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My Body, My Choice: The Fight for Abortion Rights
★“Required reading for teens of every gender.”― Booklist , starred review
Abortion is one of the most common of all medical procedures. But it is still stigmatized, and all too often people do not feel they can talk about their experiences.
Making abortion illegal or hard to access doesn't make it any less common; it just makes it dangerous. Around the world, tens of thousands of women die from unsafe abortions every year.
People who support abortion rights have been fighting hard to create a world in which the right to access safe and legal abortion services is guaranteed. The opposition to this has been intense and sometimes violent, and victories have been hard won.
The long fight for abortion rights is being picked up by a new generation of courageous, creative and passionate activists. This book is about the history, and the future, of that fight.
Abortion is one of the most common of all medical procedures. But it is still stigmatized, and all too often people do not feel they can talk about their experiences.
Making abortion illegal or hard to access doesn't make it any less common; it just makes it dangerous. Around the world, tens of thousands of women die from unsafe abortions every year.
People who support abortion rights have been fighting hard to create a world in which the right to access safe and legal abortion services is guaranteed. The opposition to this has been intense and sometimes violent, and victories have been hard won.
The long fight for abortion rights is being picked up by a new generation of courageous, creative and passionate activists. This book is about the history, and the future, of that fight.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
About the author
Robin Stevenson
45 books168 followersRobin Stevenson is the award winning author of over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens. Her books have received starred reviews and have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and many reader’s choice awards. Robin was the Book and Periodical Council of Canada’s Champion of Free Expression for 2022, and received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in 2023. She lives on the west coast of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 25, 2019
What a fascinating history for the practice of and regulations surrounding abortions in North America.
I encourage everyone to read this whether it is for educational purposes or just to know you are not alone in your decision (whatever it may be).
This could be read in a day, so go read it!
Thank you NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for DRC.
I encourage everyone to read this whether it is for educational purposes or just to know you are not alone in your decision (whatever it may be).
This could be read in a day, so go read it!
Thank you NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for DRC.
March 1, 2019
It's exciting to see a well-researched book about reproductive rights for teens that is not a part of one of those horrible reference book series. The format is really appealing, with short chapters, a lot of graphics and some comics included. It's important for librarians and teachers to know that this book is adamantly pro-choice, so if you work in a very conservative community, be aware that parents might have issues with it. But it covers the history women's rights around the world and includes great quotes and anecdotes from doctors and activists from many different countries. The author emphasizes that a lack of access to birth control and abortions mostly affects poor women, women of color and other marginalized groups. I do worry that books like this get outdated very quickly, but I learned a lot! It's worth purchasing for sure.
April 8, 2019
I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, and I'm grateful to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for review.
I would give this like a three and a half in reality; I think Stevenson has done some hard work to make this accessible, though the age range seems pretty wide (it's for 12+, but the language to me seems like it might be difficult for a twelve-year-old, even with the glossary at the back.)
I would say the limitations of this book are mostly the part of the choice to focus on abortion itself; though Stevenson does hit on reproductive justice at the end, and questions of sterilization are peppered throughout, the history she's able to tell is one that is fairly white. Supplementing this with works that focus more on reproductive justice, especially organizing around maybe Black Lives Matter and reproductive justice, might be useful.
(I also wish, selfishly, that the references were maybe more direct, especially for statistics. The numbers around people who can get pregnant who have died from botched abortions strike me as difficult to count, and that she could point me to more studies about where she got that information.)
She has done a good job of not staying too US or even US/Canada focused, though, and I really appreciated the chapter about the global fight for abortion. Similarly, the sections about young activists I think really have the potential to inspire youth who read the book. I would definitely recommend this book to parents with a younger teen, albeit with that supplemental material to make sure they have more information about reproductive justice than what Stevenson is able to provide here.
(Also I bet the art is going to be AMAZING in color; because my copy was an ARC, the art was in black and white which is kind of a bummer, but I'm sure it'll look great; it looked pretty good in black and white!)
I would give this like a three and a half in reality; I think Stevenson has done some hard work to make this accessible, though the age range seems pretty wide (it's for 12+, but the language to me seems like it might be difficult for a twelve-year-old, even with the glossary at the back.)
I would say the limitations of this book are mostly the part of the choice to focus on abortion itself; though Stevenson does hit on reproductive justice at the end, and questions of sterilization are peppered throughout, the history she's able to tell is one that is fairly white. Supplementing this with works that focus more on reproductive justice, especially organizing around maybe Black Lives Matter and reproductive justice, might be useful.
(I also wish, selfishly, that the references were maybe more direct, especially for statistics. The numbers around people who can get pregnant who have died from botched abortions strike me as difficult to count, and that she could point me to more studies about where she got that information.)
She has done a good job of not staying too US or even US/Canada focused, though, and I really appreciated the chapter about the global fight for abortion. Similarly, the sections about young activists I think really have the potential to inspire youth who read the book. I would definitely recommend this book to parents with a younger teen, albeit with that supplemental material to make sure they have more information about reproductive justice than what Stevenson is able to provide here.
