Looking for an unforgettable collection of YA novels about teenage pregnancy to read? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade reading, analyzing, and recommending the best fiction to answer that question.
You’ll find detailed reviews of many favorites in the roundup below. I’ve personally curated this collection from my own bookshelves. These novels explore complex themes ranging from clean romance to parental rights. Unlike generic lists, I’ve hand-picked offbeat titles and marginalized voices that provide authentic perspectives on the accidental pregnancy trope.
The Future Unborn by Khristina Chess
“There is no place for the word twerking anywhere on your college application. Ever.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Future Unborn
What if helping someone you love means giving up all of your dreams?
Ignore the cover. Trust the story. The Future Unborn is an unexpected novel that balances humor, smart girls in STEM, romance, high-stakes ambition, and an accidental pregnancy in a short, time-boxed narrative that keeps the pages turning.
Kansas Jones has it all: class president, varsity swim team, straight-A student, and a future at MIT.
Then one misstep results in an unplanned pregnancy—threatening all her hopes and dreams.
Kansas thinks twelve weeks is plenty of time to act, but with finals, college applications, and the R2-RoboCon competition piling up, the clock is ticking faster than she ever imagined.
When a family tragedy shifts her perspective, she finds herself facing a tough choice that no blueprint can solve.
For me, what made The Future Unborn so special was the blend of lighthearted banter, robotics team collaboration, a sweet romance, and a gut-wrenching decision that was as hopeful as it was heartbreaking. I loved that despite the heavy topic, the story offered a blend of lighthearted banter and a sweet romance with Kansas’ nerdy teammate.
I highly recommend this thought-provoking YA book about teenage pregnancy. Think Juno meets The Love Hypothesis.
A Madness So Discrete by Mindy McGinnis
"I think we're all quite mad. Some of us are just more discreet about it." ― Mindy McGinnis, quote from A Madness So Discreet
Imagine that you could be imprisoned in an insane asylum just because you're a woman and a male in your life wants to get rid of you. This sort of thing happened to women in the last century. For real. This is what happened to Grace, the protagonist in A Madness So Discreet. The man who sent her to the facility was her own father, and the inconvenient truth was that she was pregnant with his child.
This is the beginning of A Madness So Discreet. But the novel does not linger in the horrors of lobotomies and torture of mental patients. Instead, Grace escapes into the hands of a doctor who uses her talents to help solve murders.
As a serial killer mystery unfolds, though, you know that a showdown between Grace and her father, a powerful senator, is coming. He thinks she is dead. He is about to move on to her younger sister. She is motivated to stop him, even at risk to herself.
What happens in the end of this dark and twisty thriller is astonishing. No spoilers here. Just treat yourself and read this unusual and twisty mystery. Mindy McGinnis is near the top of my favorite YA authors. A Madness So Discreet is one of her early works, so I didn't think it was as fabulous as Female of the Species or Heroine. Still, it was classic McGinnis and worth every single page.
If you’re looking for unusual YA books about teenage pregnancy that combine murder mystery, psychological thriller, and horror into one story, A Madness So Discreet is for you.
After by Amy Efaw
“I'd rather be lucky than good. Good is just so overrated. Bad girls have the most fun.” ― Amy Efaw, quote from After
Devon Davenport is a “good girl” whose one misstep leads to an unplanned pregnancy. She’s so filled with denial about her entire situation that she cannot even admit to herself that she’s pregnant until she gives birth. The depiction of her detachment is incredibly real, shocking, and heartbreaking.
During her stay in the juvenile detention center, Devon must face facts about herself and her situation. Her lawyer plays an important role in drawing the story out of her and helping to build empathy for this girl who has committed such a horrific act.
Devon’s transformation from the beginning to the end of book is heartfelt and moving. I couldn’t put it down.
Don’t miss this poignant YA book about teen pregnancy. I think the courtroom aspect will especially appeal to fans of Jodi Piccoult.
The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand
“But what I'm thinking in this moment is: none of us really get to have our own, separate lives. Our lives are always all horribly tangled up with the people around us. The people we love.” ― Cynthia Hand, quote from The How and the Why
The How & the Why is a quiet novel. There were not a lot of surprises in the plot. I did not find any earth-shattering revelations or stunning plot twists.
And yet, Cassandra’s poignant story about motherhood, adoption, and open records is utterly compelling.
In many ways, she’s a typical teenager with a lot of ordinary conflicts: where to go to college, how to handle the boyfriend crush, and how to resolve a major fight with her best friend. She also has major non-normal conflicts like a mother who is dying because she needs a heart transplant and she’s contemplating a search for her biological mother.
As the reader, we meet Cassandra’s biological mother much earlier in the story because we read her letters, and so we understand the how and why of the pregnancy and adoption. We see this unfold while Cassandra is dealing with all that other teenager mess.
I was sad when her story ended and wanted to read more.
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
“That joke of a bookshelf has the same crap they had in baby jail I’ve inhaled three times over and I’d kill for something - anything - new to read. But I’d never say that out loud. I’m a killer after all; they’d probably think I’d really do it. Figures of speech are luxuries convicted murderers are not allowed to have.“ ― Tiffany D. Jackson, quote from Allegedly
Mary lives in a group home following her incarceration in baby jail for killing an infant. Allegedly. Life in the group home is hard for Mary, who is smart and trying to take her SATs and apply to college. She works at a nursing home, which is where she met Ted.
Now Mary is pregnant, and they’re going to take her baby away. So after all this time, she decides to tell the truth about what happened that night when Alyssa died.
Allegedly is a dark mystery that keeps the pages turning, and Mary is a compelling character. I really wanted her to succeed because so many things seemed to be against her. The other girls (and even the so-called responsible adults) are truly awful to her, and at least one of them turns out to be a psychopath. Fun times!
If you’re looking for YA books about teenage pregnancy that would terrify any mother, Allegedly belongs in your reading stack.
Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
In Jumping Off Swings, the author explores how an unplanned pregnancy impacts the lives of multiple characters, not only the girl. Ellie is pregnant to Josh, but there is a triangle of friendships and relationships that lead to Caleb and Corinne also knowing about the situation. As Ellie wrestles with her decision about what to do, Josh also struggles with his emotions about the baby. Their parents also know what has happened.
Shifting between these four viewpoint characters, the story digs into the emotional consequences of the pregnancy for each one of them.
I found Jumping Off Swings to be a quick read. It is a thoughtful and powerful YA book about teenage pregnancy that isn’t heavy-handed.
Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont
Sydney is sent to wilderness camp with her best friend as punishment, and by the way, she’s pregnant and hasn’t told her mom. She spends her time in the wilderness forming new friendships and trying to decide what to do. On her journey the protagonist wrestles with her very crucial unplanned pregnancy dilemma, but her relationships with her best friend, her mother, and others in the story are equally important to the story line. Resolving those issues are key to how Sydney ultimately decides to handle her situation.
Other YA Books about Teen Pregnancy
If you’re looking for other YA books about teen pregnancy, Goodreads offers two great lists: Popular Teen Pregnancy Books and Teen Pregnancy (264 books).
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic, including eating disorders, substance abuse, mental illness, and others.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
