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Leslie's Journal

by Allan Stratton (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 284 ratings · 55 reviews

A gripping story about the dark side of a first love.

Awards for the previous edition:
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
American Library Association Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
The Best, Notable and Recommended List, Teacher Librarian Magazine

Leslie can't seem to avoid tro...more

Paperback, 176 pages

Published September 2nd 2000 by Annick Press

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YA Diary Novels

17th out of 75 books — 69 voters

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Best Young Adult Realistic Novels

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Mar 01, 2013 Celia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Leslie’s Journal by Allan Stratton is about a highschool freshman, girl named Leslie. She has recently had to watch her parents go through a divorce. As if that wasn’t enough, Leslie’s dad quickly found a new woman named Brenda and soon had no time for his daughter anymore. Leslie felt betrayed and was mad at him because this betrayal led to Leslie having to live with her mother. Of course she loves her mom but her mom was too controlling and didn’t understand anything about Leslie. Her mom was...more Leslie’s Journal by Allan Stratton is about a highschool freshman, girl named Leslie. She has recently had to watch her parents go through a divorce. As if that wasn’t enough, Leslie’s dad quickly found a new woman named Brenda and soon had no time for his daughter anymore. Leslie felt betrayed and was mad at him because this betrayal led to Leslie having to live with her mother. Of course she loves her mom but her mom was too controlling and didn’t understand anything about Leslie. Her mom was so controlling that Leslie would get dressed at home into clothes her mom approved in the morning, but when she got to school she would go straight to the bathroom and change into clothes Leslie liked more. All the stress and pressure Leslie got put on her because of her mom caused Leslie to try to do things she knew she shouldn’t do. Leslie would skip school, leave early and have to visit the principal’s office everyday, and that wasn’t because she liked the principal it was because of her acting out. Leslie had one friend named Katie. Katie is nothing like Leslie. Katie’s parents are happily married, she has a perfect relationship with her mom, she is extremely Christian and never breaks any rules. Leslie’s life was bland and colorless. That was until Jason came along. Jason totally changed Leslie’s life. They started to date after just a couple days of knowing each other. Jason would buy her gifts and give her anything she wanted. Leslie’s life drastically became ten times better. She was the happiest she had been in a really long time. That was until she started to realize that he was pretty much controlling her life. It took awhile for Leslie to notice what was happening, but when she saw that there was a GPS chip in her phone she knew it had gone to far. He had all the passwords to every account she had, he knew where she was all the time, and he hurt her every time she said something he didn’t like. There was no way for her to get away from her and she was terrified. “Katie, I can’t get away from him, he always knows where I am. Nobody can help me, so stop trying” (Stratton 94). Leslie wouldn’t let anyone try to help her. But after he threatened to kill her she told her dad. He dad got her a lawyer that would help her get evidence of him abusing her and stalking her. They try as hard as they can to get him charged, but does their hard work get them what they want?

Leslie’s journal was very intriguing. It was really hard to put it down. I think that the author did a good job with making it suspenseful. Around the end of the book there was almost something going on. I think people that like true stories about common problems like this, would enjoy this book. I think having her parents divorce made the book better because she had something else in her life that she had to cope with. Leslie’s mom had a low income job so they had to live in an apartment and Leslie hated that. Her mom hated when she said stuff about it. “Don’t tell me you are ashamed of our home” (Stratton 64). The author creating conflicts between Leslie and her mom made the book seem better.

I give this book a rating of 4. I think that if it was longer it would have been better. It kind of felt like the author was just rushing through the book. Also, if the book had more detail it probably would been more suspenseful. Even though this book did lack those parts, I still really enjoyed it. (less)

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Nov 17, 2010 Chandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Leslie’s Journal is a cautioning story about teenage love gone drastically wrong. It all starts with Leslie, an angry, confused, rebellious girl in need of support, and love. Her days in school are numbered, she has problems at home, and her behavior just may push away 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 h...more Leslie’s Journal is a cautioning story about teenage love gone drastically wrong. It all starts with Leslie, an angry, confused, rebellious girl in need of support, and love. Her days in school are numbered, she has problems at home, and her behavior just may push away 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, curious with love. On their first date, he takes her to his parents' house instead of the movies and gets her drunk on Scotch, 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 wheel.
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, after beating her to a bloody pulp, in front of the school.
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.