(Also I bet the art is going to be AMAZING in color; because my copy was an ARC, the art was in black and white which is kind of a bummer, but I'm sure it'll look great; it looked pretty good in black and white!)
March 10, 2020
Absolutely chock full of blatant lies.
May 19, 2019
This book was an incredible read and I learnt SO MUCH! It truly opened my eyes to the history, the present and future struggles of abortion rights and reproductive justice in North America and worldwide.
I would recommend this to teens AND adults whether you know very little about abortion rights or a lot! I am confident you will come away from reading this book with more information and perhaps a new perspective on this important issue.
Personally, I understood the topical layer of this issue but My Body My Choice helped me to understand the full scope and why it’s so important to keep fighting!
I would recommend this to teens AND adults whether you know very little about abortion rights or a lot! I am confident you will come away from reading this book with more information and perhaps a new perspective on this important issue.
Personally, I understood the topical layer of this issue but My Body My Choice helped me to understand the full scope and why it’s so important to keep fighting!
May 8, 2019
I thought this was a great book, and have already recommended it to several friends.
The first few chapters focus primarily on the current and historical fight for reproductive rights and reproductive justice in the US and Canada (the author grew up in Canada, and previously worked as a social worker in women's health clinics there). Later chapters focus on the fight for access in countries around the world.
The text is interspersed with photos, graphics, comic strips and global activist spotlights that make this book easy to consume for adults and teens (the intended audience). There is also an emphasis on listening to people who've experienced abortions, who've worked in clinics, or who are actively leading campaigns in communities that are disproportionately affected by lack of access - transgender, rural, poor, and communities of color.
As someone with strong feelings on the topic, I found that my own knowledge was limited in scope to the discussion of abortion access and lack of reproductive education in the US. I found the historical information and coverage of global issues most useful and enlightening.
I also found this book drew a pretty passionate, emotional response. I lost count of the number of times I turned to my husband, book waving in the air, to say "Can you believe this!" while reading.
The first few chapters focus primarily on the current and historical fight for reproductive rights and reproductive justice in the US and Canada (the author grew up in Canada, and previously worked as a social worker in women's health clinics there). Later chapters focus on the fight for access in countries around the world.
The text is interspersed with photos, graphics, comic strips and global activist spotlights that make this book easy to consume for adults and teens (the intended audience). There is also an emphasis on listening to people who've experienced abortions, who've worked in clinics, or who are actively leading campaigns in communities that are disproportionately affected by lack of access - transgender, rural, poor, and communities of color.
As someone with strong feelings on the topic, I found that my own knowledge was limited in scope to the discussion of abortion access and lack of reproductive education in the US. I found the historical information and coverage of global issues most useful and enlightening.
I also found this book drew a pretty passionate, emotional response. I lost count of the number of times I turned to my husband, book waving in the air, to say "Can you believe this!" while reading.
May 19, 2019
My Review: I do as much non fiction as I do classics. But when this one popped up I had to read it. In this day and age so many states have passed laws about what I am allowed to do with my own body if I would find myself pregnant. It is disheartening to learn that if I lived in another state and I was raped that I may not be able to get an abortion because it was against the law. That I would be forced to have my attackers child. I have been a firm believer in the aspect that abortion should not be a get out of free jail card. That if you have sex that you should deal with the consequences of your actions. But that doesn't mean that I should have my choices taken away.
This book is one that should be in the hands to ever teen girl out there. This book covers this topic very well and doesn't come off as preachy or choosing sides. It gives the reader wonderful information about the topic of abortion and how it should be our right to do what we please with our bodies. It felt well researched and you could tell the care the author took in writing it. Abortion is a very hard topic to talk about but this author did a wonderful job.
It is full of stories from other people in all nationalities and POVs. Which made this title well rounded. It would be an eye opener for any women out there that think that this topic doesn't affect them. Because, even myself who will not be having anymore children. This is where it starts. It starts going after our right to do what we want with our bodies then what's next? Next it will be birth control, then hysterectomies, then what will everyone women out there be forced to get pregnant and then have children? Its a very find line between freedom and what happened on that show and movie The Handmaid's Tale. It started out small there too.
This book is one that should be in the hands to ever teen girl out there. This book covers this topic very well and doesn't come off as preachy or choosing sides. It gives the reader wonderful information about the topic of abortion and how it should be our right to do what we please with our bodies. It felt well researched and you could tell the care the author took in writing it. Abortion is a very hard topic to talk about but this author did a wonderful job.
It is full of stories from other people in all nationalities and POVs. Which made this title well rounded. It would be an eye opener for any women out there that think that this topic doesn't affect them. Because, even myself who will not be having anymore children. This is where it starts. It starts going after our right to do what we want with our bodies then what's next? Next it will be birth control, then hysterectomies, then what will everyone women out there be forced to get pregnant and then have children? Its a very find line between freedom and what happened on that show and movie The Handmaid's Tale. It started out small there too.
May 19, 2019
| Reader Fox Blog |
In light of recent events this year, I'd say that My Body, My Choice by Robin Stevenson could not have come fast enough. There's so much involved in abortion politics and far more often than not a vast number of individuals show an incredible amount of ignorance on this subject. Even worse, those making the decision to put policies into place are not people who ever would even have to consider having an abortion because men are incapable of carrying a fetus. And the fact of the matter is that the policymakers have more interest in policing women's bodies than they do in ensuring that supposed children are not killed.
