Life presents a never-ending series of choices. Decisions made in our youth may affect us for years to come. This scenario plays out in Felicia Ferguson’s fiction work The Choices She Made. The author weaves a compelling story about a teenager’s life-altering choice affecting not only her life path, but the very existence and well-being of her child.
Artfully told as a time-slip between the past and the present, Ferguson’s book begins with the unexpected curve life throws at teenager Madeline Williams when she is raped. The perpetrator, who is the son of a wealthy and powerful rancher, would certainly be able to wriggle or buy his way out of any criminal charges and then ruin her father’s business. To protect her dad, Madeline keeps her assault a secret.
A second life curve results from this assault—an unexpected pregnancy. Madeline faces a series of decisions. Will she abort her baby? Will she place the child for adoption? Will she raise the child as a single parent? What will she tell her serious boyfriend Bobby who envisions their marriage following graduation? Rising to the occasion, Madeline maturely considers her options, confers with her father who has raised her as a single dad since her mother’s death, and gathers information on the various choices available.
Ultimately, Madeline puts the interest of her child above all else and elects to parent. This choice requires that she lie to Bobby about the circumstances leading to her pregnancy since the couple had agreed to save themselves for marriage. Enraged and heartbroken, Bobby breaks up with her. Intentionally, Madeline conceals the identity of her daughter’s father. Madeline moves away, earns a college degree, obtains a good job, and raises her child as a single parent. But her choices must eventually be addressed head-on.
Adult Madeline also experiences life curves thrown at her. Now thirteen, her daughter Georgia receives a school assignment to create a family tree. The issue of Georgia’s paternity bubbles to the surface in more ways than simply the school assignment. Madeline learns her rapist has been arrested and will stand trial on charges of sexually assaulting several women. Will she reveal what he did to her to help stop his continued criminal behavior? Will she tell Georgia her conception resulted from a rape? Have her life choices hurt her daughter?
A climactic courtroom battle plays out where Madeline must once more make life-altering choices. The reader is drawn into the anguishing decisions presented to Madeline. Will she testify in the hope of preventing her rapist from harming other women at the cost of blowing up her daughter’s world? What consequences will result from the choices she made as a teenager?
Ferguson’s wonderful storytelling draws the reader in and tugs at their heartstrings while engaging their mind to ponder difficult choices. Although The Choices She Made makes for a great read, it also forces readers to explore sensitive issues in concrete settings. The questions raised on topics such as abortion are no longer simply academic. They apply to a relatable character trying to follow her faith and living out the consequences of her decisions on those difficult issues. Making the choice to read The Choices She Made is one choice you won’t regret making.
The Choices She Made by Felicia Ferguson
End Game Press, October, 2022
316 pages
Alice H. Murray, a retired adoption attorney, pursues her passion for writing with weekly blogs and faith columns, articles, and online devotions. Her writing appears in numerous compilation publications. Alice’s first book, The Secret Of Chimneys, was released in 2023, with two other books set for release in 2025.
Heart of Flesh Literary Journal 
I’ve read this one. So emotional. Madeline is a great character!
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