronormative expectations. So many different topics to explore. It was a different vibe than the moms' because moms' POVs were all about their pregnacies but the kids were about relationships, taking down the patriarchy, consent, and learning about themselves.
Now that I've talked about the good of the story lets talk about the not so good. Having 6 POVs in a 300 page book is not enough time to explore everything. I don't like long ass books but with 6 POVs there is just so much to explore and unpack. I wanted to know so much more about all of the characters.
audiobook specific: I loved that each character got their own narrator. They all did a fantastic job, except for cole's narrator. He wasn't terrible but I did struggle with him a bit. At times he spoke in a cadence that seems a bit computer like. He didn't sound like a computer but just his pacing was off as times. As I said in the beginning of my review, the 6 POVs didn't get too confusing for me. I cannot say for certain that that was because of the writing or because I listened to the audiobook with 6 different narrators.
Content warning: teen pregnancy, rape, sexual assault, discussions of abortion, sexism
Thank you to netgalley and turn the page tours for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
With the past POVs, aka the moms, we got to see how each of them dealt with getting pregnant from a different type of relationship, couple in love, casual hookups, and rape. Each of them considers abortion and we get to see all of their thought processes as they way the pros and cons of both options. I liked that because having an abortion or having the baby are both difficult decisions especially as a teenager and each girl had a very different perspective on their pregnancy because of how they got pregnant. SO this book definitely explores a lot of different things.
With the present POVs, aka the kids, we get more discussions about sex, sexuality, consent, sexism, heteronormative expectations. So many different topics to explore. It was a different vibe than the moms' because moms' POVs were all about their pregnacies but the kids were about relationships, taking down the patriarchy, consent, and learning about themselves.
Now that I've talked about the good of the story lets talk about the not so good. Having 6 POVs in a 300 page book is not enough time to explore everything. I don't like long ass books but with 6 POVs there is just so much to explore and unpack. I wanted to know so much more about all of the characters.
audiobook specific: I loved that each character got their own narrator. They all did a fantastic job, except for cole's narrator. He wasn't terrible but I did struggle with him a bit. At times he spoke in a cadence that seems a bit computer like. He didn't sound like a computer but just his pacing was off as times. As I said in the beginning of my review, the 6 POVs didn't get too confusing for me. I cannot say for certain that that was because of the writing or because I listened to the audiobook with 6 different narrators.
Content warning: teen pregnancy, rape, sexual assault, discussions of abortion, sexism
Thank you to netgalley and turn the page tours for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2024
Three teenagers—Mina, Penny, and Sheryl—get pregnant at their prom in 2005. In 2024, their children—Blossom, Amber, and Cole—deal with their own issues in Prom Babies by Kela Magoon. This older teen novel deals with difficult issues of intimacy, consent, and family and social pressures through the eyes of two generations of teen protagonists.
Kekla does a magnificent job of handling the two timelines in 2005 and 2024. She gives her characters distinctive voices and personalities. It's easy to follow along and see how events in the past affect the present. As an author who also works with dual timelines, I appreciate seeing another author doing it well.
She also differentiated the two time periods without leaning hard on nostalgia. Mostly it shows through the attitudes teens have in both eras, and how Dobbs offers people fewer options today than in the 2000s. Although the book touches on serious issues, Kekla provides plenty of humor. The climactic 2024 prom scene is a hoot.
The heart of the story is the relationship between Mina, Penney, and Sheryl. They bond over a common crisis, and they turned it into a found family with their children. The growth of Cole as a character was wonderful to watch.
Prom Babies gets too preachy at times. One character described herself as sounding like "an after-school special." There is also a plot line involving the father of a character that got dropped and left unresolved. But overall, Prom Babies is an accessible and uplifting book about an important subject.
I got a copy of this book from our local library.
Kekla does a magnificent job of handling the two timelines in 2005 and 2024. She gives her characters distinctive voices and personalities. It's easy to follow along and see how events in the past affect the present. As an author who also works with dual timelines, I appreciate seeing another author doing it well.
She also differentiated the two time periods without leaning hard on nostalgia. Mostly it shows through the attitudes teens have in both eras, and how Dobbs offers people fewer options today than in the 2000s. Although the book touches on serious issues, Kekla provides plenty of humor. The climactic 2024 prom scene is a hoot.
The heart of the story is the relationship between Mina, Penney, and Sheryl. They bond over a common crisis, and they turned it into a found family with their children. The growth of Cole as a character was wonderful to watch.