For you see, a fetus is merely a collection of cells that has the potential to be a child and these lawmakers could care less about whether or not that child survives once it's been born, as shown quite clearly in the fact that many do not care to support common-sense gun laws and are regularly against welfare programs that take care of and provide food for the children they are forcing to be born.
Now, with that said, My Body, My Choice is an in-depth, expertly detailed account of the history of abortion and women fighting for it as well as a resource for those who wish to truly understand the subject. This book is well researched, filled with numerous accounts not only from the people who have fought for it as a right but also from the people who continue to fight for it. Not only does Stevenson do an excellent job of research for her book she also manages to present the information in a very matter-of-fact manner, leaving readers with a genuine account of the situation at hand and provides a large amount of information for everyone to learn from. My Body, My Choice is superbly written and addresses various underlying issues that surround abortion, fro birth control and women's health services to forced sterilization that has disproportionately affected women of color over the years. The politics surrounding one's personal bodily autonomy significantly affect all women, but in so many ways these issues provide an immense negative impact on women who belong to a minority group.
But the fact of the matter is that these issues need to be discussed, the attack on women's health and women's rights needs to be discussed. And they need to be discussed regularly. Some men in power--and largely these are white men in power--would be thrilled if they could silence women. They would love to be able to turn back the clock to a time in which the only ones they had to compete with were themselves. They exert control over women as much as they are able and in a large way, that includes denying them education and providing them with as much misinformation as they can. This is done through schools that are not permitted to provide accurate health-ed classes, instead pushing an abstinence agenda that causes more unwanted pregnancies and, as a result, abortions than it prevents. This is done through people who stand outside abortion clinics or create fake abortion clinics in order to manipulate and lie to young women seeking abortions in a misguided attempt to prevent them from going through with it. But the amazing thing is that books like this provide us all with vast amounts of information that we can use to fight back, to bring these issues out into the light in a way that not only attacks the outright lies but can empower others to take a stand. I know that just reading about all the amazing people who fought for abortion rights in the past definitely makes me want to fight to ensure that all of their hard work is not reversed by ignorant men who wish largely to control women.
And this book is a treasure trove of information, not only in its detailed history but in the way it presents facts about the ongoing struggle now. Not only that but My Body, My Choice also discusses and provides resources to those who find they may need them in the future. It shows that even though there are people out there who will work hard and tirelessly to deny us our rights, there are those who are going to fight as hard as possible to keep them. We have something to lose and so we will fight even harder. And thankfully books like these exist to educate and help women and men alike. One of the best things about this book is the fact that it even provides access to resources that are incredibly useful by opening one's eyes to a large number of organizations that many of us were likely unaware of.
Most of all, I'm just glad that this book exists.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
In light of recent events this year, I'd say that My Body, My Choice by Robin Stevenson could not have come fast enough. There's so much involved in abortion politics and far more often than not a vast number of individuals show an incredible amount of ignorance on this subject. Even worse, those making the decision to put policies into place are not people who ever would even have to consider having an abortion because men are incapable of carrying a fetus. And the fact of the matter is that the policymakers have more interest in policing women's bodies than they do in ensuring that supposed children are not killed.
For you see, a fetus is merely a collection of cells that has the potential to be a child and these lawmakers could care less about whether or not that child survives once it's been born, as shown quite clearly in the fact that many do not care to support common-sense gun laws and are regularly against welfare programs that take care of and provide food for the children they are forcing to be born.
Now, with that said, My Body, My Choice is an in-depth, expertly detailed account of the history of abortion and women fighting for it as well as a resource for those who wish to truly understand the subject. This book is well researched, filled with numerous accounts not only from the people who have fought for it as a right but also from the people who continue to fight for it. Not only does Stevenson do an excellent job of research for her book she also manages to present the information in a very matter-of-fact manner, leaving readers with a genuine account of the situation at hand and provides a large amount of information for everyone to learn from. My Body, My Choice is superbly written and addresses various underlying issues that surround abortion, fro birth control and women's health services to forced sterilization that has disproportionately affected women of color over the years. The politics surrounding one's personal bodily autonomy significantly affect all women, but in so many ways these issues provide an immense negative impact on women who belong to a minority group.
But the fact of the matter is that these issues need to be discussed, the attack on women's health and women's rights needs to be discussed. And they need to be discussed regularly. Some men in power--and largely these are white men in power--would be thrilled if they could silence women. They would love to be able to turn back the clock to a time in which the only ones they had to compete with were themselves. They exert control over women as much as they are able and in a large way, that includes denying them education and providing them with as much misinformation as they can. This is done through schools that are not permitted to provide accurate health-ed classes, instead pushing an abstinence agenda that causes more unwanted pregnancies and, as a result, abortions than it prevents. This is done through people who stand outside abortion clinics or create fake abortion clinics in order to manipulate and lie to young women seeking abortions in a misguided attempt to prevent them from going through with it. But the amazing thing is that books like this provide us all with vast amounts of information that we can use to fight back, to bring these issues out into the light in a way that not only attacks the outright lies but can empower others to take a stand. I know that just reading about all the amazing people who fought for abortion rights in the past definitely makes me want to fight to ensure that all of their hard work is not reversed by ignorant men who wish largely to control women.