With no one on her side, and the other girls not wanting any part in it she tales him down.
(less)

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Mar 12, 2010 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People looking for a fast, leisure read not really caring for 'good book elements'

Recommended to Amanda by: My Mother

Leslie's Journal Fails to Impress

Leslie Philips can only be described by one word. “Trouble” (Stratton 12). She constantly rebels against her mother and teachers, experiments with drugs and alcohol and when it comes to school, if she decides to show up, her grades are less than satisfactory. With her parent’s recent divorce and her new “cute, perky, overgrown cheerleader” (Stratton 21) stepmom in the picture, it seems as though Leslie’s world is falling apart, until she meets Jason, the hunky he...more Leslie's Journal Fails to Impress

Leslie Philips can only be described by one word. “Trouble” (Stratton 12). She constantly rebels against her mother and teachers, experiments with drugs and alcohol and when it comes to school, if she decides to show up, her grades are less than satisfactory. With her parent’s recent divorce and her new “cute, perky, overgrown cheerleader” (Stratton 21) stepmom in the picture, it seems as though Leslie’s world is falling apart, until she meets Jason, the hunky heartthrob, newly transferred from a prestigious prep school. Tall, dark and handsome, Jason seems like the perfect guy, the conventional bad boy, but soon Leslie is thrown into a whirlwind of a relationship she just can’t seem to get out of.
Set somewhere in the suburban United States, Leslie’s Journal tells the story of the trials and tribulations of fifteen year old Leslie Philips as she pushes away her friends and family and enters a new sexually and physically abusive relationship. Although filled with both suspenseful and intriguing moments that would have you hanging off your seat, Leslie’s Journal fails to impress. From the simplistic writing style to the predictable storyline, I couldn’t wait for this book to be over.
The first line of the novel reads, “It’s only the first week and school already sucks” (Stratton 1), and so does this book. The writing style is completely juvenile and overly simplistic, with language fit for a twelve year old but with content for much older. The author of the novel, Allan Stratton, takes on a very, and I mean very sarcastic, ironic and frankly annoying tone. When Leslie’s not complaining about homework, teachers or girls at school, she’s lashing out at her mother for some god-awful reason. Rude and obnoxious, Leslie is in fact a ‘parent’s nightmare’ as I found it hard to connect or even feel a tiny bit of compassion for her. The characters are amazingly, over-superficial, from Leslie, the raging and rebellious teen, complete in her fish-net stocking and midriff-bearing tops. Burdened by the fact that her parents had moved around a lot when she was a child, she was unable to make many friends or form new relationships. Throw in the cliché divorced parents ordeal; Leslie’s just a ‘lost soul’ looking for a stable relationship and someone to love. Enter Jason; the rich, snobby, motorcycle driving bad boy boyfriend that every girl wants but can’t have.
“When I look out, I see it’s him the guy from the office. And come to think of it, he is really cute, slouched all alone against the goalpost, one knee slightly bent, hands on his back pockets, head back to catch some rays. He looks like an underwear model with clothes on” (Stratton 17)
Apart from the stereotypical characters, Leslie’s Journal also lacks in plot. The ‘I thought he was a good guy, but I was wrong’ storyline, although realistic, has been recycled over and over again, in books, television and film, leaving the novel completely predictable. I was hoping for a change in Leslie’s character, something that would give the book a ‘morally uplifting’ ending, but once again I was let down. Despite the realism of the story, the outcome was quite unrealistic. Leslie was lucky, but not many girls in this kind of situation are.
Overall Leslie’s Journal was quite a let down. Despite the novel’s stereotypical, intolerable, under-developed characters, Leslie’s arrogant, obnoxious tone and its predictable plot, I found the book hard to put down. I would recommend this book to adolescents looking for a fast, ‘leisure’ read and to someone who doesn’t care for the elements that make up a good book. As for me, I will be moving this book to the back of my bookshelf.
(less)

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Jan 08, 2010 Allan Stratton added it · (Review from the author)

Hi,
I'm the author of Leslie's Journals. I love meeting readers, so if you have a question for me, feel free to email me through this website or my own website: www.allanstratton.com

Leslie's Journal is a thriller/suspense about a fifteen-year girl, Leslie, who is mad at the world., Her parents are splitting up, she'd losing her best friend to a clique that tries to exclude her, her marks are dropping, she's acting out -- and all of a sudden the apparently charming, devoted senior enters her life....more

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Jul 25, 2011 Tori added it

2004- I'll admit I didn't have the highest hopes for this story about Leslie, a daughter of divorced parents, who starts to write her most personal thoughts in a journal assigned to her by her English teacher. It seems like Leslie's only outlet, and since her teacher promised never to read it, what's the harm in putting down personal stuff, like the fact she likes Jason? Jason isn't exactly your average boyfriend however. His first ""date"" with Leslie involves too much alcohol and it isn't unti...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Bekah Crozier rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: booktalks-middle-and-high-school

This book is about a teenager named Leslie who is forced to begin writing in a journal during her English class. As much as she dislikes the idea - she goes along with it and begins recording everything going on in her life - particularly documenting her first relationship with a new boy at school. Although this teenage love starts out romantically things take a turn for the worse shortly thereafter. Leslie isn't sure who she can turn to for help... and in the end.... it turns out that the journ...more

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Feb 04, 2009 Shara Weiss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever been in a controlling relationship? Have you ever been fearful for your safety? This gripping novel is about a relationship gone bad.