Prom Babies gets too preachy at times. One character described herself as sounding like "an after-school special." There is also a plot line involving the father of a character that got dropped and left unresolved. But overall, Prom Babies is an accessible and uplifting book about an important subject.
I got a copy of this book from our local library.
January 15, 2026
*Sex openly discussed, mentions of pleasure and arousal but YA appropriate. Teenage pregancy, rape. Swearing present. All couples but one are M/F. Q word used in the modern chapters. Mentions of non-binary/gender spectrum but topic not engaged.
+ I love the concept of this book. I think it's important to address teenage pregnancy, what choices are available to girls, how pregnancy influences you, and what is and is not your choice. I loved the Then sections with the moms most of all and I could have read an entire book of just them dealing with the aftermath of their prom. While it was a bit farfetched at times, I think the message overall was powerful and not something seen in many YA books. Of the kids, I think Blossom's chapters were the best and her relationships. Cole's were important but felt a bit stiff, especially compared to the others.
- The children's lives felt a lot less interesting overall than the moms. And by the time we reach them there are a lot of characters and relationships to keep track of that things get a little buried. I really wanted to love Amber but she was very tiring and felt like a trope. She throws around a lot of buzzwords and her relationship with Carmen is the most neglected of all. I'm not surprised either, but for a book that wants to talk about teenage pregnancy and misogyny, in the childrens' chapters there was nothing with teeth.
+ I love the concept of this book. I think it's important to address teenage pregnancy, what choices are available to girls, how pregnancy influences you, and what is and is not your choice. I loved the Then sections with the moms most of all and I could have read an entire book of just them dealing with the aftermath of their prom. While it was a bit farfetched at times, I think the message overall was powerful and not something seen in many YA books. Of the kids, I think Blossom's chapters were the best and her relationships. Cole's were important but felt a bit stiff, especially compared to the others.
- The children's lives felt a lot less interesting overall than the moms. And by the time we reach them there are a lot of characters and relationships to keep track of that things get a little buried. I really wanted to love Amber but she was very tiring and felt like a trope. She throws around a lot of buzzwords and her relationship with Carmen is the most neglected of all. I'm not surprised either, but for a book that wants to talk about teenage pregnancy and misogyny, in the childrens' chapters there was nothing with teeth.
April 13, 2024
4.5 Stars
The whole thing takes a bit of focus when you’re reading, this was not a book I could multitask while listening to. The story is good and kept me interested the whole time.
At about 50% the stories of the 3 girls who became pregnant on prom night and their kids really converge. The first half of the book takes place in 2007 and the second half bounces between 2007 and 2024. At this point I also seemed to figure out who was who and it made listening to it a little easier. I listened to the last 40% in effectively one sitting.
Whole book was intense. Really explores the question of nature vs nurture, as well as deals with some very important topics like SA, consent, and reproductive rights. I appreciate the authors notes at the end touching on when the book was written, how things had changed from the time it was written to publish, as well as resources available. considering this target audience for this book is teens, I feel like it’s essential information.
I wish I had books like this when I was younger and I will be suggesting this book to ALL of the younger people in my life.
The narration was good, with a decent pace. My biggest hurdle was that I had a difficult time keeping the voice for each character straight in my head. This is likely a me problem as I seldom listen to books with more than 2 people in the cast.
The whole thing takes a bit of focus when you’re reading, this was not a book I could multitask while listening to. The story is good and kept me interested the whole time.
At about 50% the stories of the 3 girls who became pregnant on prom night and their kids really converge. The first half of the book takes place in 2007 and the second half bounces between 2007 and 2024. At this point I also seemed to figure out who was who and it made listening to it a little easier. I listened to the last 40% in effectively one sitting.
Whole book was intense. Really explores the question of nature vs nurture, as well as deals with some very important topics like SA, consent, and reproductive rights. I appreciate the authors notes at the end touching on when the book was written, how things had changed from the time it was written to publish, as well as resources available. considering this target audience for this book is teens, I feel like it’s essential information.
I wish I had books like this when I was younger and I will be suggesting this book to ALL of the younger people in my life.
The narration was good, with a decent pace. My biggest hurdle was that I had a difficult time keeping the voice for each character straight in my head. This is likely a me problem as I seldom listen to books with more than 2 people in the cast.
May 13, 2024
🍼 🅱🅾🅾🅺 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆 🍼
Featured: 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 by @keklamagoon
Reading books with this type of representation, 25 years after having my daughter at 16, I am blown away by the accuracies of how real the experiences were documented in 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨. Being a teenage mother is never something that should be glamorized because you're dealing with individuals that believe they must have everything figured out in weeks and it’s just a nightmare you’re creating for yourself. You learn as time goes by that parenting is a day-to-day process because even the best laid out plans go awry.