And this book is a treasure trove of information, not only in its detailed history but in the way it presents facts about the ongoing struggle now. Not only that but My Body, My Choice also discusses and provides resources to those who find they may need them in the future. It shows that even though there are people out there who will work hard and tirelessly to deny us our rights, there are those who are going to fight as hard as possible to keep them. We have something to lose and so we will fight even harder. And thankfully books like these exist to educate and help women and men alike. One of the best things about this book is the fact that it even provides access to resources that are incredibly useful by opening one's eyes to a large number of organizations that many of us were likely unaware of.
Most of all, I'm just glad that this book exists.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
March 11, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (via LibraryThing) in exchange for an honest review.
This book, written for the YA or high school level, introduces readers to the historical and current battle for abortion rights around the world. I really did appreciate the inclusion of stories and issues from multiple nations and perspectives. The book is designed to be eye opening, to wake up readers who may not have thought the abortion issue doesn't affect them. Until it does.
The book doesn't get into the arguments between pro-birth and pro-choice stances, so I don't think this will be the one stop choice for a reader looking for complete information about abortion. That doesn't mean it isn't valuable. After some reflection, I think I understand why the book was written this way. It is a woman's choice if she continues a pregnancy or not. The next guy's religious convictions don't matter. They shouldn't even be part of the conversation. (Not that those concerns are valid or based in reality to begin with.)
The book makes the point that safe abortion has always been available to wealthy, mostly white women. And if the pro-birthers get their way, that's the way it will remain. This book demonstrates that abortion bans do nothing to prevent abortion. They simply snatch away the opportunity for a safe abortion from women of color and women with lower incomes.
My once criticism is I would have liked to see more data included in the text. Give me a percentage, or a number instead of saying many or several.
And for those who live in states like mine, (Florida) whose government is constantly making up new laws to restrict abortion in some way, remember this: In most cases, the lawmakers know these laws are unconstitutional. They push them through to look good to their pro-birth constituents. In doing this, they are wasting millions of dollars in tax payer money in exercises of futility. Knowingly. Deliberately. Maliciously. I wish this book would have talked about the importance of voting out pro-birth politicians.
This book, written for the YA or high school level, introduces readers to the historical and current battle for abortion rights around the world. I really did appreciate the inclusion of stories and issues from multiple nations and perspectives. The book is designed to be eye opening, to wake up readers who may not have thought the abortion issue doesn't affect them. Until it does.
The book doesn't get into the arguments between pro-birth and pro-choice stances, so I don't think this will be the one stop choice for a reader looking for complete information about abortion. That doesn't mean it isn't valuable. After some reflection, I think I understand why the book was written this way. It is a woman's choice if she continues a pregnancy or not. The next guy's religious convictions don't matter. They shouldn't even be part of the conversation. (Not that those concerns are valid or based in reality to begin with.)
The book makes the point that safe abortion has always been available to wealthy, mostly white women. And if the pro-birthers get their way, that's the way it will remain. This book demonstrates that abortion bans do nothing to prevent abortion. They simply snatch away the opportunity for a safe abortion from women of color and women with lower incomes.
My once criticism is I would have liked to see more data included in the text. Give me a percentage, or a number instead of saying many or several.
And for those who live in states like mine, (Florida) whose government is constantly making up new laws to restrict abortion in some way, remember this: In most cases, the lawmakers know these laws are unconstitutional. They push them through to look good to their pro-birth constituents. In doing this, they are wasting millions of dollars in tax payer money in exercises of futility. Knowingly. Deliberately. Maliciously. I wish this book would have talked about the importance of voting out pro-birth politicians.
May 28, 2019
Every woman should read this. It provides what's severely lacking in the majority of discussions surrounding abortion and women's reproductive rights: context. There's no inflammatory language, no imposition of religious ideals, just information. Plenty of personal stories, yes, but that's to put into perspective the people who are at risk when we limit access to basic health care. This isn't the moral conundrum that we've been fed for years. It's a way to control women through their bodies.
Robin Stevenson has constructed a comprehensive breakdown of historical precedent, recent women's movements, medical information and a schematic to move forward for women & girls across the globe. It's easy to digest and understand, without the author talking down to her audience.
Some of the most enlightening for me was how closely racism and classism were associated with reproductive justice for women living in the US. The disparity between how contraception, abortion and sterilization has been available or limited to affluent white communities verses marginalized ones is enraging.
There's something productive we can do with that rage, though. It's speak up loudly, publicly and often in defense of basic human rights. As quoted in the book, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - MLK
*Thanks to Orca Books & Netgalley for an advance copy!
Robin Stevenson has constructed a comprehensive breakdown of historical precedent, recent women's movements, medical information and a schematic to move forward for women & girls across the globe. It's easy to digest and understand, without the author talking down to her audience.
