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Kathy Colton can’t stand her brother, Brett. Her family talks as if he were perfect! All Kathy really knows about her brother is that he died of leukemia when he was seventeen and she was only two. But when Kathy turns sixteen, she discovers her brother’s hidden journal – a journal written especially for her – and learns about the brother she never knew. At the same time, Kathy is mortified by an assignment to tutor Central High’s quarterback Jason West, a football jock who, even worse, is a Mormon. The Secret Journal of Brett Colton weaves the dual stories of a dying brother and a coming-of-age sister who learn the importance of loving family and friends and nurturing faith.

 

The Secret Journal of Brett Colton Reviews:

 

From LDS.Families.com:

Reviewed by Candace Salima     

Kay Lynn Mangum has done a masterful job of pulling her readers into the life, heart and mind of sixteen-year-old Kathy Colton. Now, at 42-years-of-age myself, I was a little hesitant to pick this book up for fear it might not keep my interest. I could not have been more wrong.

Kathy Colton has spent her entire young life resenting her brother who died when she was two. The family spends every time together reminiscing over the brother and son and Kathy knows nothing different until her brother's journal comes into her hands. From this journal, written by her brother to her, Kathy learns that she was the most precious part of her brother's life as he faces death.

Through this story we learn about loved ones and their possible effects on us from the other side of the veil. In addition, we also learn that life circumstances and life itself can be improved by the richness of the gospel and the refining presence of the Holy Ghost. Kathy learns to step outside of herself and learns to love her family and others as her world opens up.

I was exhausted Christmas Eve night by the time our family party ended, but even so. I was able to make it through the entire Rubber Soul album-on CD, this time--before I fell asleep. When I did fall asleep, I dreamed of Brett, his hands were empty. No blue book was in sight. But his face-his face was lit up with his wide grin. I could hear him happily shouting, Yes! Yes! Yes! All I could do was smile and laugh back, but my smile faded when I thought of Mom and Dad and their unwillingness to budge even the slightest bit of an inch. Brett's grin faded, too, but his eyes continued to sparkle with determination.

Don't give up!

I nodded slowly back, and as we stood facing each other, I knew I would hold onto this moment forever.

I love you, Brett.

Brett reached out his hand to me and then took it back to press it against his lip before blowing a kiss of his fingertips to me. I quickly lifted my own hand to catch it and pressed his kiss firmly to my heart.

I could see tears in Brett's eyes, even though he was smiling

I love you, Kitty. (The Secret Journal of Brett Colton, p. 315)

I highly recommend The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Mangum to one and all, it is a must read.

From Meridian Magazine:

Reviewed by Jennie Hansen

The Secret Journal of Brett Colton , by Kay Lynn Mangum, is a far departure from the light-hearted prose of Chickens in the Headlights. She may have been a surprise, but Kathy doesn’t consider that a good excuse for the absence of baby pictures and a record of her first words and steps when she arrived in the Colton family sixteen years ago. It appears no one had time for her or showed much interest in her “firsts” during those early years or since.

Kathy Colton is one of those children who came along when her siblings were teenagers and nearly grown. It has been difficult for her to feel she is really part of the family. She’s in high school now, but Samantha and Alex are in their thirties with families of their own. The worst part is that every family get-together is a reminder there was once another brother, Brett, who died of leukemia when Kathy was two. Because she was too young to remember him, she doesn’t share the other family members’ warm memories of him. She only knows he was the reason no one had time for her.

Even though Kathy doesn’t remember Brett and her family’s reminiscing about him leaves her feeling unappreciated and left out, she is drawn to his pictures both at home and in the trophy case at her school. Brett was a football hero at school and the center of the universe at home. It seems he could do no wrong. Every family gathering, even her birthday celebration, turns into a trip down memory lane as her parents and siblings rehash their memories of her perfect brother. It’s enough to make Kathy hate the brother she doesn’t remember, but who constantly intrudes into her life.

Football is closely linked to everyone’s memories of Brett, therefore, Kathy avoids the game like the plague. Then the unthinkable happens. She is assigned to tutor a football jock, the popular Jason West. What makes matters worst is that everyone compares Jason to her record-breaking brother. She’s certain the tutoring isn’t going to work out because he’s not only a dumb jock, but also a Mormon. Her life is further complicated by an unusual birthday gift, a letter from her deceased brother, which leads her to the journal he kept during his illness (which were also her baby years). Through the journal, she learns she and her older brother have more in common than she could have ever guessed, including a Mormon friend who interests them in the Gospel.

Though The Secret Journal of Brett Coltonis primarily a young adult novel, it is also a book about family. While it deals with a teenage boy and his sister of different generations maturating from their “me” attitudes to an understanding of the importance of family, it also teaches valuable truths about the role each individual plays in his or her family and the love that binds a family together. It also points out that making assumptions, placing blame, and bigotry are not the private domain of the young. The journal concept provides convincing details of the fear and realities of facing death at a young age. It also provides subtle hints that those who have died may still be able to influence those they loved in this life.

Kay Lynn Mangum is to be congratulated for an excellent first novel.

 

From LDSFiles.com:

Reviewed by Dayna Davis


"Kathy Colton can't stand her brother Brett. Her family talks as if he were perfect! All Kathy knows for sure is that Brett is dead. He died of leukemia when he was seventeen and she was only two. But when Kathy turns sixteen, she discovers her brother's hidden journal—a journal written especially for her—and learns about the brother she never knew. At the same time, Kathy is mortified by an assignment to tutor the popular high school quarterback Jason West, a football jock who, even worse, is a Mormon. Author Kay Lynn Mangum brilliantly weaves dual stories of a dying brother and a coming-of-age sister who learn the importance of loving family and nurturing faith."

What a beautiful story! I really haven't read a fictional story that was this captivating and thought provoking in a long time. I was absorbed completely into this book. Kathy has the unique opportunity to read the journal that her brother left for her. It changes her and allows her insights into the brother that she never knew.

After I finished this book, I started writing in my journal again. It had been a while. This book helped me to see the impact that a journal can have on another person, and if something were to happen to me, I would want my son to be able to understand my thoughts and feelings - especially as they relate to him. This story is unique and will make you laugh, cry and grateful for the testimony that you have. I rate this book a 10 out of 10. Even if you don't like LDS fiction, I think that you will find this book is special.

Click here to read the first chapter of The Secret Journal of Brett Coltin.

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