The author Kekla Magoon does a great job in showing how pregnancies with teenagers are often never planned, are the consequences of ineffective birth control and safety, and from terrible sexual assaults and rapes. Learning to move away from the shame and judgment that your family and/or society spews becomes a skilled act.
Through community and support, young girls and women can manage their pregnancies no matter if they choose birthing and keeping the baby, birthing and giving the baby up for adoption, and choosing to terminate the pregnancy altogether. These choices are not easy at all to make, especially when they will follow you the rest of your life. However, it is the beauty of choice that allows young girls and women the freedom to choose their own path.
I really enjoyed the Spotify audiobook and the narrators do a good job in distinguishing between the two different plot lines and characters during each one. The characters were brought to life in dynamic ways.
I think this audiobook is one that young adults should read/listen to because it is helpful, resourceful, and endearing. It requires a special kind of bravery to push past adversity and scorn of others when kindness and generosity cost them nothing at all.
Thank you to @spotify and @tlcbooktours for the gifted ALC.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏷 #KeklaMagoon #PromBabies #YA #spotifyaudiobooks #AudioBookFeature #BooksToRead #Bookish #Bookstagrammer #BookLover #wellreadblackgirl #diversifyyourbookshelf
Featured: 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 by @keklamagoon
Reading books with this type of representation, 25 years after having my daughter at 16, I am blown away by the accuracies of how real the experiences were documented in 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨. Being a teenage mother is never something that should be glamorized because you're dealing with individuals that believe they must have everything figured out in weeks and it’s just a nightmare you’re creating for yourself. You learn as time goes by that parenting is a day-to-day process because even the best laid out plans go awry.
The author Kekla Magoon does a great job in showing how pregnancies with teenagers are often never planned, are the consequences of ineffective birth control and safety, and from terrible sexual assaults and rapes. Learning to move away from the shame and judgment that your family and/or society spews becomes a skilled act.
Through community and support, young girls and women can manage their pregnancies no matter if they choose birthing and keeping the baby, birthing and giving the baby up for adoption, and choosing to terminate the pregnancy altogether. These choices are not easy at all to make, especially when they will follow you the rest of your life. However, it is the beauty of choice that allows young girls and women the freedom to choose their own path.
I really enjoyed the Spotify audiobook and the narrators do a good job in distinguishing between the two different plot lines and characters during each one. The characters were brought to life in dynamic ways.
I think this audiobook is one that young adults should read/listen to because it is helpful, resourceful, and endearing. It requires a special kind of bravery to push past adversity and scorn of others when kindness and generosity cost them nothing at all.
Thank you to @spotify and @tlcbooktours for the gifted ALC.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏷 #KeklaMagoon #PromBabies #YA #spotifyaudiobooks #AudioBookFeature #BooksToRead #Bookish #Bookstagrammer #BookLover #wellreadblackgirl #diversifyyourbookshelf
May 20, 2024
Kekla Magoon's latest book visits the all-too-common issue of teen pregnancy. Three girls all become pregnant the night of their senior prom in 2005. Magoon tells the story of those three babies, preparing for their own senior prom in 2024. A cast of narrators, Imani Jade Powers, Yinka Ladeinde, Krysta Gonzales, Victoria Connolly, Matt Bridges, and Andy Garcia, believably voices the characters.
The book revisits 2005 and then the present, reflecting on the years in between. The three teens from 2005 banded together for support, even though they weren't close friends in high school. Mina, Penny, and Sheryl even shared a house and child care before coming into their own as adults. Their children all tussle with big issues at prom time. Gender identity, the social norms and mores of their community, virginity, actual identity, and other topics demand the attention of their children, Blossom, Amber, and Cole.
Teens will love this one, especially those who are already fans of Magoon. Recommended for young adults and those who work with them.
Note: I received an advance audio copy through NetGalley.
The book revisits 2005 and then the present, reflecting on the years in between. The three teens from 2005 banded together for support, even though they weren't close friends in high school. Mina, Penny, and Sheryl even shared a house and child care before coming into their own as adults. Their children all tussle with big issues at prom time. Gender identity, the social norms and mores of their community, virginity, actual identity, and other topics demand the attention of their children, Blossom, Amber, and Cole.
Teens will love this one, especially those who are already fans of Magoon. Recommended for young adults and those who work with them.
Note: I received an advance audio copy through NetGalley.
