Roxy's Baby by Cathy MacPhail

August 2009, Bloomsbury Children's Books (original publication 2005)
272 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Young Adult

Cushions: 5/5
Paperclips: 1/5
Tissues: 3/5
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

There are some world issues which I feel very strongly about. Organ trade, especially those of babies, is one of them. I'm not alone in this - Roxy's Baby is a harrowing insight into this illegal and immoral trade.

I urge readers not to be put off by the subject matter. Much of the story focuses on Roxy, who runs away from home where she doesn't feel wanted, after seeing an ad in a magazine for a place which can help young girls in trouble.

The only problem - she's underage, so the establishment can't do much for her. However, a girl there introduces her to Mr and Mrs Dyce, who run a home deep in the country for girls who are pregnant. They can keep the babies, or have them adopted.

Roxy doesn't trust them, but there isn't anywhere else to turn to. The girls already there try and persaude her that everything is okay. Roxy never fully believes that. There's something not right about the whole operation. Why aren't they allowed out of the grounds? Yes, they have everything they want - clean clothes, a nice bed, each other. Their unborn children. But what happens to the girls once they give birth? Why aren't they allowed back with the others? Why are most of them unable to speak English?

At the beginning of the story Roxy is very self-centred. She doesn't even take much notice of the child growing inside her. Yet while her suspicions grow, and when she learns what she thinks is the truth, a fighting spirit, for her unborn child and the friends she's made kick in. Can she succeed in destroying the Dyce's organisation?

I zipped through this book, hanging on to every sentence. Full of drama and intrigue, Roxy's Baby is actually based on a true story. I think its a good way to highlight this particular issue. Roxy may stay safe, but a few of her friends don't escape unscathed, like many girls in the world trapped by this crime.

The only reason there's one paperclip, is that girls don't get pregnant on their own. There aren't any relations in the story, but by the very nature of the topics discussed, I put up one paperclip.

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