The Girl Who Couldn't Say No Memoir of a teenage mom eBook Tracy Engelbrecht
Download As PDF : The Girl Who Couldn't Say No Memoir of a teenage mom eBook Tracy Engelbrecht 
A sharp, occasionally shocking, memoir that will change how you look at teenage mothers, The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No is told with frank South African humour and refreshingly mature insight. Tracy Engelbrecht tells the story of how she came to find herself pregnant at 15, and how she coped with pregnancy, birth and homework.
An eye-opener for teens and their parents alike, as well as a message of hope, empathy and respect for those who have experienced a teenage pregnancy.
No M-TV teen moms, no sugar-coating, no horror stories - just honesty, humility, humour and love. Real life.
The Girl Who Couldn't Say No Memoir of a teenage mom eBook Tracy Engelbrecht
The tone of the book was very "bloggy" for lack of a better word. It was chock full of side-stories and rambling and while it wasn't bad, it was sometimes hard to pick up the thread again after being off on a tangent for a few pages. Mostly this had to do with the author re-assuring the reader repeatedly that she is/was a GOOD GIRL, meaning that she wasn't promiscuous (and didn't want to be) when she found herself pregnant at 14. Which is all well and good, mistakes happen, let's move along in this story... but the thing is that THAT is the story. The only story. The title is intentionally misleading (I guess hoping that you actually want to read about a promiscuous teen who "deserved" to get pregnant?) and actually applies to her people-pleasing personality which was NOT the reason that she ended up pregnant at such a young age. That was just typical teenage hormones and desires (again, the author goes to GREAT LENGTHS to differentiate this). So... okay... then what's the story about?Truthfully, not much. I mean, yes, she was a teenage mother which impacted her high school education for a time. But overall her life wasn't really changed. Her family was incredibly supportive and helped her raise her son and go to school, etc. They even let her move back home when she found herself pregnant again in her twenties with no support from the child's father. There were no moments of dire poverty or homelessness or drug use... so, other than her age when she had her first child, it was just a typical single-mom story. Which, I am glad for, if I'm being truthful. I'm happy for her that things worked out okay in the end and everyone was supportive and nice and her kids are okay. But I had to ask myself why this story was being told... who is this book for? It's not an encouragement to teen girls who want to be mothers, it's not a warning about the dangers of teen motherhood, it's not about the challenges of bringing up kids by yourself. It's sort of a no-man's land as far as who the intended audience is supposed to be. Which then makes it seem like maybe she's just trying to cash in on the teen mom trend that is invading pop culture at the moment, by flashing her hipster cred by being one of the "original" teen moms. Except this book was free on Amazon when I downloaded it, so if she's trying to cash in, she's not getting very far.
TL;DR takeaway: quick, candid, bloggy style of writing is fun but there is no real story in the end.
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The Girl Who Couldn't Say No Memoir of a teenage mom eBook Tracy Engelbrecht Reviews
Unfortunately, I am one of the people that tends to judge teen mothers at first site. I try to be understanding, but having never walked a mile in their shoes it is difficult to sympathize. Tracy admits to lapses in judgement and the mistakes she made. As a teenager she became pregnant with her son-the father was barely part of her life and child's life, a much older college guy (she was in 10th grade), who dated other girls. He does not pay child support, but Tracy has the support of her family.
Prior to reading this novel, I also judged mothers that dated after having a child-but reading this novel made me understand the need for companionship and father figure in a teen mother's life. Another statement that made an impact was Tracy wondering when people would stop looking at her child as an unfortunate accident-instead of a blessing. I am guilty of doing this.
Even though serious topics are discussed in this book-it is done with humor. Tracy describes her mood and personality shifts in a way that makes you laugh! Everyone should read this book-it is an easy fast read that made me reflect on my attitude towards teen mothers, an attitude that has improved.
A witty memoir about a teenage girl (14) who finds herself pregnant. I suppose the thing I did hate the most (other than the use of the F word, but recognize people in other countries do not view the use of this word as vulgar as people in the U.S.), was that I didn't see this as a cautionary tale for young girls who take part in premarital sex putting themselves at risk for STD's and pregnancy. Rather, it seemed more of a "do it, you'll like it" type thing. It is hilarious in parts and I could SO relate to the parts about her jobs and bosses. I think I've worked for the same lady Tracy did who caused her hair to fall out. I admire this young woman's resolve to be a good mother despite the circumstances and feel certain she owes that to the wonderful parents who supported her and her children for so many years. Saints.
Some life events are pretty much universal... falling in love, getting married... and becoming a teenage mom. It happens all the time, except what sets apart each event is when you have a writer voice something like Tracy's.
And still, as distinctive as Tracy's voice was, it took getting past the pregnancy test before her voice grew on me. I related very well to many, if not all of her experiences... the moods, grown-ups who encounter young girls in this 'situation', and other artifacts that generally come with the territory in such a 'situation.' The reaction of her younger sister when the announcement was first made, I likewise found really moving. Her parents, especially her mother, not only handled 'the situation' well, but it had to be the largest blessing for Tracy and little Steven to have parents (and grandparents) support them like this. Come to think on it, I should include some of the extended family as well. My only distraction was a (seemingly) misplaced anger that I tried to attribute to the pregnancy, knowing how often this life event (wildly) scrambles the hormones, and that's for women of any age...before, during, and after childbirth. It also could have been immaturity, or being a little spoiled maybe, except I was never quite sure.
That said, I really enjoyed the witty sarcasm. It's what made this story none-the-less very engaging. From Ms. H, to the Catholic nun (in the hospital), to Auntie Cruella, to that receptionist job, and many, many other spots, I really enjoyed how Tracy handled herself, this story, and the best part... her embracing motherhood the way she did. Great job.
The tone of the book was very "bloggy" for lack of a better word. It was chock full of side-stories and rambling and while it wasn't bad, it was sometimes hard to pick up the thread again after being off on a tangent for a few pages. Mostly this had to do with the author re-assuring the reader repeatedly that she is/was a GOOD GIRL, meaning that she wasn't promiscuous (and didn't want to be) when she found herself pregnant at 14. Which is all well and good, mistakes happen, let's move along in this story... but the thing is that THAT is the story. The only story. The title is intentionally misleading (I guess hoping that you actually want to read about a promiscuous teen who "deserved" to get pregnant?) and actually applies to her people-pleasing personality which was NOT the reason that she ended up pregnant at such a young age. That was just typical teenage hormones and desires (again, the author goes to GREAT LENGTHS to differentiate this). So... okay... then what's the story about?
Truthfully, not much. I mean, yes, she was a teenage mother which impacted her high school education for a time. But overall her life wasn't really changed. Her family was incredibly supportive and helped her raise her son and go to school, etc. They even let her move back home when she found herself pregnant again in her twenties with no support from the child's father. There were no moments of dire poverty or homelessness or drug use... so, other than her age when she had her first child, it was just a typical single-mom story. Which, I am glad for, if I'm being truthful. I'm happy for her that things worked out okay in the end and everyone was supportive and nice and her kids are okay. But I had to ask myself why this story was being told... who is this book for? It's not an encouragement to teen girls who want to be mothers, it's not a warning about the dangers of teen motherhood, it's not about the challenges of bringing up kids by yourself. It's sort of a no-man's land as far as who the intended audience is supposed to be. Which then makes it seem like maybe she's just trying to cash in on the teen mom trend that is invading pop culture at the moment, by flashing her hipster cred by being one of the "original" teen moms. Except this book was free on when I downloaded it, so if she's trying to cash in, she's not getting very far.
TL;DR takeaway quick, candid, bloggy style of writing is fun but there is no real story in the end.
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