Read
May 29, 2024I enjoyed reading Prom Babies - it was definitely an interesting and unique story and the narrators for the audiobook - Andy Garcia, Imani Jade Powers, Krysta Gonzales, Matt Bridges, Victoria Connelly and Yinka Ladeinde, were unique for each character.
I found it interesting that the author chose to write in the current day for prom 2024, which meant that the parents were in their senior year in 2005. That was the year of my senior prom as well, and the I found I could relate to those three in both the 2005 and 2024 timeline. That could have been me trying to make that tough decision, but it also feel like me talking to my niece (who’s 16) now in 2024.
It was a little difficult at first for me to keep the names sorted, especially since I was listening to the audiobook, the individual narrators for each character did help a little.
While this is solidly YA fiction, it doesn’t have that typical YA feel and can easily be read and enjoyed by NA and older.
Thank you to Turn the Page Tours for the #gifted copy and to Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced audiobook version.
I found it interesting that the author chose to write in the current day for prom 2024, which meant that the parents were in their senior year in 2005. That was the year of my senior prom as well, and the I found I could relate to those three in both the 2005 and 2024 timeline. That could have been me trying to make that tough decision, but it also feel like me talking to my niece (who’s 16) now in 2024.
It was a little difficult at first for me to keep the names sorted, especially since I was listening to the audiobook, the individual narrators for each character did help a little.
While this is solidly YA fiction, it doesn’t have that typical YA feel and can easily be read and enjoyed by NA and older.
Thank you to Turn the Page Tours for the #gifted copy and to Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced audiobook version.
May 27, 2024
Magoon's books include thoughtful approaches to contemporary topics but the way this one was approached both shows a broader view of the elements she wanted to address as well as focus on the individuals themselves. The distinct voices of the multiple characters do not get lost in the story and even so, in the audiobook which I listened to via Hoopla.
The nonlinear timeline and the generational story features three teen girls who had widely different experiences on their prom night. Fast forward to their progenies own upcoming prom and Magoon navigates everything from rape to the foster care system, adoption and coming-of-age. Magoon specifically wanted to address the changing landscape of abortion access/abortion rights which is evident in the story.
It's not your average YA realistic fiction.
The nonlinear timeline and the generational story features three teen girls who had widely different experiences on their prom night. Fast forward to their progenies own upcoming prom and Magoon navigates everything from rape to the foster care system, adoption and coming-of-age. Magoon specifically wanted to address the changing landscape of abortion access/abortion rights which is evident in the story.
It's not your average YA realistic fiction.
September 17, 2024
I had a good time with this one. I liked the multigenerational parallel and I liked seeing how the parents' experiences mirrored their children's. Of course, I thought the most compelling duo were Sheryl & Cole so I felt like I was flipping faster just to get to their parts. I probably could've read a story only about them and left all the other characters out.
I thought Cole's story posed an interesting question about nature vs. nurture. Here's this boy who was never raised by his father and didn't know a thing about him... and yet, he starts acting just like him in regards to women. How did that happen? He has a single mom who clearly didn't condone that crap, and yet, he somehow followed on the same path until he found out the truth. That was super interesting to me.
This book wasn't groundbreaking or anything, but it was fun for a one time read.
I thought Cole's story posed an interesting question about nature vs. nurture. Here's this boy who was never raised by his father and didn't know a thing about him... and yet, he starts acting just like him in regards to women. How did that happen? He has a single mom who clearly didn't condone that crap, and yet, he somehow followed on the same path until he found out the truth. That was super interesting to me.
This book wasn't groundbreaking or anything, but it was fun for a one time read.
April 11, 2024
Two generations and prom converge in this incredibly powerful book.
Mina, Penny and Sheryl all end up pregnant on prom night and eighteen years later, their own high school senior are heading to prom… we get a back and forth timeline through each of these six people, creating such a level of anticipation that had me hook, line and sinker…
Now, Blossom, Amber and Cole, heading off into adulthood are grappling with their own place in the world. The times have changed, but so many things remain the same.
This book was so moving! A lot happens within each little family dynamic. I wasn’t expecting the author to go as hard as they went, but it all worked so well to lend to this really important conversation of consent, identity, activism, mistakes and growing up.
Mina, Penny and Sheryl all end up pregnant on prom night and eighteen years later, their own high school senior are heading to prom… we get a back and forth timeline through each of these six people, creating such a level of anticipation that had me hook, line and sinker…
Now, Blossom, Amber and Cole, heading off into adulthood are grappling with their own place in the world. The times have changed, but so many things remain the same.
