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Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families
One woman's poetic and gripping story of the twists and turns of young motherhood, overcoming the odds, and her mission to support other young families so they can achieve the same success.
Each year, approximately 750,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in the U.S. become pregnant - that's 3 out of 10 girls. Teen pregnancy continues to be one of the most intensely debated issues among policymakers, educators, religious leaders, and families. There is agreement, however, on the negative consequences of a teen pregnancy. Less than 50% of teen mothers graduate from high school and just 2% from college. Thirty percent of teenage girls who drop out of high school do so because of pregnancy or parenthood. Studies confirm that a child whose mother had her as a teenager is set up to have a tough life.
Pregnant Girl provides a narrative we rarely find in popular an affirmation and validation of young mothers' experience from a young mother herself. After becoming pregnant during her senior year in high school, Nicole Lynn Lewis put herself through college and earned several advanced degrees before starting her nonprofit, Generation Hope. She tells us her personal story alongside stories from women she's met and worked at Generation Hope. She uses these personal stories to contextualize and humanize the statistics on teen motherhood.
This raw, moving perspective on the national conversation on young motherhood gives us a chance to see what it would look like for the US to provide real support for young mothers.
Each year, approximately 750,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in the U.S. become pregnant - that's 3 out of 10 girls. Teen pregnancy continues to be one of the most intensely debated issues among policymakers, educators, religious leaders, and families. There is agreement, however, on the negative consequences of a teen pregnancy. Less than 50% of teen mothers graduate from high school and just 2% from college. Thirty percent of teenage girls who drop out of high school do so because of pregnancy or parenthood. Studies confirm that a child whose mother had her as a teenager is set up to have a tough life.
Pregnant Girl provides a narrative we rarely find in popular an affirmation and validation of young mothers' experience from a young mother herself. After becoming pregnant during her senior year in high school, Nicole Lynn Lewis put herself through college and earned several advanced degrees before starting her nonprofit, Generation Hope. She tells us her personal story alongside stories from women she's met and worked at Generation Hope. She uses these personal stories to contextualize and humanize the statistics on teen motherhood.
This raw, moving perspective on the national conversation on young motherhood gives us a chance to see what it would look like for the US to provide real support for young mothers.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2021
32 people are currently reading
1672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 8, 2021
Well written. Thoughtful. Vulnerable. And necessary. Pregnant Girl (PG) disrupts the teen parent narrative and asks us to consider what’s possible when you support young parents and their children as opposed to dismiss them. PG is a quick and engaging read for anyone who is/was a teen parent or has regular engagements with college students.
April 27, 2021
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I’m so glad I did! It was a powerful memoir, packed not only with Lewis’ story but the stories of many others as well. As a Higher Education/Student Affairs Professional, this is definitely a must read!
October 19, 2021
Lewis writes about her teen pregnancy, how she managed to get an education, and run a non-profit focused on helping pregnant teens. She connects to the reader by telling her story, and then gently switches the focus to poverty, race, tradition, neglect, abuse, and other reasons behind teen pregnancy. Lewis talks about her own mistakes she has made in trying to help and mentor other teen moms. If you think you know why teens have babies then take a few hours and read this book.
How did I find this book? This was the Stephen Curry September 2021 pick for his Underrated book club hosted through Literati.
How did I find this book? This was the Stephen Curry September 2021 pick for his Underrated book club hosted through Literati.
May 30, 2022
This author had a tremendous support system, even when she rejected it. Not everyone has that option. Her foundation sounds like a positive force, but it almost felt as if there should have been information on how to donate and join at the end of the book. The entire book felt like a fundraising pitch.
June 7, 2021
I couldn't put this book down. Being pregnant is hard enough without being a teen and struggling to survive. I appreciated the author's willingness to share a glimpse into her most vulnerable points in life and help the rest of us to see how systemic changes need to be made to lift those who desperately want a better life for their children.
September 7, 2022
Loved this book. An inspiring and educational story that we can all learn from.
April 21, 2021
Great read about the life of a teenage mother. I think that every young girl should read this book.
