Kathy Colton can t stand her brother, Brett. Her family talks as if he were perfect! All Kathy knows for sure is that Brett is dead. He died of ...
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Dec 26, 2008
Sanora
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Mar 04, 2009
Madeline
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This is my favorite book of all time!!! It is about this girl named Kathy Colton. Her brother died at age 17 of Leukemia. Kathy was about 2 when he died, so she has no memory of him. Her older siblings Alex and Sam are always at her house with their families. They always get into a conversation about Brett. The brother she never knew. Kathy has never found any vieos of her as a baby. Nobody knows what her first words were, or even when she took her first steps. They were always focused on Bret
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Feb 25, 2009
Hollie
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I'd must admit that I didn't want to read this book. But I'm glad that I had. It is not as a sad book as the synopsis describes it. I was sad when it ended. It was a good ending but I wanted to read more.
It was very well done. I think that this book is a must read. It is emotional; so must be prepared for that.
It is a great story on having faith. One of the best that I have ever read.
Kathy Colton can't stand her brother Brett. Her family talks as if he w More...
It was very well done. I think that this book is a must read. It is emotional; so must be prepared for that.
It is a great story on having faith. One of the best that I have ever read.
Kathy Colton can't stand her brother Brett. Her family talks as if he w More...
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Nov 08, 2007
Rachel
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Some books are just not meant to be read by me. This is one of them. It is just not my style. It kind of reminded me of an episode of 90210 but with Mormon kids. The nerdy girl agrees to tutor the stud athlete who of course has a softer side- a religious side in fact. What is this strange faith of his? Hummmm. I think we are about to find out. In addition, she is naturally from a troubled home (because anyone non-Mormon is screwed up in these boooks). She finds the journal of her brother
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May 10, 2009
Amy
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I truly enjoyed this read today and it did even bring some tears (not sure how much pregnancy hormones are to blame for that..). Then why only 3 stars? The writing is mediocre...the story line predictable and "sweet". When a friend dropped it off so I could quickly gobble it down for book club, I looked at the back cover and sighed..."oh, it's an LDS book". Which is fine, but I have to admit to having read very few LDS books that fit my criteria for good literature. That
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Dec 02, 2008
Kierstan
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this book is so amazing! aaahhh I loved it so much!!! It's so sad, it makes you want to cry at parts and then other parts you suddenly get interested in recording your life (I even bought a cam corder that I'll be using. it's on layaway right now) :) Not only is it such a great book but you also learn a little about the LDS religion. It's so amazing! aaahhh I love it! It makes me feel very good. :)
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Jan 08, 2012
06Jamieb
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Summary: This is a story about a teenage girl who is constantly listening to stories told of her older brother who died of cancer, her name is Kathy Colton. Her family never stops talking about the memories they have of Kathy's older brother, Brett. Kathy wouldn't mind as much if she could only remember him, but he died when she was only two years old. On Kathy's sixteenth birthday she is surprised to find a note and a secret journal Brett wrote just for her. She soon finds out how much she trul
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Jan 13, 2011
Rachel
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Fred bought me this for Christmas and presented it to me with an apple and a pack of reading glasses:)It was the sweetest gesture. He purchased it from Deseret Book, with guidance from a sales rep., knowing that I'm not a "Mormon Lit." fan, but thinking it was the safest way to find a clean read.
It was a clean read, and easy to spend those relaxing Christmas vacation days with my nose in it because I could relate to the mother. It was also a very stereotypical, predictable, More...
It was a clean read, and easy to spend those relaxing Christmas vacation days with my nose in it because I could relate to the mother. It was also a very stereotypical, predictable, More...
May 01, 2010
Hannah
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Oct 24, 2009
Sherry
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Usually I stay far away from LDS fiction. It doesn't interest me and offers only an LDS perspective. I prefer Mormon-free fiction. But when one of my friends/YW suggested this book and told me the plot, I was intrigued. I would give 1 to 2 chapters and if it didn't hold my interest, I could always take it back to the library.
What a surprise! I loved it! I was completely drawn into Kathy's story about her older brother, Brett who'd died when she was 2. She's angry because there are no More...
What a surprise! I loved it! I was completely drawn into Kathy's story about her older brother, Brett who'd died when she was 2. She's angry because there are no More...
Sep 25, 2009
Tiffany
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There is some kind of excitement I feel holding a new book that I haven’t read yet. The anticipation of what the story might bring. The thrill of not knowing if you will like the journey it will take you on. There is also a sense of nervousness that it will disappoint you.
Reading the brief description about what this book was about I would say it wouldn’t be a book I would go out of my way to read. I try to avoid sad stories. Life is too hard to read sad stories. But my parents bough More...
