The Secret Journal of  Brett Colton

By Kay Lynn Mangum

          

      Kathy Colton is the youngest of a non-religious family, who doesn’t care much for Mormons. Her older brother Brett Colton died of Leukemia when he was 17 and she was 2.

Kathy Colton has never been keen on the idea of her older brother Brett. All she ever heard was stories of how amazing Brett was. “He was the star athlete, and the star actor of Once upon a Mattress, and he did it all while fighting leukemia during his last two years here.” She just never heard the end of her “great” brother. Kathy didn’t remember anything about Brett, all she knew relating to Brett is that he died and she was two at the time. No relationship what so ever, or so she thought…

                When Kathy starts her first year at Central High, she feels she is ready for anything. Well anything that is until she finds out she has to tutor the star quarterback Jason West.  This is her biggest challenge yet. It’s not because he’s the star quarter back, or that he’s the most popular kid in school. No, it’s the fact that he’s MORMON!

On her 16^th birthday she is given one of the most surprising birthday gifts ever. A journal from her brother Brett, taking place during the two years he had leukemia.  This journal was life changing.

                As the year progresses she tutors Jason and he shares more about his religion.  She is also reading Brett’s journal entries at the same time. She comes to understand how Brett feels towards the LDS church and how it affected him. This sparks an interest in the LDS Faith. The journal and these tutoring sessions have a great effect on Kathy and cause her to change her views, and how she relates to her friends, family and herself.

                This book hits on a very sensitive topic, religion. It’s hard enough when you have to choose a religion, but when you have to choose between family and friends because of a belief, its way tougher. And that’s exactly what this book shows. She is introduced to a faith that’s different from what she has been taught. Her family feels that the LDS faith is completely wrong, but she feels that it’s right. Soon in the end she feels like she has to make a choice and she has to decide what is truly right and what is wrong. Consequently this happens to many teens and adults; they are put in this decision just like the main character is in this book. When they have to choose too.

                The Secret Journal of Brett Colton is an exhilarating book. I could never put it down; I really loved it that much. Also it was great because it made me see things in a whole new perspective. It showed me how hard it is when you are put in difficult decisions and how the consequences aren’t always how you expect them to be. Truly a very fun book always keeps you on your toes and really surprises you in the end. Kay Lynn Mangum is a really great author and she is really enjoyable.  Right now I’m reading her next novel “When the Bough Breaks”.  And it’s even better and you should check it out!