The Mothers is a wonderful book that I would encourage anyone who is a mother, or has an aspiration to be a mother to read. If you are going through the process of an adoption, know someone who has adopted, or are just plain interested in adoption, this book is one that will hit close to home. It tells the story of a young married couple who are desperate to have a child; but the fact that the wife has had several major surgeries makes that dream near to impossible. Most of the focus of this story is spent on telling of the pair’s struggle with the system of adoption, and how disheartening it can be to have to wait…and wait.

This story really puts life and birth into perspective. Even though it is fiction, I was blown away by how genuine and real this tale was. The struggles a man and wife go through to get a child when they are barren is amazing, considering how many young people nowadays give up their babies like they are just another toy or gadget. Though this story is at times despairing, it ends on a very hopeful note and leaves the reader feeling that all is not lost…in fact, far from it.

Content Analysis:

Language/Profanity: 7 religious exclamations; 13 mild obscenities; 5 religious profanities;; 1 offensive hand gesture.

Violence/Gore:  None

Sex/Nudity: Sex is mentioned several times as being unenjoyable throughout the period of time when the couple is attempting to get pregnant; prostitution is mentioned but not elaborated upon; abortion is talked of but never in extensive detail.

Mature Subject Matter:

Infertility; a surgery, cancer, and recovery; divorce.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adults drink alcohol; a character is said to be drunk on wine; minors drink alcohol; adults smoke cigarettes.