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carls_d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
"Sometimes I honestly think my mental processes are sicker than my body processes - that is really scary!"
Nancy was raped by 'Collin', an 18-year-old college student, when she was only 14 years old. He left her with HIV and she has to bear all the consequences. It was so sad to read what Nancy has been through. No one deserves this. She writes in her diary about the trauma of being raped and the consequences of being infected with the deadly virus. She struggles for example with having to wear diapers and she also wonders where she should leave her tampons.
"I still resent the kids a little because they are well and I'm not."
I do not believe that this actually written by a 14-year-old girl, but the point of the book remains the same. This book teaches you about HIV/AIDS and it makes you grateful for what you have and you will appreciate your family and friends more. One key lesson from this book: always use latex condoms with a spermicide containing nonoxynol-9 when you have sex with someone with an unknow HIV status.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, and Rape
kristing91_'s review against another edition
4.0
It Happened to Nancy is the cautionary tale of high school-er, Nancy, and her battle with HIV. Through a series of unfortunate events, Nancy meets Collin at a Garth Brooks concert. She falls head over feet for the older boy, and soon is consumed by him. Readers are aware that something just isn't right with Collin - and we soon find out why. This 'diary' is gripping and heartbreaking, although at points it's very disturbing. Nancy doesn’t shy away from detail when she tells her ‘diary’ about what is happening to her body – some events may be too graphic for young readers.
Being a part of the medical field, I can appreciate the light the book sheds on HIV/AIDS. The facts are straight forward and to the point; packing the punch I think everyone needs to really understand the depths of this disease. Do I think this is an actual diary of a 14 year old who falls for the wrong boy, only to come away with serious baggage that completely flip-twists-turns her life around? No. When compared to Sparks' other anon teen 'diary', Go Ask Alice, the voice of both girls is the same. Both girls suffer the same fate, though, from different reasons - and Sparks miraculously stumbled upon these diaries. This idea seems too farfetched. Do I think that maybe Sparks took different points in the news and packaged them all together in a neat little bow, to compile this novel? Yes. The point is however; that there are tons of Nancy's out there in the world - being taken advantage of when they aren't old enough to understand physical love and its sometimes fatal consequences.
I think 'Nancy's' story should be a part of every Health Education curriculum. Health statistics may have changed since this novel was originally published, but the fact remains the same. People die every day from HIV/AIDS - we just need to learn how to adequately protect ourselves, and our children.
Being a part of the medical field, I can appreciate the light the book sheds on HIV/AIDS. The facts are straight forward and to the point; packing the punch I think everyone needs to really understand the depths of this disease. Do I think this is an actual diary of a 14 year old who falls for the wrong boy, only to come away with serious baggage that completely flip-twists-turns her life around? No. When compared to Sparks' other anon teen 'diary', Go Ask Alice, the voice of both girls is the same. Both girls suffer the same fate, though, from different reasons - and Sparks miraculously stumbled upon these diaries. This idea seems too farfetched. Do I think that maybe Sparks took different points in the news and packaged them all together in a neat little bow, to compile this novel? Yes. The point is however; that there are tons of Nancy's out there in the world - being taken advantage of when they aren't old enough to understand physical love and its sometimes fatal consequences.
I think 'Nancy's' story should be a part of every Health Education curriculum. Health statistics may have changed since this novel was originally published, but the fact remains the same. People die every day from HIV/AIDS - we just need to learn how to adequately protect ourselves, and our children.
jackiekeating's review against another edition
3.0
Obviously fake. Not a true story, but interesting nonetheless.
kaitlinshafer's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really easy read. It was also very sad.
modknight's review against another edition
2.0
I was appalled when I found out that all of the books written by anonymous teenagers and edited by Beatrice Sparks were actually works of fiction. I started with Go Ask Alice and read a few more after that. It just irks me when an author says a book is non-fiction when in actuality it is fiction.
_alexareads_'s review
5.0
I remember reading this book back in high school and feeling so...lost. I could feel Nancy's despair and how there was absolutely no help to make it right. Such a sad story, but I definitely think its a great message for our youth to protect them from this situation happening ever again.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
3.0
Nancy is raped by her new boyfriend and soon developd AIDS. Her story is told through diary entries.
peachiepie's review against another edition
5.0
this is a really awesome book! its a real diary written by a girl the time was only 14 and she diagnosed with AIDS. "Nancy" had been tricked by this 21 year old guy who lied to her about everything. "Nancy" ends up getting date raped by this guy and ends up with AIDS. This book discusses her life and everything that happened from the day she started writing till the day she died of AIDS at the age of 16 or 17. I really like this book because it makes you wan't to read on and you can't put it down. It shows stuggles in life may be diffucult but at the same time, it can go on. hope you read it some time :)
dillybar20's review against another edition
1.0
I'm going to try to condense this review but it's still going to be long.
