Jay's Journal

Rating:
Summary: WHY SO SCARY?
Review: I read this entire book today and was expecting more. I'm 16 and thought it was rather tame compared to what I had heard about people having nightmares and such. I did like how the book tied itself together at the end but it also left me hanging. Because of this book's religious content and my lack of religious knowledge, to that of occult in nature only, I had to do some research in the nearest Bible to figure out some of the religious points but it was all together good. I do recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in anything different. Especially those who like to study about religion, it will give you a good base for what goes on inside someone's head.

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Summary: this is true
Review: I live in Alpine Utah. this story took place in Pleasant Grove Utah that town is five minutes away from my house. i know that it is true because I have seen his grave. It is in the lehi cemetary which is another adjacent town to mine. but the interesting thing about his grave is that on certain nights you can see his grave glow. i didn't believe this until me and my friends snuck in at night and saw an eerie green glow. I have never been back since i saw that. and there are also many other strange things that go on around my town that many people say are attributed to him and his friends. So to close all I have to say is that this is a true story. Oh and by the way his real name isn't jay its alden.

Rating:
Summary: The sad truth about this story
Review: When I first read this book, I was blown away. That was because I was 12. After a few years, when I happened to pick it up again, a lot of things about this "true" story seemed a little.. well... false, so I decided to do some research on the net. This is what I found out: The real "Jay" was a young boy named Alden, who grew up in Pleasant Grove. He was quite depressed and involved with drugs, and he committed suicide, but he was never involved with the occult. Mrs. Sparks came to Alden's family when they were still greiving, and received Alden's journal under the guise that she wanted to help other people with "his problem". She then took a bunch of supposed accounts of other teenagers involved with the occult, and combined them with entries from Alden's journal (which never mentioned the occult). She also didn't bother to hide some very identifying details about Alden very well. The result of all this was that people in Pleasant Grove figured out who "Jay" was, and not only did his poor parents have his death to deal with, but vicious rumors of their deceased son being a animal-sacrificing Satanist. His grave was desecrated several times, and his parents ended up divorcing under all the strain. Why was this book passed off as a journal? Well for one thing, any book about Satanism sold really well at the time this was published (more bucks for the renowned Beatrice Sparks). Another reason might be because Mrs. Sparks is a devout Mormon, and if you write a book that basically shouts "Hey! See, this kid strayed from Christianity and started exploring other religions, and look! He got mixed up with Satan and died!" and direct it to teenagers, thats a great way to evangelisize your religion. I find this book completely disgusting. It would have been fine if it had been labeled as a work of fiction, but to take some poor kid's misery, mix it up with sensationalism, and call it "a true story" to make a point and some money is in my opinion... Satanic.

Rating:
Summary: A Redeeming Journal
Review: Jay's journal was wonderful. It was a sad, compelling and touching story of a teenage boy struggling with drugs, girls, occult, and well life. At age 16 he commits suiside. As a teenager reading this book, it touches me more deep that it would an adult. IT's so scary that things that occur in this book actually happen. It surely will turn you off of drugs and occult. I recomend this book to anyone 13 and older but mainly teenagers. It is a wonderful book and is really touching.

Rating:
Summary: 3 stars for ENTERTAINMENT
Review: I have given this book 3 stars because... let's say I found it a bit like Go Ask Alice. ....... It's very scary though- not quite what I was expecting. If you are are a bit shaken up by these things (and I assume you know what "these things" are by now) don't read it. Wait for the movie, tentatively called "The Blair Witch Project 2".

Rating:
Summary: Jay's Journal Review
Review: Jay's Journal the Anonymous is a fantastic book to read if you have to read it for Psychology class like I did. It's about a young boy with an IQ of 149 and master of debate who joined a cult dedicated to Satanism, witchcraft and Ouija boards.He was fasinated by the black and white magic being used. He wanted to know if it was true or a bunch of Hocus Pocus.

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I would really recommend this book.I've read this book a long time ago and am now buying for my collection.But really think that it dives into alot of interesting subjects and is a complete no let go book!