Some of the most enlightening for me was how closely racism and classism were associated with reproductive justice for women living in the US. The disparity between how contraception, abortion and sterilization has been available or limited to affluent white communities verses marginalized ones is enraging.
There's something productive we can do with that rage, though. It's speak up loudly, publicly and often in defense of basic human rights. As quoted in the book, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - MLK
*Thanks to Orca Books & Netgalley for an advance copy!
May 24, 2019
Ehh... I don't know how I feel about this one. It is kind of more an opinion piece than anything, because you have to read through their opinion to figure out how you feel about this.
June 22, 2019
NETGALLEY ARC (all thoughts are my own)
I am amazed by this book. It is SUCH a goldmine of information, and it's very easy to understand. The facts are based on so many statistics - it's obvious there is a LOT of research involved in the creation of this book. & there's even a glossary at the end! 😱 This book is so transinclusive, and the author recognizes the difference between the rights of white people and POC. So, to limit my word count, I'll just list important facts included in this book. They serve as great reminders!
REMINDERS :
• Always keep in mind that these people who get abortions have one thing in common : they're pregnant and they don't want to be. That's ALL that matters
• Half of unplanned pregnancies occur while the person is using contraceptives
• Low income people often choose to terminate their pregnancies because of the lack of financial support/ressources. Or just because they don't want a baby too 🤷♀️
• Criminalizing abortions will never reduce the abortion rates. All it reduces are safe abortions
• Pro-lifers are so intent on saving lives, while they should invest their energy into ensuring these babies and their parents have a better quality of life
• Teaching abstinence in schools only leads to more unsafe sex, instead of reducing the number of teens who have sex
• EVERYONE should have access to safe, legal, and accessible abortions, no matter their income, color, cultural background, gender, disabilities, etc.
HISTORICAL FACTS :
• Abortion was criminalized in the 1800s to ensure that white women had more babies than POC = to remain the dominant population
• Abortions were more common in the 1800s than they are now
• Physicians (men) decided that abortions are morally wrong because the women depended on midwives and that's a bad thing because midwives were women back then, which undermined the male physicians' jobs
• White women had to fight for the right to legal sterilization while WOC were forcefully sterilized
• It's not because abortions are legal, safe, and accessible in Quebec that it's the same in the (maritime) provinces (and I had no idea!)
I am amazed by this book. It is SUCH a goldmine of information, and it's very easy to understand. The facts are based on so many statistics - it's obvious there is a LOT of research involved in the creation of this book. & there's even a glossary at the end! 😱 This book is so transinclusive, and the author recognizes the difference between the rights of white people and POC. So, to limit my word count, I'll just list important facts included in this book. They serve as great reminders!
REMINDERS :
• Always keep in mind that these people who get abortions have one thing in common : they're pregnant and they don't want to be. That's ALL that matters
• Half of unplanned pregnancies occur while the person is using contraceptives
• Low income people often choose to terminate their pregnancies because of the lack of financial support/ressources. Or just because they don't want a baby too 🤷♀️
• Criminalizing abortions will never reduce the abortion rates. All it reduces are safe abortions
• Pro-lifers are so intent on saving lives, while they should invest their energy into ensuring these babies and their parents have a better quality of life
• Teaching abstinence in schools only leads to more unsafe sex, instead of reducing the number of teens who have sex
• EVERYONE should have access to safe, legal, and accessible abortions, no matter their income, color, cultural background, gender, disabilities, etc.
HISTORICAL FACTS :
• Abortion was criminalized in the 1800s to ensure that white women had more babies than POC = to remain the dominant population
• Abortions were more common in the 1800s than they are now
• Physicians (men) decided that abortions are morally wrong because the women depended on midwives and that's a bad thing because midwives were women back then, which undermined the male physicians' jobs
• White women had to fight for the right to legal sterilization while WOC were forcefully sterilized
• It's not because abortions are legal, safe, and accessible in Quebec that it's the same in the (maritime) provinces (and I had no idea!)
September 25, 2019
This was a very informational book, and I quite enjoyed it. It felt a little childish though, but for the most part, a good read.
June 10, 2019
Note: I recieved a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the NG and the publisher for the reading and reviewing opportunity.
A more thorough review can be read at https://brittanythebookguru.com/2019/...
A comprehensive, educational book that really teaches readers. I think that people only both sides of the debate on abortion could benefit from picking this book up, as it aims to inform instead of to persuade. I gained an immense amount of knowledge. The topic was always handled very respectfully, and the author clearly did an abundance of research on the topic. The writing was nice and easily transitional. I purchased a published copy for my own shelves.
A more thorough review can be read at https://brittanythebookguru.com/2019/...
A comprehensive, educational book that really teaches readers. I think that people only both sides of the debate on abortion could benefit from picking this book up, as it aims to inform instead of to persuade. I gained an immense amount of knowledge. The topic was always handled very respectfully, and the author clearly did an abundance of research on the topic. The writing was nice and easily transitional. I purchased a published copy for my own shelves.
