It's a read-it-and-weep kinda book! (It Happened to Nancy - Anonymous Teenager)

Member Name: floatingclouds

Product:	It Happened to Nancy - Anonymous Teenager
Date:	20/11/07 (380 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Educational - makes you appreciate what you have

Disadvantages: Very Sad :-(

It Happened to Nancy
Written by an Anonymous Teenager
Edited by Beatrice Sparks, Phd. D.
Review by Floatingclouds
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Until now I’ve read and reviewed ‘Celebrity Autobiographies’. It was about time I read a ‘real’ book, someone who wasn’t in the public eye. Someone who probably deserves a lot more credit than those paid hundreds of thousands of pounds for their words of wisdom!

The book I’m about to introduce to you has been sat on my bookshelf for a very, very long time. I actually feel ashamed with myself. But now I have read it, I can tell you exactly what I thought.

…. It happened to Nancy …

The book comprises of diary entries of a young girl (14 yrs old). Her early jottings mention her complete lust for a lad she met at a Gareth Brooks concert. She’s head over hills in love with him and finds him utterly charming. She fears telling her family of their secrets meet ups (he is 4 years her senior – or is he???).

After a rather awful encounter when she finds herself in a situation she can not escape from she so wishes she had told someone about him, from the start. In a short time of knowing him her young innocence was soon lost.

At this point I felt so saddened by the event mentioned…

At the back of my mind I’m thinking ‘oh please this can’t be a true story’. But we all know these things happen we just want to be oblivious to the details. What is it they say? ‘ignorance is bliss’. I don’t think it is. If anything this story is a wake up call. Perhaps this is the sort of book teenagers should be reading in school? We need teens to be aware of the dangers that can happen, don’t we?

I experienced a lot of different emotions whilst reading the book; joy, anger and at times I was very confused.

I was fully tuned into the book and wanted to keep reading would the next step be better than the one before? Would Nancy fulfill her dreams? A good book means you’ll ask questions right? I was asking a lot!! I was joyful about Nancy’s new found love and her happiness. I was angry with the result and I was confused by Nancy’s mother. She dealt with the aftermath very differently to how I would of.

The main subject of the book is Nancy and her struggle with HIV. That’s right if it wasn’t bad enough being date-raped she later discovers she has HIV.

The diary entries explore her moods, feelings, frustrations and her poor determination to sort her life out. It really is an eye opener, in today’s society a lot of us are aware of HIV but do we truly know what one suffers on a daily basis? It’s not just the physical weakness they have to embrace there is so much more to consider.

Nancy was only 15 at this point .What an awful lot for a young girl to take on… How would her friends and family react? How would you react?

…. Conclusion …

A true story that comes directly from the heart. You cannot get much more open than writing a diary. How can I possibly be negative about a young girl’s thoughts, dreams and emotions?

I’m glad I read the book from start to finish. I made sure I read the book on a daily basis – I was very strict with myself! I am aware there are other books available from the same editor providing other true stories from teens. Although I’m glad I’ve read this book I think reading one after another could become quite depressing! I’m certainly going to read something a little more light hearted next time.

The target audience is difficult to identify but I’d say specifically teenagers would benefit from reading this. Although it might not their most enjoyable read, I’m 27 and found the book very educational and you almost feel stupid for feeling sorry for yourself (at times).

We sometimes do not appreciate what we have or who we have let alone the fact that our teenage years were probably a lot more enjoyable than Nancy’s or others who have been in similar circumstances. (Sorry I realise that was a sweeping generalisation but for the majority of us – I am sure we are more fortunate than we sometimes behave!).

... Book Details ...

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Avon Books; Reissue edition (16 Feb 2000)
ISBN-10: 0380773155
Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.7 x 2.5 cm

Summary: An interesting read