Synopses & Reviews
Warm, honest, funny, and empowering, Rattled! is an unforgettable memoir of a life that takes an unexpected turn—and a brave young woman who decides to follow where the road leads. Everything in twenty-six-year-old Christines life was going as planned—great friends, a promising job as a magazine assistant, New York City at her feet . . . even a cute guy. Until the fateful day she realizes shes pregnant by said cute guy, whom shed only been dating for a few months. The next thing you know, he bails and Christine is left to wonder, What now? Trading Manhattan for the suburbs, skinny jeans for sweatpants, and all-nighters with the girls for 3 a.m. feedings with a restless infant, Christine chooses to live a life that honors whats important to her—and finds strength she didnt know she had in the process.
Synopsis
The author of the wildly popular Storked! blog chronicles her poignant and surprisingly powerful journey from young Manhattanite to proud owner of a diaper genie when she finds herself single and expecting.
About the Author
CHRISTINE COPPA is a freelance writer and pens the popular Storked! blog on Glamour.com. She lives in New Jersey with her son, Jack Domenic.
Reading Group Guide
1. When Christine first learns that shes pregnant, how does As reaction differ from her own? How do their feelings change over the next few months? Can you think of a time in your own life when everything changed in a split second, like when Christine saw her babys heartbeat and knew her pregnancy was real? How did you feel?
2. Were you surprised by As decision to not be involved at all? Given that women have the right to an abortion and Plan B, do you think men should have the right to walk away if they dont want to be a parent?
3. Has anyone you loved ever been injured in an accident, like Christines ex-boyfriend Keith? How did it affect you? Do you think Christine was wrong to leave him?
4. Christine grapples with how to share her pregnancy news with her family and friends. Did her parents reaction surprise you? How did Christines girlfriends differ in their responses? How did you react when a girlfriend shared something surprising with you?
5. What do you think of Christines solo trip to Palm Springs, California? What does her “babymoon” teach her about herself? Have you or would you ever travel solo? Why or why not?
6. Christine remarks that moving to New Jersey seems, at times, “more impossible” than being pregnant. What do you think she misses most about city life? How does her move affect her relationship with her girlfriends? What are the advantages and disadvantages of raising a child in the city?
7. What do you make of Christines relationship with her brother Carlo? Do you think he helps or hinders her ability to become independent and ready for her baby?
8. Christines work as a blogger often makes her private life open to the public. Do you think her readers have the right to critique her decisions? Have her readers crossed a line by asking questions about child support, Jacks father, and her financial situation? Do you think A ever read(s) her blog?
9. How do Christines feelings about being a single-parent family change as her pregnancy progresses? How does she overcome concerns about raising her son without a father? Do you think American society still views a nuclear family as ideal?
10. What is the significance of Christines return to New York City with her son to celebrate her 27th birthday? How has she changed since the beginning of the book?