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Feb 03, 2011 Tams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fic, young-adult-reading-challenge-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 14, 2012 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Leslie's Journal

on my copy of this book it has a rat lying dead on top of a pile of books that is labeled PRIVATE , but it wasnt he cover that grabbed me , it was the title i know Leslie's journal sound kinda stupid but it intrigued me. I picked it up in a thrift store and i read the back

A TEEN GIRL'S SEARCH FOR APPROVAL AND IDENTITY LEADS TO PLACING TRUST IN THE WRONG PERSON.

i immediately ran to my mother and asked her to buy it for me :3. in 30 minutes i had read the book and i cried , and s...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Kat rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: teens and adults

Recommended to Kat by: librarian

Umm despite my friend, who's incite and opinion I usually agree with, telling me that this book was not very good I liked it.

But I didn't love it. IT took a lot of convincing for me to pick up this book. and I really did like the ability to see into the mind of Leslie but personally nothing stood out too much to me.

It was a really good read but for me it's one of those books that has too much hype.

IT's still a really great book, and definately worth your time. I'm just saying it's not going do...more

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Apr 08, 2011 i_am_the_book_lord rated it 3 of 5 stars

this book was crazy

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Oct 19, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: y-a, re-read, abusive-relationship

I read this a couple of years ago and when I saw it in the library, I decided to re-read it.

I give it 4 stars. I'm sure a lot of people would read this book and probably be annoyed with the main character or just not like the book. I just like it because it really seems possible.

It's creepy and disturbing. The girl in the book seems to be really focused on how her peers perceive her and she gets caught in a very horrible situation.

I don't think the author wanted a quiet/shy-girl type of chara...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can usually judge a book by the first two chapters. If they aren't adequate, I move on to another book. After reading the first two chapters of Leslie's Journal, I was so close to moving on to my next library book. It struck me as an immature book about "teenage rebellion" for attention. Ick. Boring. This is where my "thank God for Goodreads" opinion gets involved. What I did was, I looked at the book's rating on Goodreads and I read some reviews. I figured, hey, so many people like it, so it...more

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Oct 08, 2009 Sydney Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone that reads

Shelves: comfort-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is one of the best I've read in a long time. It's full of everything I look for in a great story. It has suspense, and makes you question everything the characters do and ends up in an unexpected way. Lesly is know as the low-life's in the school. She is a trouble maker. And she soon meet s someone just like her. She is instantly in love. But soon, everything begins to fall apart to her, but Jason doesn't agree, a messy break-up leads to endless possibilities, for everyone.

1)I saw thi...more

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Apr 17, 2008 [S]_ARA_[H] D rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was a great book but hard to read. Leslie Phillips is not your ordinary girl she’s a rebel and proud of it she a classy side and a trashy side doesn’t care what others think has a best friend Katie since she’s moved here from settle when she was seven years old the only person she felt she’s had. Since her mom and dad had gotten and divorced. Leslie and her mom live in a 2 bedroom apartment downtown, her dad left her mom for his asst. name Brenda; may I remind you Leslie hates her.
The jour...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Katheren rated it 5 of 5 stars

this book is very interesting but it is meant for an older audience. This book contains ns vet interesting and does contain some graphic material. That's why it's meant for an older audience. This book is meant for people that like a book that keeps you guessing. A book that you never know what is going to happen and keeps putting you unaware of what's going to happen next. This book has every type of characters. Like the crazy out of control teen and the quite innocent girl. The strict and craz...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Anina Ertel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

Fake paranoia journal is my favorite genre, but this is the bootiest one I have ever read. Leslie isn't compelling at all from a female perspective, and is actually borderline offensive. I feel like only someone who doesn't like teenagers would come up with this character.

The slang is hilarious. I can't tell what time period or place we are supposed to be in at all. It's very clearly written by a male of a certain age and that is the best part. If you are into that sort of thing. Sorry Mr. Stra...more

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Oct 14, 2010 Alienne rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the kind of book that you pick up every time a moment of free time presents itself. Once the book gets to a certain point-which doesn't take long-it is almost impossible to put down.

