Student Essay on Book Review of "Detour for Emmy"

Marilyn Reynolds is the author of Detour for Emmy. She is an English teacher in Los Angeles County. Marilyn is the author of numerous essays that have been published in many national newspapers, library magazines, professional journals, and autobiographies. Her students help her to keep in touch with the reality of today's teens; she then puts these realities into her writing. Detour for Emmy was inspired by her own experiences and those of her students. (5)

Detour for Emmy is a true story based on a young teen age girl, whose life is drastically changed after she becomes pregnant. Emmy is entering into high school with her trio Pauline and Tammy. For the first couple of weeks of school Emmy feels like an outcast, for there are so many people and everyone has their own little group. It all changes for Emmy when she is in choir with her trio on her birthday. Her friends told the teacher that it was her birthday and he had the harmonics group sing to her. In that group of singers there is one guy named Art who sang a solo right to her. After that day Emmy would see Art all over. On Valentine's Day Art came and asked her if she would like to go to a party with him. Even though boys were the last thing Emmy had on her mind she decided that she would. They fell for each other right from the start. After months of being inseparable Emmy finds out that she is pregnant. When she finally gets her nerves up to tell Art, he denies that it is his baby. When Emmy is three months pregnant on Thanksgiving, Art told her that they should maybe not be together anymore. Emmy has to drop out of high school and go to a teen mother's school, completely devastated her. She had an eight year plan and was in the Project Hope Program that would pay for her schooling and everything. Emmy has no one to help her--her mother is an alcoholic, the guy she thought loved her only cared about himself, and her friends became ashamed of her. The only one Emmy had now is her baby Rosie, but Rosie really just had her. She will not give up because of one obstacle in her path. Even though it will be hard to go on with her plans, Emmy is determined to succeed. (15)

The major element of this book is the obstacles that teen age mothers have to deal with. In most teen pregnancies the couple very rarely stays together. They are just kids themselves and are scared; the guy thinks if he is not with her anymore, the problem will be gone. This leaves a young lady all alone to deal with their problem on her own. Another obstacle is the girl has to deal with is the gossip that goes around school. Everyone looks at a young pregnant girl and talks about her like she is a different person. What they do not realize is that the same thing could happen to them, and how would they feel in that position. Like Emmy she had so many plans and after her pregnancies no one believed in her accomplishing them anymore. Teen mothers have to go through so much; most of the time on their own because of everyone disowns them even though it was not just their problem. (8)

One of the biggest strength of this book is that it could have an impact on other young girls' lives. This book tells a story that so many others can relate to. The girls whom it does not relate to could be deterred from making the wrong decisions, before they are physically, emotionally, and mentally ready to accept the consequences of their decisions. Every young person needs guidance and some do not have anyone to get that from. Detour for Emmy is a book that could help many think about what they want out of life, and what they do not want their lives to end up like. It has the strength to guide others to make wise decisions, set high goals, and never give up. (6)

This book is great for all kinds of people, whether they are young, old, boys, or girls. It leaves a big influence in the hearts of all the readers. Young girls will really benefit from reading this book and hearing another person's story. No one can think that they will never be in the same situation as Emmy. Detour for Emmy is also for those who treat the people in Emmy's situation like they do not exist anymore, or think that they are terrible people. Those people need to read this so they know how others feel when they think the way they do. (6)