June 18, 2023
3.5
This is not the style of storytelling I typically enjoy, so I was surprised at the extent to which I found this book compelling and cohesive. Lewis, a teenage mother and now CEO of a nonprofit helping pregnant teens pursue college, weaves her own story with anecdotes of her nonprofit’s students and general stats and trends about teen pregnancy. That she studied English and creative writing in college is apparent — her writing is moving, and she conveys some truly horrific experiences with emotion and a necessary detachment that allows the reader to see her story as memoiric and as one of many similar stories. It’s truly impressive writing.
While some of the specific stats were new to me, her overall message (pregnant teens should be loved! cared for! encouraged! supported to pursue college!) was resonant and agreeable. I’m not sure I learned anything groundbreaking, but I’ve never read a memoir by a teen parent (or, at least, not one specifically focused on teenage parenting) and found this enriching and worth the read.
Anyone working with youth should read this.
A few downsides of the book / lingering questions:
(1) The way she uses statistics is sometimes great and sometimes highly misleading. One structure she uses a LOT is how “most teen parents are white” or “most drug users are white” etc. While this is true in raw numbers, there are simply more white people than any other demographic, and the /rates/ of those things among white people are far lower. It was a weird choice she made repeatedly.
(2) Parts of this book kiiiinda feel like blog posts for her nonprofit. Another reviewer said they felt there should be a “ways to get involved / donate” section at the end, and I agree. I wasn’t upset by it, since her nonprofit is directly related to her story, but it did feel a little weird.
(3) At the same time, I wanted to know more about how exactly her nonprofit supports teen parent students. She does an awesome job focusing on systems and how many institutions are failing kids and parents at multiple points, and I don’t see how her nonprofit is combatting all that. She talks about how she looks at everything holistically etc. etc. but that’s one part of the book that I really wish had been more shown rather than told.
(Wrote a longer review, then the app crashed, so I might update this if I remember more of what I initially wrote…)
This is not the style of storytelling I typically enjoy, so I was surprised at the extent to which I found this book compelling and cohesive. Lewis, a teenage mother and now CEO of a nonprofit helping pregnant teens pursue college, weaves her own story with anecdotes of her nonprofit’s students and general stats and trends about teen pregnancy. That she studied English and creative writing in college is apparent — her writing is moving, and she conveys some truly horrific experiences with emotion and a necessary detachment that allows the reader to see her story as memoiric and as one of many similar stories. It’s truly impressive writing.
While some of the specific stats were new to me, her overall message (pregnant teens should be loved! cared for! encouraged! supported to pursue college!) was resonant and agreeable. I’m not sure I learned anything groundbreaking, but I’ve never read a memoir by a teen parent (or, at least, not one specifically focused on teenage parenting) and found this enriching and worth the read.
Anyone working with youth should read this.
A few downsides of the book / lingering questions:
(1) The way she uses statistics is sometimes great and sometimes highly misleading. One structure she uses a LOT is how “most teen parents are white” or “most drug users are white” etc. While this is true in raw numbers, there are simply more white people than any other demographic, and the /rates/ of those things among white people are far lower. It was a weird choice she made repeatedly.
(2) Parts of this book kiiiinda feel like blog posts for her nonprofit. Another reviewer said they felt there should be a “ways to get involved / donate” section at the end, and I agree. I wasn’t upset by it, since her nonprofit is directly related to her story, but it did feel a little weird.
(3) At the same time, I wanted to know more about how exactly her nonprofit supports teen parent students. She does an awesome job focusing on systems and how many institutions are failing kids and parents at multiple points, and I don’t see how her nonprofit is combatting all that. She talks about how she looks at everything holistically etc. etc. but that’s one part of the book that I really wish had been more shown rather than told.
(Wrote a longer review, then the app crashed, so I might update this if I remember more of what I initially wrote…)
December 22, 2023
I read this book because a good friend of mine is in a ministry that works with teen parents. I’m thinking about ways to support her work so I want to know more about the people I may encounter.
While I greatly appreciate the inspiring story and her determination in founding Generation Hope to help others like her, this book could have been better.
One thing is the back and forth of timeline in the way her story was told. Many times it lacked the clear indication of the time change, so it was confusing at times to understand her struggles and the change of her thoughts and feelings. Also, while she did provide some insights now she’s much older to explain what she went through at a younger age, I felt there could have been a bit more, especially now that they have worked with many people in a similar situation.
