Introduction
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Melissa doesn't consider herself abused - after all, Rudy only hits her occasionally when he's drinking . . . until she realizes the effect his abuse is having on their child. Finally Melissa leaves Rudy, and she and Cheyenne go to the shelter for battered women. But as difficulties with group living arise, as she misses the good times with Rudy, as Cheyenne points to gray Ford pick-ups and calls "Daddy," the clarity of Melissa's decision fades and she finds herself again in a dangerous situation, more trapped than ever before . . . Melissa's story, begun as a short story in Reynold's Beyond Dreams, continues.
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Author
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Marilyn Reynolds
 Marilyn Reynolds
Author Website: www.marilynreynolds.com
Marilyn Reynolds is the author of seven young adult novels and a collection of short stories, all part of the "True-to-Life" from Hamilton High series. Her titles appear on a variety of American Library Association's "Best Books" lists, and are also found on the New York Public Library's lists of "Best Books for the Teen Age."
Drawing on decades of experience working with at-risk students in California alternative schools, Reynolds' takes on tough issues that permeate the lives of many of today's teens: abuse, teen pregnancy, racism, acquaintance rape, gay/lesbian harassment and bullying, school failure, sexual abstinence, and a myriad of other sub-issues.
What with the joys and demands of young children, and full-time teaching, Reynolds' writing was pretty much confined to grocery lists, to-do lists, and assignment sheets for student use. Then, on sabbatical earning a M.S. In Reading Education, she found time to take a Creative Writing class. A personal essay assignment turned into an op-ed piece that was published in the LOS ANGELES TIMES, proving to her that she could expand her writing genres beyond lists and assignments.
In addition to the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Reynolds' personal opinion essays have appeared in other national newspapers, such as the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, and the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Her work has also appeared in small literary magazines, professional journals, and anthologies.
Through her own reading, Reynolds' experienced laughter, insight, intellectual and emotional growth, and other indescribable benefits. She wanted her students also to receive such benefits. Hers would be the last English class ever for many of them. If she could send them on their way with the gift of a reading habit, they would leave with the gift of a lifetime. But after they read Go Ask Alice, and The Outsiders, and selected Judy Blume novels, then what? In an attempt to broaden her students' reading possibilities, Reynolds wrote Telling, the story of a twelve-year-old girl who was being molested by a neighbor. Seeing the responses of her students to this book encouraged Reynolds to write Detour for Emmy, the story of a girl who gets pregnant at the age of fifteen. Thus the "True-to-Life from Hamilton High" series was launched.
After a lifetime in southern California, Reynolds and her husband, Michael, now live in northern California, near Sacramento. She enjoys walks along the American River, movies, dinners out, and of course, reading. Her grandchildren and adult children keep her on her toes. She maintains a demanding exercise regimen in a desperate and futile attempt to counteract the ravages of time. She continues to work with at-risk students, and to solicit their help in keeping her stories realistic and believable.
Love Rules - her best friend a lesbian? Can they still be friends?
A NEW RELEASE!
"..the best YA novel I have read with a central character who is gay-all the characters are interesting and the issues are compelling."
--Kliatt
Detour for Emmy - A teen mother's story
AN ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS
SOUTH CAROLINA YOUNG ADULT BOOK AWARD, 1995-1996
". . . honest, heart-wrenching, inspirational, informative."
--Kliatt
Too Soon for Jeff - A teen father's story
AN ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS
"A thoughtful story for both young men and young women."
--Booklist
"Too Soon for Jeff" (An ABC Afterschool Special)
EMMY AWARD NOMINATION, Writing in a Children's Special
ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH, NANCY SUSAN REYNOLDS AWARD
Beyond Dreams (A collection of six short stories)
AN ALA SHORT TAKES SELECTION
". . . six stories about teens in crisis. . .Young adults will certainly identify with the characters and their problems. . ."
--Booklist
If You Loved Me - A teen's struggle with sexual abstinence
A NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, BEST BOOK FOR THE TEEN AGE
". . . informative and insightful, exploring difficult teen issues with honesty and a multi-faceted perspective."
--Booklist
Baby Help - The nightmare of teen partner abuse
A NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, BEST BOOK FOR THE TEEN AGE
"This is an excellent YA novel, with characters we care about."
