Bumped reminded me a great deal of the Margaret Atwood story Handmade Tale
Set in the future, Bumped tells the story of what happens when the only people who can conceive children are young adults between the ages of 13 to 18. In this civilization, being pregnant in high school is the most desirable accomplishment. Girls who are obviously pregnant are revered by their peers and the rest of society. They also have the ability to make a great deal of money when it comes time to sell their baby to older couples who cannot have their own.
The two main characters in Bumped are Harmony and Melody- twin girls who were separated at birth and lived very different lives. Melody was forced to work hard, but given many opportunities. She has signed a contract that will make her rich- just as soon as she can become pregnant by someone worthy. Harmony led a much simpler life being raised in a religious community. Harmony has come to save Melody and to help her see the power in religion. When Melody and Harmony are mistaken for each other, their lives take a drastic turn for each of them.
I liked the idea of this story. It is fascinating how McCafferty created these characters that are so much like teenage girls today- yet they want something that girls today try to avoid. As with most alternative reality books, I found it hard to understand at the beginning of the book. There is lots of slang and phrases that you really have to think about to understand. I think kids without much understanding of the whole process of pregnancy might find the book hard to follow. Having said that, it is an exciting book and I really wanted to know what would happen to both Harmony and Melody.
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