Belly Up by Eva Darrows

Belly Up

Eva Darrows

Teenage pregnancy delivered in a snarky, authentic voice. I loved being part of their world, getting the gossip, and the positive take on queer friendships and sharing in their hopes and dreams. Lovely to read a book with an optimistic outlook - but no slush. I've cheated a bit with the main character to flag Sara's sweet (not baby-daddy) Roma boyfriend, Leaf.

Extract

It was less of the exam itself that bugged me, but more the embarrassment of having my innermost secret parts on display to a stranger.

  When I voiced that to Mormor at brunch that morning, she scoffed at me over her bread topped with liver pate. 

  'Do you know how many snipporna they look at in a day?' she demanded.

  '... snipporna?'

  'Yes. Yagoos,. Vaginas. The doctor's life is looking at one snippa after another. Do you have teeth down there?'

  ' ... Mormor.'

  'Well, do you? Teeth? Fire? Do you shoort fire from your vagina?'

  'No! It's just -'

  It's no big deal to your doctor. It is only a big deal to you because you are young and stupid.'

  My mother took exception to my grandmother calling me stupid and the fight was on.

 

Parallels
  • The Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich
  • Juno - the film