Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideoOut 100
CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
It's tempting to scoff at the idea of presidential party girl Jenna Bush writing a book, but her first effort is surprisingly well-done. Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope is a biography of a 17-year-old single mother in Latin America infected with HIV. Bush met Ana, whose real name and hometown are concealed, while working as an intern for the United Nations Children's Fund. Ana has a story worth telling. Her life has been a struggle with poverty, abuse, and prejudice. Her mother and aunt were raped by their stepfather, who infected them with HIV. Ana's mother, father, and infant sister died of AIDS before she finished sixth grade. Only her other younger sister, Isabel, escaped the disease. Ana learns to keep her illness quiet at a young age. 'Life's not fair,' her grandmother warns her. 'If you tell, you'll be treated badly. People will call you bad, ugly names. They will be afraid of you.' And Ana believes her grandmother after watching her friends taunt a skinny classmate. Her home life, though, is perhaps more painful than the disease. Both Ana and her sister are raped by their grandmother's boyfriend. After their father dies, their grandmother beats Ana until the girls are removed from her home and shuttled among relatives and orphanages. Bush became known during her father's first term in the White House for underage drinking while a student at the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with a degree in English and taught elementary school in Washington, D.C., for a year and a half before signing on with UNICEF. She recently made news again by announcing her engagement to Henry Hager, who gets a thank-you in the book's acknowledgments. Perhaps because of the scrutiny Bush herself has faced, she recounts Ana's choices without judgment. Bush describes a loving relationship between Ana and the HIV-positive teen who fathers her daughter. She portrays Ana's decision to end that relationship as part of her evolution into an adult who must consider her daughter's welfare. Her boyfriend, Ana reflects, seemed more interested in her than their daughter, more interested in being a boyfriend than a father. The most unsatisfying aspect of Bush's work is that it ends with many loose threads: Ana has not finished school or found work, her sister is still in an orphanage, she must tell her new boyfriend about her HIV infection. Bush addresses some of these points in an afterword, but as she notes, 'Ana's story is still being written.' Another notable feature of the book is its easy reading level. Although Ana's Story is being promoted heavily, it is not really designed for adults or advanced readers. Rather, it targets students and teachers with a study guide and several reference sections. Bush describes her writing as a 'mosaic' of Ana's life with chapters of only a couple hundred words pieced together 'to create an image of her past and a framework for her future.' It works well for youngsters, but readers used to more literary writing may find it too simple. That may not matter, however, since Bush's interest seems to lie with young audiences. She is already collaborating on an illustrated children's book with her mother, first lady Laura Bush. (AP)
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
The science behind U=U has been liberating people with HIV for years
June 04 2024 3:31 PM
Why activist Raif Derrazi thinks his HIV diagnosis is a gift
September 17 2024 12:00 PM
How fitness coach Tyriek Taylor reclaims his power from HIV with self-commitment
September 19 2024 12:00 PM
Exclusive: We kiki with Q from 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
June 24 2024 11:37 AM
The freedom of disclosure: David Anzuelo's journey through HIV, art, and advocacy
August 02 2024 12:21 PM
Out100 Honoree Tony Valenzuela thanks queer and trans communities for support in his HIV journey
September 18 2024 12:00 PM
Activist and philanthropist Bruce Bastian dies at 76
June 26 2024 1:28 PM
Creator and host Karl Schmid fights HIV stigma with knowledge
September 12 2024 12:03 PM
Plus: Featured Video
Latest Stories
Climate change is disrupting access to HIV treatment
November 25 2024 11:05 AM
California confirms first case of even more deadly mpox strain
November 18 2024 3:02 PM
Post-election blues? Some advice from mental health experts
November 08 2024 12:36 PM
Check out our 2024 year-end issue!
October 28 2024 2:08 PM
Meet our Health Hero of the Year, Armonté Butler
October 21 2024 12:53 PM
AIDS/LifeCycle is ending after more than 30 years
October 17 2024 12:40 PM
Twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir, an HIV-prevention drug, reduces risk by 96%
October 15 2024 5:03 PM
Kentucky bans conversion therapy for youth as Gov. Andy Beshear signs 'monumental' order
September 18 2024 11:13 AM
Study finds use of puberty blockers safe and reversible, countering anti-trans accusations
September 11 2024 1:11 PM
Latinx health tips / Consejos de salud para latinos (in English & en espanol)
September 10 2024 4:29 PM
The Trevor Project receives $5M grant to support LGBTQ+ youth mental health in rural Midwest (exclusive)
September 03 2024 9:30 AM
Introducing 'Health PLUS Wellness': The Latinx Issue!
August 30 2024 3:06 PM
La ciencia detrás de U=U ha estado liberando a las personas con VIH durante años
August 23 2024 2:48 PM
Tratamiento y prevención del VIH por inyección: Todo lo que necesita saber
August 23 2024 2:41 PM
Sr. Gay World quiere asegurarse de que estés bien
August 23 2024 2:30 PM
Eureka is taking a break from competing on 'Drag Race' following 'CVTW' elimination
August 20 2024 12:21 PM
With a new case in Sweden, what is the new mpox outbreak and should you be concerned?
August 15 2024 4:48 PM
From ‘The Real World’ to real life: How Danny Roberts thrives with HIV
July 31 2024 5:23 PM