Never watched the movie adaptation, partly because I heard they had aged up the main character to 16, which takes away an interesting aspect of the story. In the book, the main character is 12 years old, and on the cusp of puberty. At that age, it is required for all the Twelves to begin taking a pill that stops the onset of any feelings of sexual desire, thus taking away their choice of a mate. The girls assigned the career of Birthmothers provide the community the babies sent to each family.