November 27, 2019
This is a feel good book for readers who already agree with the author. A stronger book would have citations in the text, not just a reference list at the end, in order to add credibility to its arguments for readers who disagree or on the fence. It would also have more concrete evidence in the main text, rather than relegating what is offered to sidebars in many instances. Finally, its credibility would be increased if the book did not paint all pro-life individuals as violent fanatics--a brief sentence whispering, "not all pro-life people" makes the book look biased. Further bias is shown in the refusal to call "pro-life" activists by their preferred name; the book uses the term "anti-choice" instead. But all these are moves that would be made by a writer hoping to change minds. If the intent is to write for people who already agree abortion is a positive good, then strengthening the argument is unnecessary, since the assumption is there is no argument to be made.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
March 2, 2026Thorough, easy to parse but difficult to read because of the sad stories. I wish it had talked more about the 'pro-life' side instead of demonizing them, but that's really hard because they are supporting an awful cause, and many of them cause real harm... including lots of, ironically, deaths. This is well known and documented; I didn't need the book to tell me so.
The book also reveals racist policies that encouraged white women to have more babies, and black women to get sterilized. And, 'encouraged' is actually a euphemism, for many thousands of women.
"In fact, the states that have the most extreme record of attacking reproductive rights also have the worst health outcomes for women and children, and the fewest policies that support the well-being of families."
"The states with abstinence-only programs have the highest rates of teen pregnancy."
"Fact: Fetuses cannot feel pain until at least the 24th week of pregnancy." (Which of course is very long after almost all women would abort, if safe abortions were less stigmatized and more available.)
Highly recommended to teens, for themselves and in the case that any are planning to go into any sort of public service. Also recommended to 'pro-life' voters who are questioning.
Nothing new for me - though I've never had an abortion nor do I know anyone who has, I have always believed that my body is mine, and the only people I might choose to consult with about it are my doctor and my partner. Skimmed March 2026
The book also reveals racist policies that encouraged white women to have more babies, and black women to get sterilized. And, 'encouraged' is actually a euphemism, for many thousands of women.
"In fact, the states that have the most extreme record of attacking reproductive rights also have the worst health outcomes for women and children, and the fewest policies that support the well-being of families."
"The states with abstinence-only programs have the highest rates of teen pregnancy."
"Fact: Fetuses cannot feel pain until at least the 24th week of pregnancy." (Which of course is very long after almost all women would abort, if safe abortions were less stigmatized and more available.)
Highly recommended to teens, for themselves and in the case that any are planning to go into any sort of public service. Also recommended to 'pro-life' voters who are questioning.
Nothing new for me - though I've never had an abortion nor do I know anyone who has, I have always believed that my body is mine, and the only people I might choose to consult with about it are my doctor and my partner. Skimmed March 2026
May 11, 2021
4.5 stars.
My Body My Choice is an excellent YA introduction to the topic of abortion. It covers the history of abortion and the fight to have it legalised in both Canada and the USA (one of the few books out there that deals with abortion stuff on a broad scale and still dedicates substantial time to Canada), the issues of additional restrictions being re-added (primarily in the USA) and the activists fighting that, the ways activists are trying to fight for abortion in ways that are inclusive of a broad spectrum of identities and mindful of all aspects of reproductive justice, and it touches upon some of the international struggles for abortion rights (including Ireland, Poland, Venezuela, Madagascar, Turkey, and more). It also features some comics that originally appeared in Comics for Choice, a collection that I am personally a huge fan of. It's a short book (under two hundred pages) that covers a broad range of subjects, so it's largely introductory (especially once you get outside of Canada and the USA), but it's one of the best primers on abortion rights that I've come across.
Definitely recommended!
My Body My Choice is an excellent YA introduction to the topic of abortion. It covers the history of abortion and the fight to have it legalised in both Canada and the USA (one of the few books out there that deals with abortion stuff on a broad scale and still dedicates substantial time to Canada), the issues of additional restrictions being re-added (primarily in the USA) and the activists fighting that, the ways activists are trying to fight for abortion in ways that are inclusive of a broad spectrum of identities and mindful of all aspects of reproductive justice, and it touches upon some of the international struggles for abortion rights (including Ireland, Poland, Venezuela, Madagascar, Turkey, and more). It also features some comics that originally appeared in Comics for Choice, a collection that I am personally a huge fan of. It's a short book (under two hundred pages) that covers a broad range of subjects, so it's largely introductory (especially once you get outside of Canada and the USA), but it's one of the best primers on abortion rights that I've come across.
Definitely recommended!
June 28, 2019
Informative young adult non-fiction on the fight for abortion rights all over the world, but mainly focusing on Canada and the US. This book gives a good history on abortion rights to help the reader understand the current political and social climate in regards to the issue.
November 9, 2019
Excellent history lesson and research supported medical information with a compassionate dose of empathy. Roe v Wade is only a drop in the bucket of the fight for reproductive justice; this short book is long on great information.
June 6, 2019
An excellent primer on the history of abortion rights both in the US and Canada. I had only a limited knowledge of the details of that battle in the US before reading this book and no knowledge of Canada's struggle. I am in awe of and so grateful for all of the people who fought and continue to fight for this important human right.
