Product Description

In this novel, Stratton takes us into a teen world that reverberates with the emotion and tension of a relationship gone wrong. Here is a book that examines the adolescent girl's deep need for affirmation as a sexually attractive being and how the drive for that affirmation can lead to unimaginable consequences.

For Leslie, grade nine was trouble-filled and grade ten is worse. The V.P. is constantly on Leslie's case for skipping or wearing 'inappropriate' clothes.

Enter Jason McCready, new at school and ultra-cool. He gives her a wink the first time they bump into each other. When Leslie approaches Jason to prove to the girls they have met, he gives her a kiss -- in front of everyone! Leslie is in love!

She is the envy of all the girls when Jason asks her out, but on their first date he takes her to his place instead of to the movies. He explains that his parents are away and begins pouring scotches, then beers. The lights get dimmer, the music louder, and things get fuzzy. Time seems to stop for Leslie, when suddenly Jason is throwing her clothes at her, stuffing money for a cab in her hand and telling her to get going because his parents are on their way home. It isn't until later that she realizes what has happened.

So begins Leslie's first relationship. Telling Leslie he loves her one minute and teaching her some hard life lessons the next, Jason begins to control Leslie's every move. How is it possible to be so lonely when you are in love? Thank god she has her English-class journal, where she can record everything. It helps to get her feelings on paper. But when Ms. Graham gets ill and the substitute reads the private journals, Leslie's world collapses.

Words like rape and abuse surface. Jason's behavior becomes even darker, and he has pictures he is threatening to show. The principal doesn't believe her anyway and there is no way she will tell her parents. Leslie's nightmare keeps growing. In the end, she must find the strength to fight back to set things right.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #984577 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-This could be the Go Ask Alice (Avon, 1976) of this millennium. In a journal written for an English assignment, 10th-grade Leslie is completely honest; after all, Ms. Graham has promised never to read her students' work and to keep it in a locked cabinet. The language of this often irritating, often heartbreakingly naive young girl is right on target. Her life could be straight off the WB network; she has a single mom whom she loves but can't communicate with; a dad who recently moved in with his girlfriend; and a wild older boyfriend with whom she is totally obsessed. Fortunately, she has Katie, a steadfast friend who listens to her and believes in her. The relationship with Jason goes bad early on; he gets her drunk, rapes her, and takes Polaroid pictures of her. He is every parents' nightmare: insufferably polite up-front and rich enough to buy his way out of trouble. His behavior becomes increasingly abusive. When Leslie tries to break up with him, he stalks and threatens her. A new English teacher reads the diary and brings it to the attention of the principal, who takes Jason's side. Leslie fears for her life and runs away. This cautionary tale is not easy to read; few of the characters are likable. Most of the adults seem beset with their own personal problems. However, Leslie's voice demands to be heard and readers may learn to avoid her pitfalls. Gripping reading for a mature audience.-Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
An appealing protagonist ... her problems are real ... her emotions ring true. -- Judy Sasges, Voice of Youth Advocates, February 2001

Stratton captures the rhythms of teen speech, and the subject matter is treated subtly enough. -- The Horn Book Guide, January-June 2001

This book will cause any parent of young daughters to lose sleep. -- Marvin Hoffman, Houston Chronicle, March 11, 2001

This could be the "Go Ask Alice" of this millennium ... Gripping reading for a mature audience. -- Marilyn Payne Phillips, School Library Journal, April 2001

Review
An appealing protagonist ... her problems are real ... her emotions ring true. (Judy Sasges VOYA [Voice of Youth Advocates] 20010201)

This could be the 'Go Ask Alice' of this millennium ... Gripping reading for a mature audience. (Marilyn Payne Phillips School Library Journal 20010401)

Stratton captures the rhythms of teen speech, and the subject matter is treated subtly enough. (Horn Book Guide 20010101)

This book will cause any parent of young daughters to lose sleep. (Marvin Hoffman Houston Chronicle 20010311)

Customer Reviews

Fast paced and suspenseful.
Playwright Allan Stratton's first novel for teens, LESLIE'S JOURNAL, is a cautionary tale about teenage love gone drastically wrong. It all starts with Leslie, an angry, confused, rebellious girl in need of validation. Her days in school are numbered, she has problems at home, and her behavior just may alienate the only friend she has. But just when things couldn't possibly get any worse, she meets Jason --- the totally handsome, totally cool new kid on campus. And when he suddenly kisses her in front of her friends, she's the envy of all her female classmates.

Jason asks Leslie out, and she's on cloud nine, agog with love. On their first date, he takes her to his parents' house instead of the movies and plies her with booze, something she hasn't had much experience with. But she has even less experience with what happens next. Jason follows up his act with apologies, smiles, and flowers; and Leslie is soon on a roller coaster ride through relationship hell with an abusive control freak at the helm.

When Jason isn't forcing himself upon Leslie, he is hitting and threatening her. And when she decides that she's finally had enough, he threatens to blackmail her and even begins stalking her. On top of that, things go from bad to worse when a substitute teacher actually reads the journal Leslie is keeping for her English class. The journals were supposed to be private, but the teacher didn't know. Out of concern, she brings the journal and Leslie's story to the attention of the principal, who doesn't believe one word of it --- she believes the wealthy, upright Jason, not the rebellious, attention-getting Leslie. When Jason gets wind of the latest turn of events, he threatens to kill Leslie.

With nowhere to turn, Leslie's world collapses and she turns to Katie, the only friend she has, sharing everything with her. Together they vow to bring Jason down --- if he doesn't get to Leslie first. She holes up in her apartment and hopes for a miracle, but when Jason's threats increase, she takes things into her own hands. Fast paced and suspenseful, bordering on nightmarish, LESLIE'S JOURNAL will have you on the edge of your seat, white-knuckled all the way.


--- Reviewed by Tammy L. Currier

NEVER SAY NEVER
Remember the girl in the back of the class who never paid attention nor turned her homework in? Her name is Leslie, and you have a chance to read her journal. She is more than what you think. Leslie is a young adult in the 10th grade. Her parents are divorced, and to make it worse her father has a girlfriend..and guess who he pays more attention to? The girlfriend. Leslie is the usual bad girl, smokes pot, loves getting in trouble..the usual. Her life seems to be pretty bad, she hates her journal, she hates Ms. Graham, she hates her mother, she hates her father, and she hates herself. With no one to talk to but her best friend, she confindes in her journal. The usual show off Leslie was and approached a very attractive, popular young man. He is EVERYTHING any girl could dream up. But..could he really be that great? Could such a great thing happen to Leslie? You don't know? Maybe you should her journal.

What an excellent read!!
This book written for teens deals with divorce, detachment, sex and abuse. All of which are, of course, often entertwined. The story is about Leslie. Her parents have recently separated and the father is rebuilding his life with another woman. He has a nominal role in the book, but a huge role in the reason Leslie accepts the abuse that she gets.

Leslie meets an older student at her school and they start to sort of date. Throughout the whole ordeal Leslie writes her experiences and feelings down in her Journal. It is obvious that she is not in love with this boy, but he somehow manages to get to her vulnerability and ends up controlling her. Of course, he also ends up abusing her both sexually and emotionally (not to mention physically).

This book is extremely well written. You would swear it was written from the perspective of a 14 year old girl. The author does not feel the need to employ crass or vulgar words to describe the scene and yet, you can simply imagine the horror of it all.

The way the author has chosen to end this book is a strong, positive message to all girls.

Extremely excellent reading. If I had a daughter, this book would be at the top of her reading list.