Push

Title: Push

Author: Sapphire

ISBN: 0679446265

Publisher: Knopf

Copyright: 1996

 Plot Summary:  This heart-wrenching story follows Precious, a teenage, illiterate, pregnant girl who has suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of her mother and her father. Her mother seems to only care about her welfare benefits. Precious is sent to a school for teenage mothers where she is taught to read and write by an influential teacher, Ms. Rain. Precious gives birth to her second child, whose father is her dad, and begins to work through her issues when she is dealt another crippling blow

Critical Evaluation:  Sapphire writes this book very well. The plot line is difficult to read, but the reader feels a need to try and save precious even though that is not possible. The reader feels rage towards her family, and love towards her and especially Ms. Rain. Sapphire wrote this incredibly tough topic wonderfully.

 Reader's Annotation: Pushed down by life, Precious tries to escape the shackles abuse has put on her.

Genre: Crossover, Realistic Fiction

 Author Information: Sapphire has written one other novel called The Kid. This novel is also directed at an adult audience.

Book talks: Abuse, Rape, Incest, Education, Literacy, HIV, AIDS

Reading Level/Interest Age: Older High School/ Adult. 17-100+

Challenge: This book is full of challenge issues,however, this book was written for adults thus their presence. There is incest, rape, abuse, hiv, aids, teenage pregnancy, homelessness, these are all building blocks that create the torment that Precious experiences. However horrifying it is to read, it is part of the plot, the sexual abuse is described relatively explicitly in the story so it is only appropriate for older teenagers and adults.

Why was this book chosen?: This book is emotionally poignant and well written.