That said, I'm not sure whether I actually enjoyed it or not. The read, yes. The story...meh. Leslie annoyed me, to be frank. And the book definitely doesn't read like a series of journal entries; it reads like a typical book written in first person.

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Apr 28, 2010 Mackenzie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, 2010

What an amazing, spell-binding novel. It's so deep and touching. I blew right through it. I was never uninterested in the story. I loved Leslie, she sounded really sure of herself, even though she wasn't. It was just a front to keep others from hurting her, I guess. I loved the plot. It was about a tough subject.. but easy to see how someone could get into a situation like it.

I definitely recommend this book.

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Sep 04, 2011 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this book because it was published by the same publisher to whom I was planning to submit my own novel. The entire time I was reading the book, I kept thinking that men shouldn't try to write novels about teenage girls, and especially not in diary format, because the author just didn't quite grasp what a teenage girl is really like. The story was okay, but the character wasn't done well.

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Aug 13, 2011 Michelle. Tsunami. rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was super predicatable and in my opinion, not comparable to 'Go Ask Alice'.
To me, it was more of a cross between 'Dark Song' and 'Beautiful'.
I didn't like any of the characters, the words didn't flow of the page for me and there was nothing really special about this book. nothing really original.
And because of all these flaws, I give this book 2 stars.

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Sep 10, 2012 Katrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just finished this book like 5 minutes ago. I actually finished it in one seating and I actually find myself to like this book a lot. There were plenty of times where I got so curious and it really was a page turner. I just thought that I would like it more if it had a sad ending. But that's just me, because sad endings are always my favorites.

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Aug 06, 2009 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-issues, fiction, young-adult, teen-topics

Billed as this generation's Go Ask Alice, I had great hopes for this book. It was so-so. Teen girls will like the journal format and the fact that Leslie is troubled. The story deals with date rape which leads to an abusive relationshi. (Mom and dad recently divorced and Leslie's bff is finding new friends so Leslie feels left out.)

Leslie's voice is fairly authentic, but the entire story is so rushed - everything happens so quickly, and there isn't much depth to any of it.

In the author's afterw...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Meranda Ziljkic added it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this book because it was very interesting. It showed me what a really sick world we live in with sick people.It was a book filled with suspenseful moments that intrigued you to keep reading. Other people should read this book because they too, would gain the knowledge that Ive gained.

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Sep 01, 2010 Yasmin rated it 5 of 5 stars

What reviewers said about Leslie's Journal:
"This could be the 'Go Ask Alice' of the millennium ... Gripping reading ..." --- School Library Journal.
"Fast paced and suspenseful ... leslie's Journal will have you on the edge of your seat, white-knuckled all the way." --- Teenreads.com.

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Jan 09, 2013 Stephanie A. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-ya, girl-protagonists

This is what we call a "Lesson Book," intended to lecture young people in an engaging and accessible fashion, but it's disguised so well you almost can't tell. It didn't leave a strong impression on me, but I think it would for people on the younger end of YA.

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Nov 23, 2010 Whitney Perez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

So far i realy do like this book a whole lot. at first i didnt think i wuld but i am really turning out to like it. It is very intesteing and has so secrets comming out i huess yu can say. The cover wonders me though becaus ei dont understand why there is a rat on the cover? Maybe it rep. JAson and how she wants to killl him or something for what he did.

Howw this book has to be one of my favorites!!

page: 144

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May 21, 2012 Lia rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was really well written and kept me engaged through it's entirety. This topic is a really hard one to tackle, and it was a really intense read, but it was a really great book.

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Jul 08, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. It was about an abusive boyfriend and I liked the way it was written. I have never read a fiction book about this subject...only the true crime books. I would def. recommend it...

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Jul 25, 2012 Dayna Hallss rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of them books that put you in a depersonalized state.
I'm not sure of the right words to describe it.
Great read, couldn't put it down. Creepy and inhuman. Fantastic.

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About Allan Stratton

ALLAN STRATTON is the internationally acclaimed author of CHANDA'S SECRETS, winner of the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Honor Book, the Children's Africana Book Award, and ALA Booklist's Editor's Choice among others. His first YA novel was the ALA Best Book LESLIE'S JOURNAL. His latest, CHANDA'S WARS, a Junior Library Guild selection, won the Canadian Library Association's Young...more

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Quotes from Leslie's Journal

“Life doesn’t make sense. It’s against the law for somebody to steal your bike but apparently it doesn’t matter if somebody tries to steal your best friend. Well you can always get a new bike. But how do you replace a best friend” — 6 people liked it

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