Reading the brief description about what this book was about I would say it wouldn’t be a book I would go out of my way to read. I try to avoid sad stories. Life is too hard to read sad stories. But my parents bough More...
Feb 12, 2011
Jennifer
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I loved this story. It is a book of growth and change. I loved how the author shows the changes of the main character. You feel with her and change with her. I don't know if it is because I knew the fact that her brother was already dead therefore knew the ending to his journal or if I was just so caught up in hope for the main character and her life but I was not sad when I read the final entry of the journal. The author splits the entries up so your not reading the whole journal from the broth
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Jan 12, 2010
Megan
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One of the best LDS Fiction books I have ever read. (Actually, the only other LDS fiction book that I thought was worth my time was On The Road to Heaven.... and I guess Charly made me cry like a baby... but that is all beside the point).
My Uncle gave me this book to read and at first I was a bit skeptical, my Uncle had never given me a book to read before and the first one he does give me is LDS Fiction, hm.... But I decided to read it anyways. I started and I couldn't put the book More...
My Uncle gave me this book to read and at first I was a bit skeptical, my Uncle had never given me a book to read before and the first one he does give me is LDS Fiction, hm.... But I decided to read it anyways. I started and I couldn't put the book More...
Jan 13, 2009
Janet
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A friend passed this book along to me thinking I would like it. She was right. I really did like it.
I tend to not read much LDS fiction because it always seems too convenient, but I liked this book for the story of a sister and her much older brother. It was very reflective of my own experience, so I had a lump in my throat several times throughout the book.
One problem I had a hard time getting past was that Kathy's mother was so against her son's mormon friend. I kept waitin More...
I tend to not read much LDS fiction because it always seems too convenient, but I liked this book for the story of a sister and her much older brother. It was very reflective of my own experience, so I had a lump in my throat several times throughout the book.
One problem I had a hard time getting past was that Kathy's mother was so against her son's mormon friend. I kept waitin More...
Jun 05, 2009
Dlora
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The book blurb says this is a dual story of a dying brother and a coming-of-age sister who both learn the importance of family, friends, and faith. Kay Lynn Mangum really did a good job of weaving these two stories together and lifting the book from a simple teen romantic conversion story to something with more depth. Kathy Colton is the baby of the family whose older brother died when she was two. She resents him a lot because it seems like her perfect brother is all her parents and sibs can ta
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Jan 15, 2009
Mackenzie
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This book made me laugh and cry it was just so incredable. This has to be up their with one of my favorite books of all time!!
Kathy Colton is an adverage girl who finds herself through the book and becomes unique and stands out to everyone when her mood changes:At home her family is always talking about her brother brett who died of Lukimia when she was two. She feels mad at him for it seams like her family can't just move on. When Jason West runs in to her Honors English tardy for the f More...
Kathy Colton is an adverage girl who finds herself through the book and becomes unique and stands out to everyone when her mood changes:At home her family is always talking about her brother brett who died of Lukimia when she was two. She feels mad at him for it seams like her family can't just move on. When Jason West runs in to her Honors English tardy for the f More...
Aug 11, 2009
Cassie
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This is an LDS teen fiction novel about Kathy who is starting high school. On her 16th birthday she receives a journal from her brother, Brett, who died at the age of 17 from leukemia. This journal helps Kathy to realize the love Brett had for her and nearing his death he had been reading The Book of Mormon. During high school Kathy tutors the next rising star for the football team Jason West in Honors English. He always related the weekly reading assignments to princilpes of the gospel and from
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Nov 28, 2007
Sarah
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I normally do not read LDS fiction. It's never really appealed to me. I only read this book because it was the book chosen for the book club. Although I found the romance part of the book to be a little cheesy and the plot somewhat predictable, I enjoyed the book overall.
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Mar 12, 2009
Emilyn
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It was completely amazing. I cried a little and laughed a little but mostly I was just thinking how cool it was through it all. I found some really good stuff in it and it was just really touching. I would read it billions of times and never get bored of it. ever.
