My Mom Had An Abortion

My Mom Had an Abortion is a unique coming-of-age tale told by a self-described dyslexic-asexual-lesbian-feminist teenager and illustrated by body-positive comic artist Tatiana Gill. We follow our protagonist Beezus B. Murphy as she chronicles her evolving understanding of menstruation, reproduction, and abortion and finds her place in a confusing world. Initially influenced by harmful narratives in pop media such as the &;the pregnant teenager&; cliche, we watch Beezus&;s ideas change as her body changes and as she learns more about the intricacies of her family history and her mom&;s own reproductive experiences. She grows from a confused, out-of-place kid into a self-assured, empathetic, and strong-willed activist teen. As Beezus says, &;People shouldn&;t be shamed for getting or not getting abortions. Young people absorb the information that we gather from our surroundings. Sometimes it&;s good information and other times it can be harmful. But now I realize abortion is perfectly normal and should be kept safe and legal.&; Sprinkled with pop culture references, hilariously apt descriptions of unwanted body changes and menstruation like the chapter &;Blood, Bath, and Beyond,&; and instantly understandable revelations of growing-up, this beautifully illustrated short graphic novel crucially fills a cultural gap around complexities of abortion, pop culture, body changes, and finding out where we fit in.