Plan A by Deb Caletti - Rajiv's Reviews

Plan A by Deb Caletti

Release: October 3, 2023

Format: Ebook
Publisher: ‎ Labyrinth Road
Source: TBR and Beyond Tours
Find it at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

A sixteen-year-old girl’s road trip across the country to get an abortion becomes a transformative journey of vulnerability, strength, and above all, choice. From the acclaimed author of A Heart in a Body in the World , this is both an achingly tender love story and a bold, badly needed battle cry about bodily autonomy and the experiences that connect us.

Ivy can’t entirely believe it when the plus sign appears on the test. She didn’t even know it was possible from . . . what happened. But it is, and now she is, and instead of spending the summer working at the local drugstore and swooning over her boyfriend, Lorenzo, suddenly she’s planning a cross-country road trip to her grandmother’s house on the West Coast, where she can legally obtain an abortion.

Escaping her small Texas town and the judgment of her friends and neighbors, Ivy hits the road with Lorenzo, who, determined to make the best of their “abortion road trip love story,” has transformed the journey into a whirlwind tour of the all the way from Paris, Texas, to Rome, Oregon . . . and every rest-stop diner and corny roadside attraction along the way.

And while Ivy can’t run from the incessant pressure of others’ opinions about her body or from her own expectations and insecurities, she discovers a new world of healing and hope. As the women she encounters share their stories, she chips away at the stigma, silence, and shame surrounding reproductive rights while those collective experiences guide her to her own rightful destination.

Content Warning: Abortion, harassment, assault, rape, trauma

About the Author:

Deb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award.

She lives with her family in Seattle.

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Plan A Review:

I have yet to have the opportunity to read Tess of the d’Urbervilles; However, since the author frequently references it, I am curious to read the classic. The author delves into the delicate topic of abortion, a subject still shrouded in taboo in many regions. I found their handling of this matter to be thoughtful and sensitive. They convey that we always have a choice in such situations, emphasizing that it’s our prerogative to decide the path to take, with no preference being inherently wrong.

The central character, Ivy, won my heart, and I empathized deeply with her. However, my personal favorite within the narrative is Lorenzo. Lorenzo exudes an irresistible charm, standing out as one of the most endearing characters I’ve encountered recently. His efforts to ensure Ivy enjoys life through their world tour adventures added a delightful layer to the story. I appreciated how the author seamlessly incorporated a road trip into the narrative. The author excels in character development, breathing life into their creations.

Some of the standout moments for me occurred when Lorenzo’s father entered the picture or when Ivy and company encountered other family members like Dave, Esilda, and Grandma Lottie, not to mention the pivotal moment when Olivia saw Ivy’s predicament. The supporting characters’ backstories, such as Ivy’s mom and Nadine, proved enlightening and enriched the overarching theme. Additionally, including nostalgic 80s pop culture references added a layer of enjoyment for me.

If I were to offer constructive feedback, the author occasionally delves into excessive detail, resulting in a somewhat lengthy narrative that could benefit from some trimming. Furthermore, the story’s conclusion departed from my expectations, leaving me bittersweet.

Despite these minor observations, I commend the author for their skillful handling of the subject matter in “Plan A.”