Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Morgan Drew

A book that I read this past term was called Anas Story written by Jenna Bush. Jenna Bush traveled to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2006, as an intern with UNICEF. On one of her stops, she met a 17-year-old girl named Ana. Ana was born with HIV and struggled with it throughout her childhood. When she was an infant at 3 years old, Anas mother died of the disease and her father died not too long after. As a result, Ana and her sister had to move to their grandparents house where they were abused. Ana was told how she would be made fun of if she let the secret out, so no one was notified of her disease. Later as a teen, Ana was taken to an HIV house where she met Berto, an individual whom she trusted deeply. She became pregnant and had a baby at 17-years-old, while struggling with HIV. That was when Ana began her journey of hope. This story is very heartbreaking, but at the same time inspirational. Ana is an extremely brave girl and she has helped increase awareness for HIV/AIDS. I would recommend this nonfiction book to everyone, especially teenage girls. This story really made me realize how lucky I am.