Another thing I wished the book included was an index. She mentioned multiple young people in their programs, and most of them appeared more than once in the book. I found many of the snippets of their stories powerful, and I wished there is a way to look them up and piece a bit of their stories throughout the book to have a better understanding. But without an index, it’s impossible and after a while, some of the details got mixed up.
Overall, a worthwhile reading to debunk many of the stereotypes and wrong assumptions around teen pregnancy. I really echo with what she said about teen pregnancy, that many people think teen pregnancy as the beginning of a series of problem, but in reality, many times it is just one middle chain that is among many things going wrong in a young and vulnerable person’s life.
While I greatly appreciate the inspiring story and her determination in founding Generation Hope to help others like her, this book could have been better.
One thing is the back and forth of timeline in the way her story was told. Many times it lacked the clear indication of the time change, so it was confusing at times to understand her struggles and the change of her thoughts and feelings. Also, while she did provide some insights now she’s much older to explain what she went through at a younger age, I felt there could have been a bit more, especially now that they have worked with many people in a similar situation.
Another thing I wished the book included was an index. She mentioned multiple young people in their programs, and most of them appeared more than once in the book. I found many of the snippets of their stories powerful, and I wished there is a way to look them up and piece a bit of their stories throughout the book to have a better understanding. But without an index, it’s impossible and after a while, some of the details got mixed up.
Overall, a worthwhile reading to debunk many of the stereotypes and wrong assumptions around teen pregnancy. I really echo with what she said about teen pregnancy, that many people think teen pregnancy as the beginning of a series of problem, but in reality, many times it is just one middle chain that is among many things going wrong in a young and vulnerable person’s life.
August 4, 2021
An inspirational story of a young Black teen mother who perseveres and graduates from college (with honors!) while navigating the hurdles of motherhood, academia, relationships, family, shelter, and working!
"Graduates of my organization's program years later will go on to pursue careers in computer engineering, education, social justice, public policy, business, and many other fields, armed with degrees. They will make more money than they would have without their credentials, but the obvious sense of pride that they have when they come back to visit our office will stem less from their paychecks and more from a sense of self and an understanding that they have something important to offer the world." - Nicole Lynn Lewis
"This assurance is what every child, every young person, and every human being needs and deserves in order to thrive. Without it, we are lost to the way the world defines us and the future it assigns to us, never reaching our full potential. Never realizing that while there is so much to overcome, we are more than just "a failure," "a problem" that needs to be solved, or "the pregnant girl." When we are loved rather than shamed, embraced rather than ostracized, championed rather than stifled, we have a better chance of catching the falling beads and stringing them carefully and methodically back together, creating a necklace that is more beautiful than before because it now reveals the exquisite, incalculable force that has been there all along." - Nicole Lynn Lewis
"Graduates of my organization's program years later will go on to pursue careers in computer engineering, education, social justice, public policy, business, and many other fields, armed with degrees. They will make more money than they would have without their credentials, but the obvious sense of pride that they have when they come back to visit our office will stem less from their paychecks and more from a sense of self and an understanding that they have something important to offer the world." - Nicole Lynn Lewis
"This assurance is what every child, every young person, and every human being needs and deserves in order to thrive. Without it, we are lost to the way the world defines us and the future it assigns to us, never reaching our full potential. Never realizing that while there is so much to overcome, we are more than just "a failure," "a problem" that needs to be solved, or "the pregnant girl." When we are loved rather than shamed, embraced rather than ostracized, championed rather than stifled, we have a better chance of catching the falling beads and stringing them carefully and methodically back together, creating a necklace that is more beautiful than before because it now reveals the exquisite, incalculable force that has been there all along." - Nicole Lynn Lewis
September 25, 2021
Lewis deftly combines her own story of teen parenthood with both statistics and the stories of the young parents her organization serves today. Through her stark honesty, she helps the reader understand the many factors that shaped her life, from her tumultuous family life to her passionate but abusive relationship with her daughter's father, detailing the ways she barely escaped falling through the cracks to be able to begin and then successfully complete a college degree, always situating her own story within the larger reality of those who share similar struggles and don't get all the opportunities she did.