--Kliatt
Telling - 12-year-old Cassie is molested by a trusted adult
AN ALA QUICK PICK FOR YOUNG ADULTS
"Reynolds has done a superb job of weaving the complexities of difficult issues into the life of an innocent child."
--School Library Journal
But What About Me - Portrays the horrors of acquaintance rape
A NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, BEST BOOK FOR THE TEEN AGE
"The characters are compelling...the writing superb."
-School Library Journal
READERS RESPOND:
"I'm one of those people that never read a whole book, until I came across Baby Help. That book inspired me."
"The struggles Emmy had to deal with made me sure I would not want to be in her position. I have decided to abstain from sex until marriage."
"Now I like to read books more than to watch movies because you showed me how much better it is."
"I just finished reading But What About Me and it was the most touching book I ever read. I'm a guy, but I can feel her."
"That book (Too Soon for Jeff) made me realize where my life was going, which was somewhere I didn't want it to go."
"Your book (Telling) helped me to understand some things I was going through. I learned how to not keep something inside of me an to tell my parents when something is wrong."
"I could relate to every one of the stories in Beyond Dreams, like they were about me or my friends."
"If You Loved Me" made me think about things in a new way."
"Thank you for turning me on to reading."
AUTHOR VISITS:
Marilyn Reynolds visits colleges, high schools and middle schools, as well as public libraries. Events are carefully structured to provide a meaningful experience for each particular audience. Her presentations may include slides, readings, group discussion, question-answer, and/or other activities.
The focus may be:
motivational--for reluctant readers
encouraging--for at-risk students whose lives are in turmoil
challenging--for advanced writers working on their craft
All presentations include a focus on the strength of the human spirit, the importance of reading for pleasure, and the necessity of listening to the inner voice which urges each of us, "Grow. Grow."
RESPONSES:
"Now everyone in our school is trying to borrow your books. I will always keep the books you signed for me. They are very special."
"She's for real. She knows what it's about."
"She inspired me to take my own writing seriously."
"Thank you for coming to our school. I have never finished a book before and now I've read four of yours."
WORKSHOPS:
In addition to decades of teaching experience, Reynolds holds a B.A. in English, an M.S. in Reading Education, and a K-12 Reading Specialist credential. With special emphasis on how to match students with activities that inspire reading and writing, Marilyn guides teachers through classroom-proven techniques that involve books, art, writing, individual studies, creative group activities, graphic organizers and more.
RESPONSES:
Using Young Adult Fiction with Pregnant and Parenting Teens - "The best workshop I've attended." "Wonderful! Inspiring!"
Teaching Tolerance Through Young Adult Fiction - "Very accessible, a delightful presenter." "She is excellent and so are her books."
Dealing with Reluctant Readers and Writers - "Specific techniques that are applicable to class-Bring her back!" "Very knowledgeable presenter."
Focus on Writers Conference - "The evaluations were uniformly excellent."
Author Talk on Censorship - "Enjoyable, humorous, and thought provoking." "Excellent! Great speaker." "I wasn't even close to falling asleep."
Marilyn's fee for presentations and workshops is $500.00 per day plus expenses for local visits. For visits that require travel of 100 miles or more, the fee is $800 for the first day, and $500.00 for each consecutive day, plus expenses. To arrange bookings, contact her at: 916-635-5995 or mmreynolds@earthlink.net .
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Teaching Help
 
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Extended Activities — Baby Help
The following activities are adapted from Baby Help Teaching Guide by Marilyn Reynolds and David Doty. While designed to be used with Baby Help, a novel focusing on teen partner abuse, most of these activities could be used alone or adapted to other reading assignments.
1. Ask students to interview someone from a shelter for battered women to get first hand information regarding issues and procedures for women who seek shelter. Students should prepare a list of questions ahead of time and if possible, tape record the interview. The tape or notes can be used for a class presentation.
2. Have students discuss or write a personal response to Vicki’s statement, "We all have to leave a lot behind. Some good. Some bad." (p. 44) What does this mean both literally and metaphorically? They can provide personal or family experiences, or situations from books ( The Diary of Anne Frank, The House on Mango Street, etc.).