What makes this book especially valuable to a YA audience is the young activists that are featured and profiled in it. If they were inspiring to me, I can only imagine how encouraging they'd be to someone their own age.
And speaking of encouraging, that was the most important thing this book leaves you with: hope. Yes, things are looking dire now, but after reading My Body My Choice I know there are always going to be people out there who will champion reproductive rights. Hopefully this book will encourage more young people to join the fight!
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
What makes this book especially valuable to a YA audience is the young activists that are featured and profiled in it. If they were inspiring to me, I can only imagine how encouraging they'd be to someone their own age.
And speaking of encouraging, that was the most important thing this book leaves you with: hope. Yes, things are looking dire now, but after reading My Body My Choice I know there are always going to be people out there who will champion reproductive rights. Hopefully this book will encourage more young people to join the fight!
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
June 7, 2019
This book is amazing and needs to have a far reach. It presents a full picture of past and present, abortion history and current reproductive justice battles, the main focus of which is on the USA and Canada but includes information from every other continent (I mean, except Antarctica). It is evidence-based and clearly written and a marvelous resource. It's trans-inclusive and has a specific focus on the damage anti-abortion laws cause to marginalized populations. If I could I would buy a million copies of this book and hand them out to everyone.
I received a free ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Want to Read
May 23, 2019This book could not have been more timely. I am lucky to live in a state where many people around me realize that women should always have the right to choose when making a decision about their own bodies. Unfortunately, it is a very scary time in our country in many places and the right to women's choice is being put into question. Whether you believe in abortion or not, making a decision for someone else is never okay and making abortion illegal will not stop abortions, it will just make it more dangerous.
My Body My Choice takes a look at the history of abortion, the fight for the right to choose, what happened after Roe vs. Wade and a look at the world view of abortion and safety for women. The book then moves into Trump's policies that are and will continue to have a devastating impact on women's health and safety, not just in the United States but around the world.
The book wraps up with how to move forward to continue to protect women's right to choose and keeping abortion safe and accessible for all. There is still a lot of misinformation and stigma about abortion this book does a wonderful job of talking about these issues in a proactive and informative matter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My Body My Choice takes a look at the history of abortion, the fight for the right to choose, what happened after Roe vs. Wade and a look at the world view of abortion and safety for women. The book then moves into Trump's policies that are and will continue to have a devastating impact on women's health and safety, not just in the United States but around the world.
The book wraps up with how to move forward to continue to protect women's right to choose and keeping abortion safe and accessible for all. There is still a lot of misinformation and stigma about abortion this book does a wonderful job of talking about these issues in a proactive and informative matter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2019
This is a great resource for readers from teens through seniors. The information was very comprehensive and provided in a manner that was easy to follow. It is short enough that this can be read in a single sitting or read in chapters. Regardless of how familiar you are with abortion laws, history, and movements, this would be a great refresher. Sections highlighting youth activists around the world are particularly motivating and a great example for younger readers that they are capable of enacting change.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with an ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with an ARC.
May 22, 2019
I ordered this book as soon as it came out. Its so well-written & full of vitally important information. Buy a copy. Buy two and share it. This book is more important now than ever and with all of the false information out there, it’s an incredible resource. I’ll be sharing it with my daughter. HIGHLY recommended.
April 29, 2024
As important now as when it was first penned, this book continues to appeal to those who wish to be informed on what their rights are when it comes to the prochoice issue, the history behind the struggle and why we can never relax our watchfulness over what members of the government are plotting.
This update was published around the time when Donald Trump was first elected to office. Thus, it doesn’t mention the devastating blow Roe vs. Wade took in June 2022. While some states have put up restrictions making it difficult to get abortions or banned them completely, other states have made certain to continue to provide the medical service whenever possible.
The book is comprehensive, sweeping in scope and yet intimate in its details. The message remains clear that abortions will never go away entirely. But a woman’s right to deal with her body as she sees fit is under renewed attack. Truly, the body politic means constant vigilance.
This update was published around the time when Donald Trump was first elected to office. Thus, it doesn’t mention the devastating blow Roe vs. Wade took in June 2022. While some states have put up restrictions making it difficult to get abortions or banned them completely, other states have made certain to continue to provide the medical service whenever possible.
The book is comprehensive, sweeping in scope and yet intimate in its details. The message remains clear that abortions will never go away entirely. But a woman’s right to deal with her body as she sees fit is under renewed attack. Truly, the body politic means constant vigilance.
July 27, 2019
This book has many, many great things to offer. First of all, it is a topic that is all too often disputed for all the wrong reasons. The author, I feel, presented a well-researched and well-written book for people who support pro-choice. She covered the history of abortion to its present day struggles in Canada, the US, and around the world; she interviewed world-wide activists and documented their struggles and successes, she used inclusive language, she includes a section for transgender men and non-binary people, she based her research on a lot of facts, she used a variety of ways to present the material (graphic format, double-spaced, photographs, side-notes, etc.), and she tells us that the struggles are far from being over as politicians are always changing and challenging those "hot issues" in order to secure public votes.