Given that this memoir was certainly intended to drum up more support for her nonprofit (which is doing amazing work), I thought the writing was quite good — not that surprising given Lewis' background in journalism and English — but the inconsistent verb tenses drove me nuts, as did the occasional spots where she mixed up first and second person in the same sentence. With a stronger edit, which the story deserves, this would have been a much smoother read.
This book will give you both a compelling first-person view of teen pregnancy as well as valuable big-picture information on teen parents across the country. I definitely recommend giving it a read, and then checking out the work that Lewis' organization, Generation Hope, is doing.
Given that this memoir was certainly intended to drum up more support for her nonprofit (which is doing amazing work), I thought the writing was quite good — not that surprising given Lewis' background in journalism and English — but the inconsistent verb tenses drove me nuts, as did the occasional spots where she mixed up first and second person in the same sentence. With a stronger edit, which the story deserves, this would have been a much smoother read.
This book will give you both a compelling first-person view of teen pregnancy as well as valuable big-picture information on teen parents across the country. I definitely recommend giving it a read, and then checking out the work that Lewis' organization, Generation Hope, is doing.
July 5, 2021
Thoughtful, personal look at teenage pregnancy and the complications around it—starting with a system that views teen mothers as a Problem and offers very few supports to prevent teenage pregnancy in a meaningful way (i.e., to look at the whole person rather than just say 'sex is bad!') or to facilitate teen parents' ability to continue education, get meaningful work, etc.
It was 1998—just three years after President Bill Clinton, in his State of the Union address, called teenage childbearing “Our most serious social problem.” Not the peak of crime rates in the early 1990s, which had been on the rise since the Lyndon B. Johnson presidency. Not the crack-cocaine epidemic of the mid01980s. Not the mass incarceration that exploded under President Ronald Reagan, decimating families and disproportionately affecting communities of color. No, young mothers were the greatest threat to our country. Those two pink lines meant that I was now and enemy of the state. (43)Lewis was lucky: she'd always been expected to go to college, and she never lost the drive to do so, even when almost nobody around her was telling her that it was possible to both parent and get an education. And she needed that drive: although, as she points out, teenage pregnancy does not exist in a vacuum and there were cracks in the wall before she got pregnant, being pregnant and then a teen mother also toppled the types of security she did have.
She knew what I was too young to know: most girls who get pregnant don’t graduate from college before they turn thirty—in fact, barely 2 percent. She knew that less than half even graduate from high school, and they—along with their children—are likely to live in poverty, struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. (57)Lewis found a way though, but her story is here more to illustrate a bigger picture: that it's possible for teenage mothers to be successful, to get good jobs, to go to college—but that's not best achieved by throwing up roadblocks at every step of the way.
July 15, 2024
I found this book in #firstbookmarketplace and thought, '$6.60 for 12 books? Even if it sucks, it's worth it!' Then I shared it with our teen parent advisor at school, and she and I decided that we would create a book study for this and do it with our teen parents this next school year and give them English credit. So I started reading it with my "teacher" brain.
After about 65 pages, I was trying to keep my "single mom" brain from coming in too strong. Then, on page 132, I couldn't. Tears filled my eyes because I remember deciding to leave my son's father. After trying for two years of marriage, 20 months of parenting, and five years of a relationship fraught with ups and downs, I couldn't look into my son's eyes and stay.
While finishing, and reading more about Generation Hope, I was inspired and overwhelmed. Those of us who work with teen parents know that it is a daunting task. That it fills and drains us multiple times each day. I hope that this book will inspire our teen parents, and the adults around them for the future of the program.
After about 65 pages, I was trying to keep my "single mom" brain from coming in too strong. Then, on page 132, I couldn't. Tears filled my eyes because I remember deciding to leave my son's father. After trying for two years of marriage, 20 months of parenting, and five years of a relationship fraught with ups and downs, I couldn't look into my son's eyes and stay.
While finishing, and reading more about Generation Hope, I was inspired and overwhelmed. Those of us who work with teen parents know that it is a daunting task. That it fills and drains us multiple times each day. I hope that this book will inspire our teen parents, and the adults around them for the future of the program.
