Juno (film, 2007)
Mandate Pictures, written by Diablo Cody
Starring Ellen Page and Michael Cera

Plot Summary:
The movie starts with 16-year-old Juno MacGuff discovering she is pregnant by her best friend (not boyfriend), Paulie Bleeker. She decides against getting an abortion and instead opts for adoption. Her friend informs her of the ads people place in the PennySaver, and Juno decides to give it a shot. She quickly finds a yuppie couple, Mark and Vanessa, eager to adopt her baby.

As the year progresses, Juno forms a bond with the adoptive father-to-be, Mark, through their similar taste in music and movies. Mark eventually confides in Juno that he doesn't think he is ready to be a father. Not surprisingly he and his wife begin divorce proceedings. At first the adoption is in question, but Juno ultimately realizes that the baby belongs to Vanessa after all.
In the end, Vanessa adopts the baby alone, and Juno and Paulie decide to they want to be together.

Critical Evaluation:
I enjoyed this film's refreshing take on teen pregnancy. I don't believe it glamorized it, as some critics would lead you to believe. It simply showed that it wasn't the end of the world. Juno took responsibility for her actions and dealt with the consequences. The film was marketed as a comedy, so of course nothing too tragic was going to happen, but it was nice to see a movie with a pregnant teen that wasn't trying to scare teenagers into abstinence. Diablo Cody endowed the protagonists with intelligence and wit, unlike some of the other airheaded teenage characters in other movies.

Viewer’s Annotation:
16-year-old Juno MacGuff just found out she is pregnant. What will she decide to do with the baby and her relationship with the father?

Information about the Author:
Diablo Cody is originally from Chicago and worked at an advertising agency, which she did not enjoy. She became a stripper on a whim, then got married and stopped stripping. She is a columnist for Entertainment Weekly and wrote Juno in 2007.

Genre: comedy

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would talk about Juno and her quirky personality and how she handles being pregnant at 16. I would discuss the relationships she has with her parents, the potential adopting parents, and her best friend.

Interest Age:
This movie is rated PG-13, and I think it would be appropriate for ages 14 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This movie would be challenged for its depiction of teen pregnancy. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form.

Why I chose this film:
I chose this film because I believe it would appeal to teenagers from all walks of life. Its fresh take on teen pregnancy might help others put their situation into perspective.