3. Have students write an opinion paper on one of the three questions Melissa chooses for her assignment on page 14:
1. Is rape a sexual act, or an act of violence?
2. Is rape more likely to occur with a stranger or with someone the victim knows?
3. Is there such a thing as rape in marriage?
Encourage students to consult lawyers, police authorities, rape crisis personnel, other appropriate resources.
4. Students can form small panel discussion groups and discuss or debate the three questions from #3. They may also invite a legal expert or someone from a Rape Crisis Center/Hotline as a guest speaker to present information and discuss the issues with the class.
5. Choose an event from this section, such as being back in Rudy’s house or leaving to go to Leticia’s house or going to her mother’s house. Have students write down what happened in their own words. Mention all the people and details involved. Then have students complete the following cause-effect statements.
a. What was the initiating event? What prompted this event?
b. What was the reaction of the character to the event? What did the character in this situation do?
c. To what course of action would this event lead?
d. What were the consequences or outcome of this course of action?
6. Divide the class into small groups and assign each group the task of illustrating one event from this section (chapters 6-10). This should be done on large illustration paper so that all sections can be combined into one large storyboard for display. Place the drawings in chronological order for display, beginning with chapter ten. A caption may be included if necessary.
7. Have students interview a school administrator regarding school laws about parent visitation and pickup rights. Can anyone come on a campus, pick up a child, and remove him/her from the school? What school laws protect students, and what laws guarantee rights to parents? How are these laws enforced at the students’ school?
Teaching Activity Helps Teens See That Violence Is Not Okay
The following Reader's Theatre selection is designed to help teens understand that violence in a relationship is not acceptable.
One-third to one-half of all American women are, at some time, beaten by their husbands or lovers. Somewhere in the United States a woman is beaten every 18 seconds.
A couple of years ago 3700 teenagers responded to our survey of attitudes toward marriage and relationships. Included were questions about partner abuse. About one in five of the men and one in eight of the women in the survey said it was either okay or sometimes necessary for a man to hit his partner, or it may happen when he’s angry or drunk. An even higher percentage condoned women hitting men.
One-third of all the women respondents reported having been hit one or more times by a date or partner. Eighteen of the 53 teen moms interviewed in depth for the Teenage Couples Series told of being hit by their partners.
Baby Help Drama
From Beyond Dreams by Marilyn Reynolds — Readers Theater adapted by David Doty.
Reprinted from True-to-Life Series from Hamilton High Teaching Guide
CAST: Narrator, Rudy, Melissa, Sean
Narrator: In this scene from chapter 3 of "Baby Help," Melissa thinks back to the beginning of her relationship with Rudy and talks about the first time he abused her.
Melissa: The first time Rudy ever hit me was just a few months after we’d started being together. He’s three years older than I am, so he was eighteen and I was fifteen. I think that time was maybe the happiest time in my life. Rudy saw me one day, standing in the rain, waiting for a bus. He offered me a ride. I never take rides with strangers, but I was so cold and wet, and he was so cute, I got in his car, and that was the beginning of it all. And then, one day, I was at the corner, waiting for the bus again, when my friend Sean came running up to me. I hadn’t seen him since Santa Anita closed the previous spring.
Sean: "Hey, Melissa, you look great. How’ve you been?"
Melissa: "Good. Really good. How about you?"
Sean: "Yeah, you know, same old stuff. Listen, I’ve got to go for a job interview, but I really want to talk to you and get caught up. Here’s my new phone number. Give me a call tonight, can you?"
Melissa: "Sure. I want you to hear all about my boyfriend, and I want to know everything you’ve been doing since I saw you last." It felt so good to be talking to Sean again. We were just saying good-bye when Rudy came driving past. He made a big U-turn in the middle of the street and stopped in front of where we were talking. He reached over and pushed open the door and told me to get in. "This is Sean," I said, starting to introduce them, but Rudy pulled me into the car and peeled away before I could even finish my sentence. "What’s wrong?" I thought maybe there was some emergency or something, he was in such a hurry.
Rudy: "What do you think is wrong?"
Melissa: "I don’t know."
Rudy: "Don’t act all innocent with me!"
Melissa: He pulled the car to the curb, slamming on the brakes. (loudly) "What’s wrong? I don’t know what’s wrong." He swung his right hand from the steering wheel to my face in an instant. He hit hard, with the back of his hand. I was stunned.