This book was so moving! A lot happens within each little family dynamic. I wasn’t expecting the author to go as hard as they went, but it all worked so well to lend to this really important conversation of consent, identity, activism, mistakes and growing up.
January 1, 2026
This was a big endeavor. 6 stories between two generations interwoven to create one story. This was a tall order and in some ways, I loved it, and in others, it fell short. Cheryl’s and Cole’s story was the most compelling, but is also the most triggering, as it involves SA, but the way it was presented was very realistic, down to cops not taking her seriously. That said, there’s a lot of other issues brought on by the other characters but there’s just not enough time to give them all time to shine. They’re all important, and should be given room to be fleshed out, like splitting this into two books, one for each gen. It’s an entertaining read for those looking for something with a 90s very special episode type feel.
April 8, 2024
An educational read! Trigger warning for rape and sexual assault.
Prom Babies is told in a dual timeline of Then/Now.
In the Then timeline we are following three girls:
Penney-who has consensual sex with her boyfriend on prom night. Unfortunately, their condom breaks and she gets pregnant.
Mina-a biracial girl who grows up in a religious home and also has consensual sex with someone and the condom breaks and she gets pregnant.
Sheryl-who is sadly raped on prom night by her date and gets pregnant.
The Now timeline follows their offspring eighteen years later as they approach their own prom night.
Although this isn’t perfect, I think it is very informative for a young reader.
Prom Babies is told in a dual timeline of Then/Now.
In the Then timeline we are following three girls:
Penney-who has consensual sex with her boyfriend on prom night. Unfortunately, their condom breaks and she gets pregnant.
Mina-a biracial girl who grows up in a religious home and also has consensual sex with someone and the condom breaks and she gets pregnant.
Sheryl-who is sadly raped on prom night by her date and gets pregnant.
The Now timeline follows their offspring eighteen years later as they approach their own prom night.
Although this isn’t perfect, I think it is very informative for a young reader.
May 11, 2024
Thank you to @spotify #partner and @tlcbooktours for the complimentary copy of Prom Babies by @keklamagoon
Release date: 30 April 2024
Review: I absolutely loved this faced paced multi-narrative audiobook. It reminds me of the late 90/ teen films. So many characters dealing with life experiences. I absolutely recommend. Look at trigger warnings. I enjoyed the character growth after decisions made. I liked the mention of options in the wake of Dobbs. It’s relevant and far reaching and effects the characters so deeply. I felt the treatment of these difficult topics was handled with care. Highly recommend!
Release date: 30 April 2024
Review: I absolutely loved this faced paced multi-narrative audiobook. It reminds me of the late 90/ teen films. So many characters dealing with life experiences. I absolutely recommend. Look at trigger warnings. I enjoyed the character growth after decisions made. I liked the mention of options in the wake of Dobbs. It’s relevant and far reaching and effects the characters so deeply. I felt the treatment of these difficult topics was handled with care. Highly recommend!
July 31, 2024
This book was so lighthearted and sweet. Initially I was drawn to Amber, Cole and Blossom's stories, but I found I became a lot more invested in Mina, Sheryl and Penny's stories, and the found family they create is so sweet. Definitely made me want to cry at a couple points. It was very hard for me to get into Cole's story, particularly because it felt like he was hellbent on treating every woman he encounters like shit, but I recognize that was his entire arc. His story, though insightful, was definitely the weakest out of the bunch for me. I'll never turn down a good ensemble/found family book, ans this is one I'd definitely reread.
August 4, 2024
In 2005, three high school students discover they’re pregnant after prom night. They weren’t in the same circles before this happened, but they become friends, and, when their children are born, the children grow up together. We see them in 2024 as they are preparing for their own prom experiences at the same high school their mothers graduated from.
This was a quick read with short, breezy chapters that alternate between the three mothers in 2005 (“Then”) and the three offspring in 2025 (“Now”). Misogyny, gender issues, and racism are all touched on in a surface-level way, but there’s not much nuance.
This was a quick read with short, breezy chapters that alternate between the three mothers in 2005 (“Then”) and the three offspring in 2025 (“Now”). Misogyny, gender issues, and racism are all touched on in a surface-level way, but there’s not much nuance.
April 22, 2024
A really well written dual timeline YA novel with a diverse cast of characters who each experience a Prom Date pregnancy. An excellent exploration of sexual assault, consent, women's rights through the lens of two generations of teens - the single mothers of the early 2000s and their grown children in the present day. Great on audio with a full cast, this really should be a must read for teens before prom with great life lessons! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: rape
CW: rape
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