January 15, 2024
Well written. This book is a mix of memoir and fact book about teen pregnancy, particularly about teens of color. The memoir sections are heartfelt and gripping. I was a teen mom who went to college with a baby in tow, almost a generation before her. So I remember the exhaustion and turmoil, trying to be a student in a world not made for young parents.She has a great story to share about resilience. The fact book parts were not as compelling as the memoir. She intersperses facts throughout the memoir narrative and try as I might, I couldn’t bounce between the two. It felt like the facts interrupted the flow. Author is used to giving facts for her role in her non-profit; I get it. Facts are related; I get it. It just doesn’t read well, shifting focus constantly. Regardless of this issue, I think it was worthwhile to read. Inspirational.
June 17, 2021
I read the smallest amount of a book synopsis that I can before choosing a book, so this book surprised me. I thought it was all just a personal account and had no idea that Nicole Lewis had started an organization to help teen parents like her. I learned so much about the generational cycles of poverty, racism, and teen parenting. It was heartbreaking to read her story and the story of others she has helped, then heartwarming to see what an amazing organization she has fought to create.
The writing took me a chapter to figure out but I loved it once I realized what she was doings with her story. She tells her personal story and adds facts about people with similar stories along with accounts from some of her scholars as well.
The writing took me a chapter to figure out but I loved it once I realized what she was doings with her story. She tells her personal story and adds facts about people with similar stories along with accounts from some of her scholars as well.
November 30, 2022
Commentary on the book, not the author’s clear success, ability to overcome obstacles, and make change for others. Those things along with systemic issues and challenges are unquestionable. I didn’t like the approach to the story. The constant diversion from her story to statistics and studies was distracting and felt like justification for bad choices while also trying to get bonus points for her achievements. The quantity of studies cited also makes the reader question the validity of all of them and lack of recognition of the many other factors at play in the numbers. I wish she shared more of her emotions and perspective on why she chose certain paths early on given the perspective she clearly now has.
June 20, 2025
So glad that this experience and perspective was penned down. Almost disappointed that the only tag this book is labelled under is 'feminism' because it's so much more.
That being said, the writing really needed tightening (reflects on the editorial team more than anyone else).
Also felt disconnected from the descriptions of physical deprivations. Maybe poverty is relative to one's culture more than their circumstance? What counts as severe poverty for one person in their part of the world is just someone else's regular day.
In spite of that, this is an inspiring story of grit and determination, and what the author has achieved is nothing short of incredible. Reflections on misguided political decisions are super insightful.
That being said, the writing really needed tightening (reflects on the editorial team more than anyone else).
Also felt disconnected from the descriptions of physical deprivations. Maybe poverty is relative to one's culture more than their circumstance? What counts as severe poverty for one person in their part of the world is just someone else's regular day.
In spite of that, this is an inspiring story of grit and determination, and what the author has achieved is nothing short of incredible. Reflections on misguided political decisions are super insightful.
May 8, 2021
A powerful read. The author's personal success story of matriculating into and graduating from a rigorous undergraduate college while having a baby at 19 and an inconsistent support system is admirable, and it's awesome that she's since founded an organization that provides support to young women (and men) in similar situations. I appreciate that she also acknowledges that earning a college degree isn't mandatory in setting oneself up for success, though a bit more consideration could have been given to what happens when college isn't tenable due to financial constraints, and how all college degrees aren't equal in terms of future job and earning potential.
June 14, 2021
This was one of most compelling reads of my year. It was impressively candid in ways that allow the reader to "get it" - and there is a lot of process. Ms. Lewis uses her experiences to create not only context but encourage considering a new POV. HOWEVER, this was not a policy book. This was not a tragedy or a drama. It was a woman's highly personal experience which seems far away from our safe lives. Yet it is not. This use of personal narrative makes clear how easy it is to slide into a very untenable place (aka stuck). READ THIS BOOK!!!!
September 23, 2021
Opened my eyes to the struggles unmarried pregnant black women endure when trying to overcome the hurdles of systematic poverty in the face of trying to attain an education.
She was a worker. Committed. Driven. (A value instilled by her parents, if we're being honest.). She hopes to create a system where other pregnant teen mothers have an easier path than her. And show them the mentors they desperately need
Very college forward, which I get. It seems like her organization is instrumental in helping these mothers navigate an increasingly closed off and EXPENSIVE goal.