Rudy: "Don’t you ever let me see you talking to no guy on no street corner like you’re nothing but a slut."
Melissa: "That was Sean, my friend from a long time ago."
Rudy: "Yeah, well, I’m your friend now. Not Sean, nobody else but me."
Melissa: I was so hurt, my cheek, yes, but more, deep inside me. For the first time in my life I had felt loved and secure with Rudy, and in one quick blow he’d shattered those feelings.
Rudy: "I’m taking you home. I’ve got to go to work, but you just stay at your house until I get there later tonight. You got it?"
Melissa: I nodded.
Rudy: "What did he give you?"
Melissa: "Nothing. We were just talking."
Rudy: "He gave you something. I saw him hand you something!"
Melissa: "He just gave me his phone number." He grabbed it from my hand, crumpled it, and threw it out the window.
Rudy: "You wanna talk to someone on the phone, call me. Only me."
Melissa: Once home, I washed my face and put ice on my cheek. When my mom came in from work and asked me what happened, I told her I’d tripped and fallen against a light pole. She just shrugged. (Pause) I don’t know. Rudy says things will be better when we’re married. He won’t need to hit me anymore because he’ll know I’m all his. But what if things aren’t better when we get married? Then what? Sometimes, though, Rudy is really sweet to me. And I know he needs me. Not many people need me.
Discussion
1. Why was Rudy upset when he saw Melissa talking to Sean? Was he jealous? Did he think Melissa might leave him for Sean?
2. Do you think Rudy’s possessiveness might be caused at least partly by low self-esteem? Why or why not?
3. If you were Melissa’s friend, what would you have advised her to do the day Rudy first hit her? Please explain your answer.
4. Discuss the meaning behind "Rudy says things will be better when we’re married. He won’t need to hit me anymore because he’ll know I’m all his."
5. How might Melissa’s mother have been more supportive of Melissa’s needs? Why do you think she responded as she did?
6. Why do you think Melissa stayed with Rudy at this time?
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Teaching Activities
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"BABY HELP"
From Beyond Dreams by Marilyn Reynolds — Readers Theater adapted by David Doty
Reprinted from True-to-Life Series from Hamilton High Teaching Guide
CAST: Narrator, Rudy, Melissa, Sean
Narrator: In this scene from chapter 3 of "Baby Help," Melissa thinks back to the beginning of her relationship with Rudy and talks about the first time he abused her.
Melissa: The first time Rudy ever hit me was just a few months after we'd started being together. He's three years older than I am, so he was eighteen and I was fifteen. I think that time was maybe the happiest time in my life. Rudy saw me one day, standing in the rain, waiting for a bus. He offered me a ride. I never take rides with strangers, but I was so cold and wet, and he was so cute, I got in his car, and that was the beginning of it all. And then, one day, I was at the corner, waiting for the bus again, when my friend Sean came running up to me. I hadn't seen him since Santa Anita closed the previous spring.
Sean: "Hey, Melissa, you look great. How've you been?"
Melissa: "Good. Really good. How about you?"
Sean: "Yeah, you know, same old stuff. Listen, I've got to go for a job interview, but I really want to talk to you and get caught up. Here's my new phone number. Give me a call tonight, can you?"
Melissa: "Sure. I want you to hear all about my boyfriend, and I want to know everything you've been doing since I saw you last." It felt so good to be talking to Sean again. We were just saying good-bye when Rudy came driving past. He made a big U-turn in the middle of the street and stopped in front of where we were talking. He reached over and pushed open the door and told me to get in. "This is Sean," I said, starting to introduce them, but Rudy pulled me into the car and peeled away before I could even finish my sentence. "What's wrong?" I thought maybe there was some emergency or something, he was in such a hurry.
Rudy: "What do you think is wrong?"
Melissa: "I don't know."
Rudy: "Don't act all innocent with me!"
Melissa: He pulled the car to the curb, slamming on the brakes. (loudly) "What's wrong? I don't know what's wrong." He swung his right hand from the steering wheel to my face in an instant. He hit hard, with the back of his hand. I was stunned.
Rudy: "Don't you ever let me see you talking to no guy on no street corner like you're nothing but a slut."
