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coleycole's review against another edition
4.0
Excited to be bringing this author to our incarcerated youth bookclub!
shemyshines98's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book a while back when I was very young and didn't know a thing about HIV or AIDS. So, glad this book gave me so much insight and knowledge. Everyone should really read this book! Very eye-opening and honest. <3
dann965's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
southernhon's review against another edition
3.0
This was an engaging memoir about a young lady who discovered at the age of 19 that she had been infected with HIV. The author spent a lot of time describing her difficult childhood, perhaps in an attempt to explain where she was coming from in her approach to life and adulthood. Her mother was a strict disciplinarian who expected a lot from Marvelyn and her sister. Her father, who was a big part of her early childhood life, was a drug addict, unbeknownst to her at the time. Eventually, he and her mother split up and she no longer had that male in the home to balance out her very demanding mother. Marvelyn was a gifted athlete, but struggled in school, which apparently bothered her mother a great deal. She had little desire to turn her athletic ability into something that could help her in the future. Eventually, Marvelyn discovered her sexuality and had a few boyfriends. She went on birth control, but did not require her sexual partners to wear condoms. Unfortunately, her "Prince Charming" as he is referred to in the book, infects her with the virus, all the time knowing he was a carrier. To Marvelyn's shock, her stint in the ICU revealed that she had been infected and she knew exactly how and who. "Prince Charming" was not exactly supportive, but Marvelyn just would not let her dream of a happily ever after with him die, no matter what. She thought that because they both had HIV, that meant that they could support and help each other, but he turned out to be a player, going on to cheat on her and eventually impregnate another woman. Finally she saw the light and through some tragic events in her life, decided that she was not going to let the diagnosis get the best of her. She kept trying to succeed academically while holding down a job and trying to make an independent life for herself. Eventually, she made some contacts when she was working for a HIV advocacy organization and became an inspirational speaker, author and representative.
I had a few problems with the book and the big one is that how, in the early 2000's, a person doesn't know how HIV is transmitted? She made excuses about how she thought that only gay men and Africans contracted it, but those myths had been disproved many years ago. She also said that it was because she was a black young person living in Nashville, Tennessee. I still don't buy that. Nashville is a fairly large city and I find it pretty impossible to believe that she was not educated about sexually transmitted diseases.
The other problem I had with this book was the fact that she didn't consider herself to be promiscuous, but she was and so were her friends and peers. Many of them seemed to feel that their only worth in life was catching a man any way they could, sometimes even getting pregnant to do so.
I had a few problems with the book and the big one is that how, in the early 2000's, a person doesn't know how HIV is transmitted? She made excuses about how she thought that only gay men and Africans contracted it, but those myths had been disproved many years ago. She also said that it was because she was a black young person living in Nashville, Tennessee. I still don't buy that. Nashville is a fairly large city and I find it pretty impossible to believe that she was not educated about sexually transmitted diseases.
The other problem I had with this book was the fact that she didn't consider herself to be promiscuous, but she was and so were her friends and peers. Many of them seemed to feel that their only worth in life was catching a man any way they could, sometimes even getting pregnant to do so.
tymgabriel's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most phenomenal books written from the raw point-of-view of young people struggling with the realities of HIV/AIDS. This autobiography does not flinch from the reality of ignorance, despair, enlightenment, or hope. Brown commands all four, opening wide her life as an example for others. If being read with a class, ensure students are familiar with sex education. I would recommend the book for grades 9 and up, but some middle school students might be able to handle the material without a problem.
clarkco's review against another edition
4.0
The story of how one average, middle-class American girl contracted HIV from unprotected sex with her boyfriend. Marvelyn Brown was diagnosed when she was 19. At first she was ashamed and scared, but she soon became more educated about the disease. She becomes an activist first in her community and then around the world.
showthisbooksomelove's review against another edition
4.0
This is the tale of Marvelyn Brown, a young woman who discovers she has HIV at the age of 19. The story takes us through her young life as a child and basketball star through to when she drops out of college and pursues a temporary career in sales until her status as HIV positive is revealed during a stay at the hospital. This is the tale of a beautiful, strong woman who makes a name and a life for herself while living with this disease.
Brown writes her story masterfully, following the typical memoir trajectory of following her story from childhood through to where she stands now. Stylistically, this is not the most original body of work, but the story stands for itself and Brown’s bravery and perseverance is inspiring and enlightening. I’m really glad she shared her story about her childhood, plenty of details pre-diagnosis really helped me as a reader understand how her diagnosis impacted her.
Brown also shared balanced insights about herself and about HIV positive status/people living with HIV. The fact that she knew next to nothing about HIV before being diagnosed and now raises awareness by speaking publicly and running shows on TV is very inspiring. It’s terrible that she now has to live with the diagnosis, but she rarely felt sorry for herself and rather shares her story with her strong and unique voice to help others. However, she does not glaze over her own share of stress and struggles both those that are directly affected by her status and those that may not be connected to HIV at all. She is very up-front about the struggles in her life, sharing her story in a way that I believe she hopes will help other people find their own peace.
She seems to have a relationship with God that ebbs and flows, and she is very open with that relationship and how that impacts her other relationships as well. However, the Christian theme is not at the fore-front of her memoir, as the fore-front is truly about raising awareness of HIV and taking care of yourself however you need to for the good of yourself and others around you.
The only negative thing I have to say about Brown’s memoir is that at times her writing was rather simplistic and bland. However, that does not prevent her message from shining through and helps to make her story more accessible to everyone. A quick read, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn something new and her about this inspiring young woman’s life.
Brown writes her story masterfully, following the typical memoir trajectory of following her story from childhood through to where she stands now. Stylistically, this is not the most original body of work, but the story stands for itself and Brown’s bravery and perseverance is inspiring and enlightening. I’m really glad she shared her story about her childhood, plenty of details pre-diagnosis really helped me as a reader understand how her diagnosis impacted her.
Brown also shared balanced insights about herself and about HIV positive status/people living with HIV. The fact that she knew next to nothing about HIV before being diagnosed and now raises awareness by speaking publicly and running shows on TV is very inspiring. It’s terrible that she now has to live with the diagnosis, but she rarely felt sorry for herself and rather shares her story with her strong and unique voice to help others. However, she does not glaze over her own share of stress and struggles both those that are directly affected by her status and those that may not be connected to HIV at all. She is very up-front about the struggles in her life, sharing her story in a way that I believe she hopes will help other people find their own peace.
She seems to have a relationship with God that ebbs and flows, and she is very open with that relationship and how that impacts her other relationships as well. However, the Christian theme is not at the fore-front of her memoir, as the fore-front is truly about raising awareness of HIV and taking care of yourself however you need to for the good of yourself and others around you.
The only negative thing I have to say about Brown’s memoir is that at times her writing was rather simplistic and bland. However, that does not prevent her message from shining through and helps to make her story more accessible to everyone. A quick read, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn something new and her about this inspiring young woman’s life.
booksavor's review
2.0
An important and highly informative story that could have done with at least one more edit. There were minor errors like quotation marks facing the wrong way to the word "costumers" in place of "customers". There were also pretty glaring contradictions, such as Brown saying that she "had no idea" what HIV and AIDS were on one page and then literally, on the next page, saying that she thought "only gay men and Africans" got the virus. The powerful story of a teenager who, like most teenagers, thought she was invincible but learns she very much is not, loses some of its impact when the reader is brought out of the story by these kinds of errors. Overall, it wasn't a super read but certainly a compelling story.
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