The novel “17 Millimeters” addresses abortion from an adolescent perspective, and it is essential

Florence Medina is not her first attempt to put herself in the shoes of teenagers. We owe it to him Passionately, madly, madlypublished in 2021, but also Neither prince nor charming (2022), in which he addresses the education of girls and boys about consent. Her latest novel, 17 millimeterspublished by Scrineo in January 2024, deals with abortion, a topic that is still taboo.

17 millimeters, a novel that deals with the abortion of a teenager

We follow the trajectory of 16-year-old Mona as she experiences “summer love” with Liam. The two teenagers have sex for the first time. The condom broke, but Mona is sure of it, “With the rules just before there is no risk”. Supported by Rose, her best friend, the young woman dedicates herself to family planning. A counselor will enlighten you about your options. Pregnant, Mona doesn’t want a child. “You don’t have a baby when you know how to tie your own shoes for under fifteen.” So how do you manage those 17 millimeters in your belly?

The competence of a family planning consultant highlighted

With a prose in free verse, that remains as close as possible to the emotions that the adolescent goes through, Florence Medina manages to combine a compelling story and education about abortion.

For the sake of truthfulness, the author met Marie-Aimée Benoît, marriage and family counselor in a sexual health center. Subsidized by the Municipalities and the Ministry of Health, these centres, also called “family planning” since the 1980s, differ from the activist association of the same name, which also offers its own sexual healthcare:

“This meeting was fundamental. That’s where I learned about screening for violence, the ban on showing the fetus during the ultrasound without the patient’s consent or the importance of post-abortion consultation.”

Florence Medina, author of 17 millimeters

Florence Medina then had Marie-Aimée Benoît reread her novel to identify any errors.

In the story, Mona goes to a sexual health center where she meets a counselor, who she calls the “service fairy.” Marie-Aimée Benoît explains to us the role of the marriage and family consultant, where the advice is always free and anonymous:

“We meet to see what led us to end up with screening, or with gynecological concerns, or with an unwanted pregnancy, because it’s never an easy time.”

Marie-Aimée Benoit, marriage and family counselor at the sexual health center

After the listening time, Marie-Aimée Benoît carries out her mission of information and prevention:

Many people get their information from social networks and porn. The problem is that it’s bad information. There is often 70% truth and 30% falsehood. And the problem is that 30% falsehood brings with it real inconsistency.

Marie-Aimée Benoit, marriage and family counselor at the sexual health center

So, let’s put the information into context. What is an abortion? How will it go? What can a doctor do and what can’t he do? he explains to us.

For the councilor he tells the novel by Florence Medina “the story of thousands of young girls. It conveys very well the anguish and confusion that a young woman who has had sexual intercourse and finds herself pregnant can find herself in.

Evoking the creator angels or the figure of Simone Veil, 17 millimeters It is an important book, at a time when the President of the Republic speaks of “demographic rearmament” of France, and when women’s right to control their own bodies is declining throughout the world.

And Florence Medina reminds us of the words of Simone de Beauvoir: “Never forget that a political, economic or religious crisis is enough for women’s rights to be called into question. These rights are never acquired. You have to remain vigilant throughout your life.”