She was a worker. Committed. Driven. (A value instilled by her parents, if we're being honest.). She hopes to create a system where other pregnant teen mothers have an easier path than her. And show them the mentors they desperately need
Very college forward, which I get. It seems like her organization is instrumental in helping these mothers navigate an increasingly closed off and EXPENSIVE goal.
March 8, 2022
“Our expectations for marginalized students are often the bare minimum, prescribing low expectations and precluding them from opportunities that could challenge them or reveal their brilliance.”
A truly inspiring memoir of a teen mom facing all the obstacles, but instead of giving up, pushing herself to move forward. It really highlights the underlying causes of teen pregnancy and ways in which society and schools kind of give up on those affected, writing them off and never expecting them to succeed. I love how the author is using her experiences to help and advocate for students in similar situations and trying to make a positive change.
A truly inspiring memoir of a teen mom facing all the obstacles, but instead of giving up, pushing herself to move forward. It really highlights the underlying causes of teen pregnancy and ways in which society and schools kind of give up on those affected, writing them off and never expecting them to succeed. I love how the author is using her experiences to help and advocate for students in similar situations and trying to make a positive change.
June 15, 2021
Just an astounding book about an incredible person who overcame challenges that many of us can't imagine. Then she used her experience to help others overcome many of those same challenges. This book really makes you think about the obstacles teen parents, particularly teen parents of color, face and the root of those obstacles. It also lays out solutions to those obstacles. This country would be a much better place if everyone read Ms. Lynn Lewis' book.
July 5, 2021
The author, a “social entrepreneur” (according to the back cover) tells her story of being a pregnant teen and putting herself through college while raising a baby. Throughout the story, she takes detours to inform us about statistics and historical events related to teen pregnancy in the US. She also includes the stories of young parents that she is now helping through her nonprofit. The book is easy to read, but powerful.
March 19, 2022
This is a really honest story about teen pregnancy and the challenges of being in an abusive relationship. It's hard to read, and you are left with a lot of questions at the end, but I believe the author purposefully left out details about the father and his life now because her daughter is a young woman now.
I learned a lot in this book and the way she weaves together her personal story with other stories along with listing off statistics was quite unique.
I learned a lot in this book and the way she weaves together her personal story with other stories along with listing off statistics was quite unique.
May 4, 2022
This book was an inspiring story of resilience and the precariousness of so many structures and systems in our society today. It does an excellent job of building empathy and compassion for those whose experiences may differ from our own, sparks curiosity about what lingers below how things look on the surface, and compels a commitment to pursue change for a better future for all those facing the challenges endemic to teenage parenthood. A well written and thought provoking read.
December 22, 2022
I read this with my memoir club and everyone appreciated the author’s story and perspective. It’s not awesome as a memoir, but her message and work are inspiring. My main takeaway was how dehumanizing the public campaigns against teen pregnancy are, not to mention completely ineffective. Instead of heaping shame onto young women who become pregnant in an attempt to punish them or deter others, Lewis implores us to give them practical support and compassion.
July 15, 2021
Pregnant Girl tells the story of its author and provides a lesson in empathy and potential. Nicole is a powerhouse and she illustrates how the young women and men who find themselves parenting so early in life can be, too. She demonstrates how replacing shame with support and judgement with encouragement can change the lives of young parents, their children, and the world around them.
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October 19, 2021DNF @ 11%. Nothing wrong with it, but based on my interpretation of the summary, I was expecting something more big picture and data-driven about women who overcome the struggles society places on young mothers. This seems to be just a memoir of one woman's journey. It's well-written, although a bit too flowery for my taste. It's definitely a fast read so far and could be a great pick for others.
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January 14, 2024Highly enjoyed this book--Ms. Lewis gives her story with courage and with great insight to the social justice, reproductive power, and poverty discussions in constant flux in public policy circles. Insights so often unheeded and unheard.
Personally, I found myself understanding more of events of my childhood. I'm grateful for that.
Personally, I found myself understanding more of events of my childhood. I'm grateful for that.
May 22, 2021
Her story is really interesting and inspiring and I enjoyed learning more about the organization she founded. I would have liked more detail on her relationship with her parents. And I think her students’ stories could have been woven in more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews