One Night

Wow, this book surprised me. From the front flap to the first section of free verse poetry that makes up the beginning, I thought this book was going to be about some party crazy boys and the girls they preyed upon. I should have taken a look at the front matter summary instead: In this novel in free verse and narrated by alternating characters, a teenaged girl decides to have her baby and care for it on her own after a one night stand results in pregnancy.

But even that, though closer to the books real story, doesnt really tell it all. This is more about a journey for each of the characters, though primarily for Helen, the teenage mother, and Gabe, the babys unknowing father. Helens journey is arguably the toughest she moves out on her own after her fathers reaction to her unplanned pregnancy, doesnt tell Gabe that hes a father, and finds her way through the help of strangers become family.

Gabe, meanwhile, is spiraling into a world of self-loathing partying. Hes a smart guy, but hes got serious issues. And he knows he does. He just cant seem to help it.

The one night referenced in the title isnt really the same night for every character. For Al, a drifter and young drunk, it comes much later in the book. Bram, the ruthless and calculating man with a plan is the only one that really doesnt have a true epiphany, at least in my eyes. His story is the least developed of the four characters and hes also the guy you cant really get a handle on.

Some poetry novels dont succeed in telling a story, but this one certainly does. I recommend this book for those aged 14 and up, though theres really nothing in it that would preclude those aged 12 and up reading it. This would also be a good choice for classroom use pick a few poems to analyze and mix a message in at the same time.