The book focuses on the point that the procedure for abortion is a fairly common medical procedure, however, people are still dying from unsafe abortions every year. She talks about how making abortions illegal or difficult to obtain doesn't prevent people from having abortions, instead, they will look for different alternatives which are unsafe which may cause infections or death. She talks about how people should be able to make informed decisions on what is best for them and talked about how some clinics would give false information in order to perhaps persuade that person from not doing it. She talked about the stigmatism that still surrounds abortion and how people are reluctant to talk about their experiences.
This book should be on a recommended reading list for high school students or at least be available in school and public libraries. It is a book that helps people know that they are not alone and gives them hope of where to turn for help or information.
The book focuses on the point that the procedure for abortion is a fairly common medical procedure, however, people are still dying from unsafe abortions every year. She talks about how making abortions illegal or difficult to obtain doesn't prevent people from having abortions, instead, they will look for different alternatives which are unsafe which may cause infections or death. She talks about how people should be able to make informed decisions on what is best for them and talked about how some clinics would give false information in order to perhaps persuade that person from not doing it. She talked about the stigmatism that still surrounds abortion and how people are reluctant to talk about their experiences.
This book should be on a recommended reading list for high school students or at least be available in school and public libraries. It is a book that helps people know that they are not alone and gives them hope of where to turn for help or information.
July 25, 2023
The baby's body is not your body.
Abortion isn't a human "right" like this book tries to make it out to be. It's a human rights abuse. I am a young adult and an EX-pro-choicer. If you don't know the racist history of Planned Parenthood, if you haven't seen what abortions actually look like, if you don't know the horrifying psychological impacts it can have, then you've only seen one side of the story over and over again.
Just as many women have died from legal abortions as they have from illegal abortions since the 1960s. The idea that tons of women will die if abortion is banned is a LIE. Medicine has improved drastically since the early 1900s, and THAT was when women were dying so often from those "botched" abortions people always talk about. NOT now. We don't need to desecrate our wombs in order to be free. We can do better than abortion. Stop letting men use you, then leave you to have an abortion that you will need healing from. That's not freedom, and it's certainly not empowering.
At the end of the day, this book is full of fear-mongering and propaganda. I am very grieved at what my generation has become.
Abortion isn't a human "right" like this book tries to make it out to be. It's a human rights abuse. I am a young adult and an EX-pro-choicer. If you don't know the racist history of Planned Parenthood, if you haven't seen what abortions actually look like, if you don't know the horrifying psychological impacts it can have, then you've only seen one side of the story over and over again.
Just as many women have died from legal abortions as they have from illegal abortions since the 1960s. The idea that tons of women will die if abortion is banned is a LIE. Medicine has improved drastically since the early 1900s, and THAT was when women were dying so often from those "botched" abortions people always talk about. NOT now. We don't need to desecrate our wombs in order to be free. We can do better than abortion. Stop letting men use you, then leave you to have an abortion that you will need healing from. That's not freedom, and it's certainly not empowering.
At the end of the day, this book is full of fear-mongering and propaganda. I am very grieved at what my generation has become.
October 26, 2023
My Body My Choice: The Fight for Abortion
By Robin Stevenson
Health, History, Gender, Feminism
My Body My Choice talks about abortion and the fight to make it legal. We read about people who support the rights and fight hard to create a world where women have the right to access safe and legal abortions. Overall this book is about the history, future, and the fight for abortion.
Select a banned or challenged book. Why was this book banned or challenged? Do you agree or disagree with the ban or challenge? Why or why not?
My Body My Choice is being challenged by the library committee. I believe this book is being challenged because it talks about women's rights that not all states have. Overall this is a touchy subject when it comes to the topic of conversation.
By Robin Stevenson
Health, History, Gender, Feminism
My Body My Choice talks about abortion and the fight to make it legal. We read about people who support the rights and fight hard to create a world where women have the right to access safe and legal abortions. Overall this book is about the history, future, and the fight for abortion.
Select a banned or challenged book. Why was this book banned or challenged? Do you agree or disagree with the ban or challenge? Why or why not?
My Body My Choice is being challenged by the library committee. I believe this book is being challenged because it talks about women's rights that not all states have. Overall this is a touchy subject when it comes to the topic of conversation.
September 1, 2019
I absolutely loved this one. It was both informative and insightful. I found myself learning a lot about abortion rights, in fact, with every chapter I learned something new. I only thought about women getting abortions but this book broadens my mind to transgender, non-binary and people with disabilities having their rights restricted in this area. This book is not only timely but breaks the stigma at what is placed around people who have abortions. The format I feel will be appealing to young readers, particularly the comics. Although directed towards teen readers, I think this is a necessary book for everyone to read.
June 8, 2019
**I received an ARC off Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!**
I definitely enjoyed this book. The ideas were well organized and the information was gathered well. There were some parts I didn’t thing were necessary and there were a couple things that were repeated.
Other than that, nothing to complain about. I definitely everyone should read this book in order to inform themselves about what abortion really is.
I definitely enjoyed this book. The ideas were well organized and the information was gathered well. There were some parts I didn’t thing were necessary and there were a couple things that were repeated.
Other than that, nothing to complain about. I definitely everyone should read this book in order to inform themselves about what abortion really is.
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