Laura Campbell became pregnant when she was only fifteen, and the last thing she wanted was for everyone to know. Her memoir describes how her mother arranged for her to go to an unmarried mother’s home several miles away. Leaving home for the first time was daunting, and in the first part of Fifteenth Summer, she describes how she slowly settles in and the weeks of waiting to give birth. Shy, yet strong-willed, Laura makes friends, but these are transient; when the young mothers give birth, they leave. They are not encouraged to mix with the few troubled girls who share the home. The one major decision they all have to make is whether to keep the baby or give it up for adoption. Laura explains her decision and her subsequent life after her pregnancy.

Fifteenth Summer by Laura Campbell is an easy-to-read memoir sharing the honest story of her teenage pregnancy. Her time at the home while she awaits the birth is pleasant, and her life after is a testament to both her ambition and her determination. You can only admire her tenacity and the long hours juggling school, homework, waitressing, and dishwashing with all the other hard work. She had a lot of help from family and little judgment from her school friends and the community. I found this surprising in her small town, and in some respects, she managed her life so seamlessly that I feel she may have glossed over the sacrifices she must have made. Many young people would have longed again for the single, unencumbered life of only a few months earlier, but Campbell showed a maturity far beyond her years. I enjoyed this book, worthy of five stars.

In Fifteenth Summer, author Laura Campbell recounts her experiences as a teenage mom and the challenges she had to overcome. Laura was fifteen years old when she became pregnant. The pregnancy turned her life upside down. She left her home in rural Westfield, New York, and spent the rest of her pregnancy at the Norris Home in Colchester. At this shelter, she met other teenage moms going through the same experience. Often, Laura struggled to decide whether to raise her baby herself or give it up for adoption. When her baby boy Joshua was finally born, Laura returned home and continued to work toward graduating from high school. After graduation, she married her boyfriend, Ken Conrad, and found a job working for the Social Services Department.

Fifteenth Summer is both a tell-all memoir and a heartfelt, true coming-of-age story. Laura Campbell provides an unflinching account of her teenage years, learning to navigate an unexpected pregnancy and overcoming her struggles with despair, anxiety, and an uncertain future. Through her faith and resilience, Laura overcame the odds and found the courage to make the right decision for her child. Her story showcases the power of the human spirit, which helps people rise above adversity when everything seems to spiral out of their control. The narrative also highlights the various ways a teenage pregnancy impacts a person's life and shapes their future. I loved that the author emphasizes the importance of relationships, particularly involving friends and family. Overall, I found Laura's story very inspiring and highly recommend it.