Independent reading blog post

             I have only just started The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened by Don Robertson, but there is one immediate social issue that pops out. Teenage sex. There are lots of questions surrounding this issue. How young is to young? How should kids handle pressure? These questions aren't answered in the book but situations do give you a helpful insight to what goes on and how to deal with it.  In this book the main character and his girlfriend are put in these situations. I think this book can help kids realize what to do if they are ever in a situation like the ones in the book.
            In the book Morris Bird III who is seventeen has a girlfriend, and at that age they may have sex. His girlfriend Julie doesn't want to. One night Morris is over at Julie's house and they kiss and stuff but Morris trys to go a bit further. She says no. One of the issues is having the courage to say no.  I think this is one of the positive messaage this book sends to teens. It could also help adults understand kids. This book is written from Morris Bird III's perspective. You see what he is thinking in all these situations. This could have real value to adults trying to talk to kids about this topic. In the same scene Morris is thinking about how annoying it is that she keeps saying no. This could help adults teach kids to respect people's choices and body's. A lot of the problems people face talking to kids about this stuff is not understanding how they feel and what they think. This book could actually help people understand kids.
             In conclusion there is a good message in this book. The social issue it deals with is very sensitive and complex. I have not gotten far in the book but it's message has already taken an affect on me and I can see how this will be continued through out the book