Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite

Raising Women is an interactive novel by Shannon Waite. The book puts the reader in the place of the main character, making each turn of the page a conscious decision. At a gas station, you meet a young woman a little older than you. The woman, Roman, has just gotten out of prison, and she tags along with you as if you've been friends forever. Roman is exciting, with experience in sex, hard living, and drugs, and she gives you the attention you've been craving. Roman leads you through a series of bad choices, and Waite allows you to choose the path, showing the repercussions of every choice. After readers choose a particular option, they may go back and make other decisions, viewing the tragic outcomes.

Shannon Waite builds a story with consistencies through each path that will open a teen's eyes to the destructive effects even one decision will cause. With each section, you find out a little more about the main character and her new friend, Roman. Even though Roman leads you down some dangerous paths, she reveals certain truths, too. She addresses the negative self-talk in your mind, even if she doesn't verbalize it that way. Unfortunately, the possibilities will expose you to self-harm, statutory rape, and substance misuse. As someone who had her first child at thirteen, I appreciated the candor and real-world insight. Teens who are on the cusp of making decisions that will determine the rest of their lives will benefit from reading Raising Women.