Review: Jay's Journal - Anonymous (Edited by Dr. Beatrice Sparks)

Genre: YA Literature
Pages: 229
ISBN: 9781442419933
Format: Paperback
Published: August 2010
Read: September 2012
Rating: 2/5 Stars

I feel kinda felt guilty giving this book such a low rating because of the situation but then I got over it because I will blame it on the editor, Dr. Beatrice Sparks. I guess I had high hopes for her since she edited Go Ask Alice, which was in fact good read considering....

the book is in the 70's so I really could relate and he was Mormon in which again I could not relate. BUT I did feel like I understood the pressures of society and family and so on. I did enjoy the fact that we was in part a genius and that gave me comfort because geniuses and artist totally see the world in a different way and it gave a little insight to that. It also says "stay away from drugs"! I really can't say much on the book except that I think it would have been better if the edits were left out and if I could read the real book and see the handwriting to give it more of a homely and personal feel.

Review: The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros

Genre: YA Literature

ISBN: 9780679734772

Pages: 128

Format: Trade Paperback

First Published:1984

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I give this a higher rating then I normally would because I am rating in it on my young adult mind. I would have really, truly loved this book when I was younger and although I enjoyed it now I would have appreciated it more so back when. My adult side says 3 but YA me says 4. I like the style writing. It is a bunch of short stories rolled into one and I can totally relate to the author. Esperanza, was different from the beginning and you can hear it and feel it with her words. Artist such as poets, are not in the same mindset as those who are not artists. They see the world differently, even at such a young age you can see Esperanza being of a different world where she was things as beautiful and ugly and just couldn't grasp why things were the way they were. It was a beautiful story but it had it's flaws. I would have liked there to be more to the stories rather than little snippets but I guess that is just the way it is supposed to be and you can please the world!