1. First of all "Nancy" isn't a real person. Beatrice Sparks has 8 "diary" stories and out of those only 2 are from real teen diaries. The rest Sparks makes up in their entirety and then claims they're real.
2. Jay's journal is very slightly real. Sparks was given Alden's journal, a boy who commited suicide, and she was asked to edit it and publish it by Alden's parents. 212 diary entires were published only 21 of them were actually Alden's. Sparks also completely made up the Satanism aspect of the story. Sparks can't even muster up a little bit of respect for real teens, she defends her completely changing Alden's story.
3. Sparks claims to have a PhD over and over again. She even refers to herself as "Dr. B" in this book but she doesn't have a PhD. She claims she's qualified to write these books because she a counselor for troubled kids. There's no proof of that either and she avoids all the questions about her "experience".
4. Every other page contains racism towards Native American people.
5. She uses the r slur 3 times.
6. Claims over and over that divorce is wrong and you need to stay with the person you married no matter how bad it gets or if they cheat.
7. Claims only girls have curly or fluffy hair.
8. Claims physical abuse is okay if you do it in God's name. (Lew hurting Nancy after they almost had sex)
9. She writes, (and this isn't an exact quote because I don't know what page) "I always liked it when the wife shut up and let her husband take charge".
10.Nancy's Mom doesn't take her to the Police Station for the first while and doesn't take Nancy to the Hospital for a rape exam ever. (Let's be real, Nancy would have vaginal trauma and would need medical help).
11. Makes a statement saying that even if you're not religious Christianity just makes you feel right inside. (Sparks is Mormon)
12. Says Christian men have all the strength/willpower and lend it to women.
13.Nancy has never read "Gone with the Wind" but her Mom tells her to use Scarlett O'Hara as a coping mechanism. "Gone with the Wind" is set on a plantation and romanticizes Conderates and Slavery.
14. Nancy feels suspicious of an older man after being raped by an older man and she tells herself she isn't being safe she's being "jaded and mistrusting and negative." (Sparks thinks teens don't use commas.)
15. Nancy's Mom screams at Nancy that having suicidal thoughts is wrong rather than get her help. It's stated that Nancy had alot of suicidal thoughts even before she got HIV.
She needed a therapist before and after she got raped. She didn't get one.
16. Exact quote, "I ate like a starving African".
17.Lew doesn't like that Nancy says "anyways" and asks her to change the way she speaks so he's more comfortable even though she's not hurting anyone.
18.Sparks says non- missionary sex is disgusting
19. The one positive thing I was going to say is that Nancy would never have an abortion herself but she recognized other's right to choose. That all went out the window with, "That would be soooo hard... imagine the little baby being sucked out kicking and screaming and thrown away." I don't have enough time to explain the numbers of ways that incorrect so do some research yourself.
20. She villianizes choosing not to be a father. All parents have the right to decide if they want to raise their kid or not. She allows Dorie to choose whether or not she wants to be a Mom but the guy is an asshole for making literally the same choice?
21. Sparks says only a few people have HIV/AIDS. This book was published in 1994. In that year alone 80,691 people had HIV/AIDS and that's in the U.S. alone.
22. She encourages flushing tampons down the toilet.
23. She says an "A-" doesn't count as an "A"
24.She says adults don't mind taking care of babies endlessly and never getting any sleep. Don't lie to people about how hard parenthood is. Every parent of a baby wishes they could get a nap right now. Don't romantize sleep deprivation.
25. She says all teenage boys are bad with exceptions. Give people a chance, Sparks.
26.The cab driver fought harder to get Nancy to a rape center than her Mom ever did.
27.Uses "schizo" twice. This isn't a slur but it harms people with Schizophrenia and shouldn't be used as an insult.
28. Uses "multiple personalities" as an insult. Same as above but with D.I.D. rather than Schizophrenia.
29. "Life is heaven" "LIFE IS ENDLESS DARKNESS AND I WANT TO KILL MYSELF" Repeat that about 100 times and you have the whole book. Make sure to throw in the word Sacred about 200 times!
30. Aunt Thelma refuses to let Nancy's painting be even slightly different than hers because you're not allowed to paint in your own style.
31. Sparks wrote that Dr. S loved and missed Nancy and wanted to be more than a doctor to her. This somehow isn't seen as creepy.
32.Random words are italized.
33. Sparks says everyone who has sex is immoral AND a whore except for Dorie and Nancy. They're "exceptions". Maybe no one is a whore and it's just your internalized misogyny Sparks.
34. Everytime Nancy had a problem she ran away or lied. Every single time.
35. The time who raped Nancy never got in any trouble.
This book is from 1994 it's information on HIV/AIDs isn't accurate anymore. Go research.
