RGG: Frank, clear history. Fills in many details for those who know the broad strokes. Important context for present-day climate. May be controversial for pro-life supporters. Reading Interest: 14-YA.

RGG: Frank, clear history. Fills in many details for those who know the broad strokes. Important context for present-day climate. May be controversial for pro-life supporters. Reading Interest: 14-YA.

Written for teenagers but very valuable for all of us, this book recounts the history of birth control and abortion in the US, with an emphasis on women taking care of other women and on the machinations of the Supreme Court and the "right to privacy". The "Jane" in the title refers to the brave collective of college students in Chicago who helped their classmates and low income city residents find safe, if not legal, abortion providers in 1968 - 1970. The collective's leaders were actually arrested and criminally charged and were only cleared when Roe v Wade was decided in 1970 and again in 1973 (check out the excellent 2018 movie Ask For Jane). The book also tackles the Margaret Sanger/eugenics controversy. This would be a fantastic mother-daughter book club read.

Quotes: "Southern Baptists and other evangelicals became increasingly uncomfortable with the remarkable social revolution of the previous two decades, especially gains by women, affirmative action for minorities, sex education in schools, abortion rights, gay rights, and a more relaxed attitude towards sex, made possible by the Pill's effectiveness. Another sore spot: IRS rulings that Christian schools had to accept nonwhite children if they wanted to keep their nonprofit status." ( )

Jane Against the World is a well-researched, detailed, and extremely readable account of the history of abortion rights in the United States. Includes bibliography and notes. The advanced reader copy did not have an index, which I hope will be included in the final copy. ( )