The Youngest Parents

by Daniel A. Coles, Michael H. Coles, Robert Coles

Prominent child psychiatrist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Coles asks us to shed our preconceptions and listen to the compelling voices of young women and men who are soon to become parents though barely out of childhood themselves. These teenage parents are black, white, and Hispanic; city dwellers and residents of small towns. From conversations with these teenagers, Dr. Coles weaves a subtle yet dramatic narrative that reveals the aspirations and apprehensions of these "youngest parents" whose prospects aren't very promising and whose assumptions aren't always those he, or we, share. Young mothers don't have an easy time ahead of them, but many pregnant teens believe that the babies they carry will lead lives very different from their own, that their babies may find the success that eludes them and may escape the limitations they've suffered. Dr. Coles finds that the fathers' confusion and, sometimes, resentment give way to a deep longing for respect and a desire for a way out of lives limited by poverty and poor education. Dr. Coles's text is accompanied by photographic essays by two outstanding American photographers. Jocelyn Lee, a photographer based in Boston, lived intimately with young families in Massachusetts where she explored the daily lives of young parents. John Moses, a pediatrician and photographer, worked for several years with teenage parents in rural North Carolina, and his pictures show the pride and tenderness they've found in family life.

223 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to read this right now for class and write a 8-10 page paper on my thoughts! Might as well track my progress since it's due next week.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister was a teen mum so the subject has a special place in my heart. Unfortunately the text of this is - dense and uninteresting. But the photos are really good and as I flipped through the second set I read the name "John Moses" again and realized - hey, that's my daughters pediatrician. And suddenly I really, really liked him. Because he's obviously not in it for just the money or the "easy" job of being a peds Dr. He cares about this community too. Cool.

[Lois Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A documentary in book form involving photos and narratives of teenage parents. Includes individual and group interviews which the author recorded. These teenagers vary in their outlooks and motivations as well as the level of family support they have. For many of them, having a child gives them a sense of identity and focus and provides a feeling of accomplishment in a world that offers them few opportunities and rewards.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I had a friend who had been pregnant at sixteen, and I also thought the topic in general would be interesting to read about. It was very interesting and thought-provoking, but unfortunately was written in a rather dense fashion. Difficult to process the information.

[Tigbench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to remember this book.