Reviews - Jay's Journal | The StoryGraph

139 reviews for:

Jay's Journal

Beatrice Sparks

2.78 AVERAGE

kennie3's review

1.0

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

ash_chap's review

4.75

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jaidenrogers's review

5.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thisbookishcat's review

4.0

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

rebelstorm's review against another edition

0.25

fast-paced

I started reading Beatrice Spark's books for shits and giggles. The more I learn about this woman the more disgusted I become. So this probably won't be a funny review.

Go Ask Alice at least was just cringe bad... Jay's Journal is morally wrong. Not because "Jay" was a Satanist or into occult. Beatrice Sparks... in all her "wisdom" took a journal brought to her by a grieving mother and completely rewrote his story. The real "Jay" was never into occult. He was a kind and smart young man that struggled with his mental health. But fucking Beatrice (pardon my French) twisted his story and later claimed that she got the information from "Jay's" friends and classmates. Alden was a real teenager and he deserved better. Because of what Beatrice did, people figured out his real identity and his grave is still being vandalized. How sick is that?

Beatrice Sparks made a lot of money on making up fake diaries and defaming a teenager that took his own life. Sparks' books were not well written and they caused panic in conservative parents. Jay's Journal is her worst sin and I hope she is paying for it wherever she is.

It started with me making notes that read "Satanic MLM. The Satan's huns" and ended with me being angry at the con artist that lied about being a doctor and ended in tears because - how could a decent, sane human being do something like this to a grieving family?! I hope you've found peace, Alden, your story deserves a better treatment.

For more information, check out Grady Hendrix's blog post about Jay's Journal and Salt Lake City Weekly's 2004 interview with Alden's mother.

himpersonal's review against another edition

1.0

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Go Ask Alice was good, and when this book was mentioned, I wanted to read it too. It was awful. Completely unbelievable, ridiculous, and boring.

mcdannyb's review against another edition

2.0

I understand my teenage girls, and a few boys, like this book but not for me. It's dated and ridiculous. Seems more like the story of a manic depressive than a troubled kid into the occult. Doesn't hold a candle to Go Ask Alice.