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Sep 09, 2010
Abby
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Dec 07, 2009
Kristi
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Ok, this was a very typical, cheesy Mormon book. But I have to say despite the terrible dialogue that has you shuddering and or skipping pages at times, this book was very emotionally drawing for me. In the same sense as New Moon it sucked me in to feeling just what those characters were feeling (Kitty and Brett, not Kathy and Jason?...see I can't even remember her loves name.) I was so touched by the relationship this dying boy had with his baby sister it was heart rending to watch them be p
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May 15, 2010
Jamie
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This was one of the saddest books I've ever read! I don't usually cry when I read books (maybe I'll get a couple of tears or feel an itching in my eye, but I've never really cried!) Brett's leukemia really made me sad, especially when he was talking about how he was dying, and he said he needed to say I love you more. :( It also taught me a lot about faith. Kathy made it seem so simple when she was talking to Jason about it! This book drew me in so much, and I looked by me when I was done readin
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Feb 01, 2011
Melissa
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Kathy Colton can't stand her older brother. Everyone always talks about how great he is but all Kathy knows is that he died when she was two years old. But things change when she receives a special gift on her sixteenth birthday and also finds out she has to tutor Jason West, the high school football quarterback and a Mormon!
"This book is amazing! It is full of laughs, tears, and most of all love. I would really recommend this book to everyone because it teaches the importance More...
"This book is amazing! It is full of laughs, tears, and most of all love. I would really recommend this book to everyone because it teaches the importance More...
Oct 24, 2010
Taryn
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The Sectet Journal of Brett Colton is truely one of the sweetest stories that I have ever read. Kay Lynn Mangum was able to make me feel like I was in love, like I was misunderstood, like I was one of the charcters in her book. I usually can't stand books that have to do with religion, just because I feel like I get enough of it, but this book was different. It wasn't just another story about an amazing, gorgeous, football player falling for an akward, weird, nerd girl. It was about growing
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Oct 24, 2011
01mailer
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I LOVED this book. I heard about this book when my second cousin recommended it to me. I thought it sounded kind of interesting so I thought it was worth a read. And it was! This book has a cute story line, but it also teaches you a lot about life that you start to realize as you continue to read.
At the beginning of this book, it just talked a lot about Kathy, and her brother that died. At first, I really didn't like how she talked about her dead brother. I thought she was just being More...
At the beginning of this book, it just talked a lot about Kathy, and her brother that died. At first, I really didn't like how she talked about her dead brother. I thought she was just being More...
Aug 03, 2010
Maddie
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Everyone must read!!!! Although it does say a lot about Mormons so if you dislike that then maybe pick a different book. But I read and read all afternoon and could NOT stop reading. I cried several times and since I borrowed the book, could see where others had cried too. So meaningful and personal. I could not believe it. I am going to go buy a copy so that I can reread it again and again and again. I was reading by the light of my iPod in my bed and my sister and cousin were watching me funny
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Jan 20, 2009
Patti
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I read this book simply because my teenager asked me to...I'll have to listen to her more often. So many times, Mormon fiction gets too preachy, too self-righteous to be enjoyable. This book was anything but that. It follows a young girl, Kathy, whose older brother died of leukemia when she was not quite 2 years old. In the course of things, she is given a journal that her brother kept through the last two years of his life. I loved this book, and will most definately buy it for my daughter
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Jan 31, 2012
Rebekah
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The Secret Journal of Brett Colton is one of the most inspiring and uplifting books I have ever read. It is about a girl named Kathy who’s older brother named Brett died when she was two years old. Her parents and two older siblings always talk about Brett and all the amazing things he did. She feels left out and forgotten by her family and lives her life frustrated that she never really got to know her brother. On her sixteenth birthday her mom gives her, her brothers journal. The journal is ad
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Sep 16, 2011
Weronika
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This book is AMAZING!
I loved it, the story is very moving, had me crying, and I can honestly say no other book ever has. At first I was a little apprehensive about it, since this is the first book this author has written, but aside from a couple of spelling and grammar errors I found this book is really touching.
The book starts with Kathy a teenager ready to start High School who is constantly hearing stories of her dead brother Brett from her family. Every day the More...
I loved it, the story is very moving, had me crying, and I can honestly say no other book ever has. At first I was a little apprehensive about it, since this is the first book this author has written, but aside from a couple of spelling and grammar errors I found this book is really touching.
The book starts with Kathy a teenager ready to start High School who is constantly hearing stories of her dead brother Brett from her family. Every day the More...
Jul 14, 2010
Heidi
rated it:
If it makes me cry I'll give it five stars and this one had me crying for pretty much the whole thing!
Fifteen year old Kathy Colton feels neglected and left out in her family. When she was only 2 years old her older brother Brett died from Leukemia. Since she can't remember anything about him or her family's life before he died, she has to deal with just listening and being uninvolved in the constant Brett discussions.
She meets Jason West, the first boy to follow in her brother's f More...
Fifteen year old Kathy Colton feels neglected and left out in her family. When she was only 2 years old her older brother Brett died from Leukemia. Since she can't remember anything about him or her family's life before he died, she has to deal with just listening and being uninvolved in the constant Brett discussions.
She meets Jason West, the first boy to follow in her brother's f More...