Melissa: "That was Sean, my friend from a long time ago."
Rudy: "Yeah, well, I'm your friend now. Not Sean, nobody else but me."
Melissa: I was so hurt, my cheek, yes, but more, deep inside me. For the first time in my life I had felt loved and secure with Rudy, and in one quick blow he'd shattered those feelings.
Rudy: "I'm taking you home. I've got to go to work, but you just stay at your house until I get there later tonight. You got it?"
Melissa: I nodded.
Rudy: "What did he give you?"
Melissa: "Nothing. We were just talking."
Rudy: "He gave you something. I saw him hand you something!"
Melissa: "He just gave me his phone number." He grabbed it from my hand, crumpled it, and threw it out the window.
Rudy: "You wanna talk to someone on the phone, call me. Only me."
Melissa: Once home, I washed my face and put ice on my cheek. When my mom came in from work and asked me what happened, I told her I'd tripped and fallen against a light pole. She just shrugged. (Pause) I don't know. Rudy says things will be better when we're married. He won't need to hit me anymore because he'll know I'm all his. But what if things aren't better when we get married? Then what? Sometimes, though, Rudy is really sweet to me. And I know he needs me. Not many people need me.
Discussion:
1. Why was Rudy upset when he saw Melissa talking to Sean? Was he jealous? Did he think Melissa might leave him for Sean?
2. Do you think Rudy's possessiveness might be caused at least partly by low self-esteem? Why or why not?
3. If you were Melissa's friend, what would you have advised her to do the day Rudy first hit her? Please explain your answer.
4. Discuss the meaning behind "Rudy says things will be better when we're married. He won't need to hit me anymore because he'll know I'm all his."
5. How might Melissa's mother have been more supportive of Melissa's needs? Why do you think she responded as she did?
6. Why do you think Melissa stayed with Rudy at this time?
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Review
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Nightmare of Teen Partner Abuse
Partner abuse is a big problem for many teen women, and especially for teenage mothers. The young woman may feel she deserves the abuse. Perhaps if she talked less (or more), if she were smarter . . . for many, leaving the abusive partner appears almost impossible. Where would she go? What would she do without him? After all, she loves him.
Marilyn Reynolds’ novel, Baby Help, thoroughly explores the issue of partner abuse.
Melissa, 17-year-old mother of Cheyenne, lives with Rudy (Cheyenne’s father) and his mother. In her peer counseling class, Melissa listens to a guest speaker from the local women’s shelter talk about partner abuse. Melissa, however, knows she is not abused — after all, Rudy only hits her occasionally when he’s drinking.
Because Melissa is a girl who has grown up with very little love or family support, Rudy is the first person ever to make her feel important. He is sometimes loving and kind, but at other times he flies into rages, beating Melissa and yelling at Cheyenne. He calls Melissa from work, he checks on her at school, he wants her with him, or waiting for him, all the time. She believes he cares, and she keeps hoping that things will be different. Maybe Rudy will stop drinking, or maybe things will change when they’re married, or when he’s making more money.
As Melissa listens to the guest speaker talk about a safe house for battered women, her thinking begins to change. When Rudy yells at Cheyenne and handles her roughly, Melissa is horrified.
Suddenly the white hot anger I’ve not felt for myself starts in my belly and moves through my body, filling me from head to toe with a fiery rage, clearing my brain, showing me the way. I’m getting out of here. I’m getting Cheyenne out of here. Maybe he could break my spirit. Maybe I didn’t have much spirit to begin with. But he won’t break Cheyenne.
Melissa leaves Rudy, and she and Cheyenne go to a shelter for battered women. But as difficulties of living in a group setting arise, as she misses the good times with Rudy, as Cheyenne points to gray Fords and calls "Daddy," the clarity of Melissa’s decision fades and she finds herself again in a dangerous situation, more trapped than before.
Melissa’s story explores the complexity of an all too realistic situation, and raises awareness of problems and possibilities that emerge in the freeing and healing process. Though a far cry from Pollyanna, Baby Help offers hope that a safe, fulfilling life is within reach for Melissa and Cheyenne, and for others like them.
It is a book to help abused teens realize they don’t deserve this treatment, and that it is possible to get out. And just as important, it is a book to help all teen women understand that abuse is something they must never accept.
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