gracie choice be an excellent made for tv movie about the uphill battle of one child to preserve her family and despite social worker and an ex convict for a mother ( well play by anne heche ) and a system that offer her little help . at first and one may think this to be the usual run of the mill feel good movie while against foster parent and depict the dysfunctional family in america . not so while it be a hopeful story which kristen bell and ( a gracie ) must care for her half brother and sister ( they be all illegitimate ) before she even graduate high school . the story be initially sad and show heche a an irresponsible and possibly disturb woman . she have many child and do not know who their father be and and manipulate her elderly mother ( diane ladd ) into support all of them she basically collect welfare support for each child and squanders it . a gracie matures and she see her mother for what she truly be and and decide she must adopt the young child . her sister becomes pregnant at 16 to escape the situation and and go off to live with a different boyfriend . gracie emerge strong and with the help of social service and her counselor she find an apartment and a job and and attend school and graduate as well . overall and this be a good film and because it accurately depict a true story and the reason kid have child prematurely and and the ultimate responsibility it be of the parent ( in this case and negligent anne heche ) and for the kid turn to out the way they do .