PROM BABIES

Six teens experience unforgettable proms.

Black, biracial high school senior Mina is attending prom with her sort-of boyfriend—the white, evangelical captain of the football team. White junior Penney and her boyfriend—a senior of Ghanaian descent—plan a special, private after-prom party. Sheryl is white, lives in foster care, and wasn’t even planning on attending prom, until one of the popular guys asked her out. Each girl becomes pregnant and decides against termination. While the circumstances around the pregnancies are different, and the girls move in different social circles, they become allies, forming a family to raise their children together. Now, 18 years later, these children are preparing for prom. Blossom, Mina’s daughter, is in a committed relationship, but she’s worried about having sex with her boyfriend for the first time. Amber, Penney’s daughter, is attending prom with her girlfriend, but she’s determined to make a statement against the outdated, gendered, heteronormative, patriarchal foundation of the event. Cole, Sheryl’s son, is struggling with misogynistic beliefs about girls, women, and sex that pervade his social circle and that he perpetuates. Magoon deftly explores issues relating to teen relationships, including expectations, consent, sexuality, and virginity. Although the topics are heavy, the tone is uplifting. While the book has chapters from each major character’s point of view, the character development is light and may leave readers wanting more.

A multigenerational novel that digs into relatable and timely topics.