1. First of all "Nancy" isn't a real person. Beatrice Sparks has 8 "diary" stories and out of those only 2 are from real teen diaries. The rest Sparks makes up in their entirety and then claims they're real.
2. Jay's journal is very slightly real. Sparks was given Alden's journal, a boy who commited suicide, and she was asked to edit it and publish it by Alden's parents. 212 diary entires were published only 21 of them were actually Alden's. Sparks also completely made up the Satanism aspect of the story. Sparks can't even muster up a little bit of respect for real teens, she defends her completely changing Alden's story.
3. Sparks claims to have a PhD over and over again. She even refers to herself as "Dr. B" in this book but she doesn't have a PhD. She claims she's qualified to write these books because she a counselor for troubled kids. There's no proof of that either and she avoids all the questions about her "experience".
4. Every other page contains racism towards Native American people.
5. She uses the r slur 3 times.
6. Claims over and over that divorce is wrong and you need to stay with the person you married no matter how bad it gets or if they cheat.
7. Claims only girls have curly or fluffy hair.
8. Claims physical abuse is okay if you do it in God's name. (Lew hurting Nancy after they almost had sex)
9. She writes, (and this isn't an exact quote because I don't know what page) "I always liked it when the wife shut up and let her husband take charge".
10.Nancy's Mom doesn't take her to the Police Station for the first while and doesn't take Nancy to the Hospital for a rape exam ever. (Let's be real, Nancy would have vaginal trauma and would need medical help).
11. Makes a statement saying that even if you're not religious Christianity just makes you feel right inside. (Sparks is Mormon)
12. Says Christian men have all the strength/willpower and lend it to women.
13.Nancy has never read "Gone with the Wind" but her Mom tells her to use Scarlett O'Hara as a coping mechanism. "Gone with the Wind" is set on a plantation and romanticizes Conderates and Slavery.
14. Nancy feels suspicious of an older man after being raped by an older man and she tells herself she isn't being safe she's being "jaded and mistrusting and negative." (Sparks thinks teens don't use commas.)
15. Nancy's Mom screams at Nancy that having suicidal thoughts is wrong rather than get her help. It's stated that Nancy had alot of suicidal thoughts even before she got HIV.
She needed a therapist before and after she got raped. She didn't get one.
16. Exact quote, "I ate like a starving African".
17.Lew doesn't like that Nancy says "anyways" and asks her to change the way she speaks so he's more comfortable even though she's not hurting anyone.
18.Sparks says non- missionary sex is disgusting
19. The one positive thing I was going to say is that Nancy would never have an abortion herself but she recognized other's right to choose. That all went out the window with, "That would be soooo hard... imagine the little baby being sucked out kicking and screaming and thrown away." I don't have enough time to explain the numbers of ways that incorrect so do some research yourself.
20. She villianizes choosing not to be a father. All parents have the right to decide if they want to raise their kid or not. She allows Dorie to choose whether or not she wants to be a Mom but the guy is an asshole for making literally the same choice?
21. Sparks says only a few people have HIV/AIDS. This book was published in 1994. In that year alone 80,691 people had HIV/AIDS and that's in the U.S. alone.
22. She encourages flushing tampons down the toilet.
23. She says an "A-" doesn't count as an "A"
24.She says adults don't mind taking care of babies endlessly and never getting any sleep. Don't lie to people about how hard parenthood is. Every parent of a baby wishes they could get a nap right now. Don't romantize sleep deprivation.
25. She says all teenage boys are bad with exceptions. Give people a chance, Sparks.
26.The cab driver fought harder to get Nancy to a rape center than her Mom ever did.
27.Uses "schizo" twice. This isn't a slur but it harms people with Schizophrenia and shouldn't be used as an insult.
28. Uses "multiple personalities" as an insult. Same as above but with D.I.D. rather than Schizophrenia.
29. "Life is heaven" "LIFE IS ENDLESS DARKNESS AND I WANT TO KILL MYSELF" Repeat that about 100 times and you have the whole book. Make sure to throw in the word Sacred about 200 times!
30. Aunt Thelma refuses to let Nancy's painting be even slightly different than hers because you're not allowed to paint in your own style.
31. Sparks wrote that Dr. S loved and missed Nancy and wanted to be more than a doctor to her. This somehow isn't seen as creepy.
32.Random words are italized.
33. Sparks says everyone who has sex is immoral AND a whore except for Dorie and Nancy. They're "exceptions". Maybe no one is a whore and it's just your internalized misogyny Sparks.
34. Everytime Nancy had a problem she ran away or lied. Every single time.
35. The time who raped Nancy never got in any trouble.
This book is from 1994 it's information on HIV/AIDs isn't accurate anymore. Go research.