Customer Reviews

Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I read the first 50 pages of this book to a couple of high school classes today, along with the article about the book published in Newsweek. I was surprised by the empathic response from these 10th graders. Several were compelled to share their own stories of HIV/AIDs -- relatives who suffer from it, friends who've died from it. These are students in rural Oregon.

How many of you would tell your friends if you were HIV-positive,I asked. Almost all said they would be too afraid to tell. Afraid of being shunned. Afraid of the shame they'd feel -- even if, like Ana, such shame is undeserved.

Jenna Bush has written a compelling story, in a language that speaks to teens about a subject that remains taboo. Ana's Story should be required reading in schools across this nation.

Ana's story is an emotional, compelling read. The narrative is simple as it should be - this is not a work of literary art, it is a factual telling of the events of Ana's life. The simplistic nature of the telling allows you to focus not on Jenna Bush's words, but on Ana's story and her ability to rise above and beyond her circumstances. It places HIV, poverty, and abuse in a personal context and provides information and resources to teens in a fresh way. Beautiful photos add to the appeal of the story. An easy read, but well worth the time.

Ana's life is a collection of bits and pieces of her past. Infected with HIV at birth, she's unaware of many details of her early childhood. Living with her strict grandmother, she learns to keep secrets-secrets about her infection and the abuse at home. But after Ana falls in love and becomes pregnant at seventeen, she begins a journey of hope-a journey of protecting herself and others. She is living with HIV, not dying from it.

This story is based on Jenna Bush's work with UNICEF. This narrative nonfiction tale is an important story about HIV and also lists resources on how to be better educated about the infection.

I loved the premise of this piece and do feel that Jenna Bush had good intentions as she shares the story of a teen's life with HIV. I feel that teens will be able to relate with the struggles of Ana. I also feel it's important that teens know the facts of HIV. Knowledge is power.

What didn't work for me was how telling this story was. Instead of showing the reader the story, Ms. Bush tells. I know this is a narrative nonfiction book but still I felt the author missed opportunities to make Ana's story stronger.

Still the fast pace of the story will appeal to reluctant readers. And the story is an important one that needs to be told.

First Daughter Jenna Bush spent time during an internship with UNICEF working throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. During that time, she met a young girl named Ana. This is Ana's story, and it's one filled with hurt and abuse, with illness and disease, but also with hope and triumph.

Ana was born with HIV/AIDS. She knew, from the time she was young, that she was different from many other children. She was sick, and she didn't understand why. When she loses first her mother and then her father to AIDS, Ana knows pain and heartbreak. And then the abuse starts, from uncaring relatives to whose homes she gets shuffled around to.

Ana's life seems to take a turn for the better when she finds a center that specializes in the treatment of her disease -- and when she meets Berto, a young man with whom Ana can, for the first time, share the secret of her illness. What once seems like a death sentence turns into the longing to have as normal a life as possible, including an education, a family, and a future with Berto.

ANA'S STORY is both Miss Bush's story of serving as a UNICEF ambassador and Ana's story of wanting a better life for her young daughter, who was born without the HIV/AIDS virus. It's at times both sad and uplifting, but above all serves as a reminder that this disease is a very real problem that demands a solution. Filled with several photographs and written in short, easy-to-read chapters, it's the story of one brave young adult for all young adults.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

NOTE: ANA'S STORY is written for a young adult audience. (I wish this was indicated on the back cover.) Adults may find Jenna Bush's writing style and the information she presents too basic, but young adults will like that her book has short chapters, thought provoking color photographs (taken by Mia Baxter), is creatively designed, and takes a simple, non-preachy, straightforward, and gentle approach when discussing HIV, AIDS, death, teen sex, safe sex, sexual abuse, and teen pregnancy. Ana lives in Latin America, but her problems affect teens around the world.

Male and female readers as young as 11 or 12 can learn from this book; to say they're too young to understand it is naïve--and dangerous.

I think it's sad that in most of the negative reviews that it was about Mr.Bush rather than about the book. I think what Jenna is doing with her life is wonderful and it wasn't long ago that these same people were bashing her and her sister for being party girls.

If you have issues with her father that's one thing but she doesn't control her father.

As for the writing in the book..I do think it's silly to say it's written poorly and that it's not enough to hold a readers attention.

IT WAS WRITTEN FOR TEENS!

Also, why not give credit where it's due. She is over there helping when she doesn't have to be.

ALSO when is still living your life with the war going on a crime..aren't we all living? Planning a wedding is something she should be doing..why punish her!

As for her "daddy not passing the bill on childrens healthcare" how would that help over there? that had to do with the U.S.

I think it's a wonderful story and my 9 year old cared and wasn't forced to read it. SOME KIDS are raised to care about others and would want to read this.

I think Ana's story is a very powerful book. It opened my eyes to some hardships that people face. I think Jenna wrote a fabulous that everyone and their cousin should read. It inspires me to get up and do something. Whether it have to do with the plights like Ana;s or other troubles. Ana is an amazing girl to have been able to stay strong. To go through all that she did. This is truly a story of hope. Not only was the book great, the pictures were too. The photography took my breath away. My suggestion is to READ THIS BOOK!!!

This book was so inspirational. It was very well written and the pictures were amazing. This book inspires us to forget about discrimination because even if you don't realize it, it can be very hurtful towards other people. This book inspired me to join the Gay-Straight Alliance in my school to eliminate discrimination against gays. Jenna was very passionate about this topic and that is what made this book so exceptional. This book will inspire you and open your eyes to a whole other world that we hardly even know exists. It will make you want to get out there and help in any way you can. I highly recommend this book.

Ana's Story is from Jenna Bush's work experience with UNICEF, and is gripping and sad at times....and doesn't let go. It's told with a very personal and raw feeling. It's a strong, hard look at young people living with HIV, and abuse, and is an important read for any young person today. It's an easy read, and a true surprise. Highly recommended.

150 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

Jenna Bush shares a story peering into and from the heart and soul of a teenager named Ana who was born with AIDS. This book was written in a manner to not only shed light on Ana's plight with AIDS, it is meant as an inspiration for our young generation who want to give of themselves to support a cause that they believe in as Ms. Bush has done while working with UNICEF.

[...] Ms Bush shows us that Ana sees her life as one worth smiling about despite her difficult upbringing and as she is living with AIDS. How happy are you? My teenage nieces are reading it, enjoying it and also inspired to do more for others less fortunate then themselves. This book was not meant to explain the DNA of AIDS to Pre-Med students at Harvard, this is a story of a young teen who is living with AIDS.