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Summary: The Darkness of Adolescence
Review: This book is-in a word- provocative; I've never read a book that has such power. Jay is a 16 year old, like any other, very anxious to experiment with drugs, sex, and he even ventures to join cult. He writes in his journal of the inner-conflicts and the moral dilemmas he encounters. It's quite poignant because Jay feels he has no one that he can communicate with better than his journal, and he relates to his journal the most intimate thoughts of his life. It really reached home for me, being faced with the same problems as Jay. The ending is an awesome finale. I recommend this book to anyone who is, was, or will be a teenager. These issues cannot be ignored. Read it- you'll see.

Rating:
Summary: A story people of all ages should read
Review: Are you at a confused stage in your life? Are you feeling alone? Well, so was 16 year old Jay. The book, Jay's Journal, tells his story. Jay started out innocently enough. He was a good kid concerned about teachers, girlfriends, grades and his parents. But his girlfriend's drug addiction led Jay to steal pills from his father's pharmacy- starting Jay's downfall. Then Jay met Tina. She was intriguing and Jay soon found out why. Tina led Jay into a world of Ouija boards, voodoo, witchcraft, Satanism and animal sacrifice. He followed innocently, but not innocent enough. He became deeply involved in the occult meetings Tina held. Jay's two best friends were killed in accidents. Jay became tormented and lost control. He gave in and killed himself. I think you should read this book because it is a good example of what peer pressure can do. This book is a true story and even though it's sad, it's touching, and sure, frightening.

Rating:
Summary: Jay's Journal
Review: "Oh, first we siphoned off the blood from a careful tiny slash in a vein, put it into gobs of gallon jars we'd ripped off from the A&W and the caterers, trying not to spill a drop. It would be used as part of a ritual when we returned home." If this kind of dark, scary literature appeals to you then JAY'S JOURNAL is the read for you. In this book, written in 1979 by Dr. Beatrice Sparks, a young teenage boy, "Jay", deals with the problems of drugs, sex, and most of all the Occult. While "Jay" is put through rehab and constantly tormented by his parents to get out, he is never able to shake the witchcraft and satanic practices of the Occult. Throughout the story Jay participates in acts of mutilation, torture, death, and orgy all climaxing when he and his two friends sell their "auwa's (soul's)" to the devil. This non-fiction book is hauntingly written in the author,"Jay's", own cryptic style. The text is filled with vivid images of occurrences from day to day."He's always growing a pretty good mustache; I'm trying but it looks like the moths have been in it. Like a dirty, fuzzy, little, barely visible caterpillar on my lip." The piece is written by a teenage boy, not a professional author, which definitely helps to make his problems seem more real. "Jay" is always talking in the first person, so we as readers are able to experience the events with him. Another strong point for the book is in the preface when the editor, Dr. Beatrice Sparks is describing "Jay's" life prior to the occult. "Jay was an exceptionally intelligent and articulate boy, with an I.Q. of 149+...He often worried that his friends weren't able to handle things the way he could because of his detached, intellectual approach." As this book was written without the author knowing it was going to be published, there was a lack of an ending to the story. This is impossible to correct because the author killed himself (assumedly) at the end of the story and couldn't write about that because he was dead. Along with the main character in this story, "Jay", is also a host of other individuals with cameos in the story. Brad and Dell are "Jay's" best friends also become entrapped in the occult. "Two stars over the left breast represented his 'eternal and forever' buddies, Dell and Brad." Debbie and Tina are also two characters that have a part in the story. Debbie is the crush Jay is trying to get over when Tina(with the occult) sweeps him off his feet. This book is geared towards young adults however much of the content is mature, and may be disturbing to some of the audience. It is a very similar read to GO ASK ALICE also written by Beatrice Sparks. That story is also a diary about a young persons life and the problems they had. Although the details are gory and explicit, this is an excellent choice of reading material. It incorporates all the elements of a suspense thriller along with those of a mystery horror novel.