3 NBs of Julian Drew: A Poignant Young Adult Story of Survival and Secret Code

by James M. Deem

Julian Drew “lives” with his father, his abusive stepmother and her children, but it’s not a life anyone would want. He buys his first NB on October 25 at Osco Drug in Tucson. Green spiral. 80 pages. 34 lines per page. He tries to write but his pen won’t cooperate. Then he develops a secret code. Mysterious notebooks record his fight for survival and recovery. Gripping and poignant, this story will hook readers from the first page.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Abuse, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Diary

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Walker Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly touching book regarding tales of grief, adolescence, admiration, and unfortunate abuse. Caught me off guard in many aspects, and made me feel like I was in a dreamlike state along with the protagonist. I love how even after you finish the book, you can go back and connect the dots on several key points of the story. Highly recommend it!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a favorite of mine during middle school, and that hasn't changed.

You start with a boy trying to write his story, but it only comes out in a special code. You find out later what everything means. It takes time, and by halfway through you pretty much know what all the special codes and abbreviations stand for. I remember when I first figured it out. I stopped halfway through the book, and started again at the beginning, now knowing everything he was trying to say.

Ok, now this is going to get a bit spoilery.

There is abuse in this book that can make people a bit squeamish. It isn't bloody or graphic, but there is mental and physical abuse.

This young boy is mentally broken. I've seen people write comments asking if this stuff really happens to people, and yes. Yes it does. Though I don't know if it affects people the same as it is portrayed in this book.

A wonderful book about something that is usually shoved out of people thoughts. A child is abused, and wishes to cry out for help, but believes that no one will believe him or do anything about it. Will you listen? Will you read his story?

[Melissa Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know that feeling when you have so many thoughts and feelings running around in your head that you just have to write them down? Except sometimes, they are so overwhelming that you don't know where to start. Julian knows the feeling, and this book takes you on the rollar coaster ride of his thoughts as he himself figures out how to put them into words. Very well done.

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful, I cried. I was fairly young when I read this and it opened my eyes to the world, but not in a shocking way. My heart goes out to abuse victims and children who come from homes that are not loving. The themes in this book are more adult, but it is worth the heartache to read through to the end.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

James M. Deem's 3 NBs of Julian Drew is a heart-wrenching account of an abused teen by his "nother," or stepmother. Julian's cryptic journaling was a little unsettling at first until context patterns emerged. Julian's journaling becomes less cryptic as he learns to overcome his abuse, and although uncertainty still exists at the story's end, the reader is left with hope.

[Viridiana Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro habia estado en mi librero por 7 años, lo habia intentado leer con anterioridad pero por el "lenguaje" en que esta escrito no pasaba de las primeras 4 paginas. Hoy me decidi a leerlo, es el mejor libro que leido estos ultimos meses! why didn't I read it before!

[Isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this in like fifth grade and it still comes back to me all the time. i need a copy of my own, honestly. i wouldn't recommend it if you're disturbed by stories about abuse, but it still haunts me in college. absolutely magnificent.

[Briahna16 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a freaking page turner! I recently saw someone reading it,and they didn't understand it, and I was like "you're not really READING it!"

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julian's teacher encourages him to read The Outsiders. That's good advice.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book--I definitely recommend it. It made me think of how little I know about what actually goes on in a student's life outside of the school. This is a must-read.

[Julia Van, yo! · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite books. Underrated, disturbing, and extremely touching. People need to read this.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and it has stuck with me since then. A challenging and great read. Loved it then and love it now.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has been on my TBR for about 10 years, I finally picked up a copy last year, and having finally gotten around to reading it, this was disappointing. I had a lot of trouble connecting with the narrator and the unique way that the book is written, and it was difficult to read given that it deals heavily with abuse.

[Zak P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now THIS is an appropriate use for the term “male loneliness epidemic”!

Absolutely insane from beginning to end. Watching the narrator’s language evolve as the story unfolds is an interesting and unique journey. It’s a shame that this book didn’t find me in middle school, a time when I could have related more to Julian Drew’s story.

[vaugnfreech · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a copy somewhere a long time ago but didn’t buy because I dunno. And then I found this list of must reads for young adults and saw The 3NBs of Julian Drew in it. So when I found a copy again at Booksale, I bought it this time.

The 3NBs of Julian Drew is the story of this boy Julian Drew who is uber abused by his step mother, and well, his father at the same time. After his mother’s death, everything changed. Starved, caged, lambasted, tortured…oh well, lotsa bad things that can make me vomit. And to express himself, pour out his angst, Julian writes in his journals. He writes in codes so that his stepmother wouldn’t know about it. All the bitterness…all his desires to see his late mother once again. Plus the blooming love affair with a disturbed girl. The twist of the tale is how Julian managed to survive…and well, how he got braver and braver as he wrote in his journals

I found the book very disturbing. But it’s a slice of life. It slaps me of of what I think about my American Dream…that I wanna have my teenage life in the States. What I see in the movies, what I read in some books…it’s total different here. It’s the mentality of abused kids…and I wonder if it really happens. I mean, well, it can happen here in the Philippines. But I really doubt in the States.

And I was thinking Julian is going to be mad. Gawd, after all he’d been through…it’s kinda traumatic. And he keeps on hoping for a miracle…of twisting time and seeing his mother once again. The ending was kinda confusing…I believed I understood but I think not quite.

And well, the whole book is really confusing if you’ll not try to understand. I was researching in the internet and discovered Leet Speak…or L337. Those codes that Julian used, yes. But as the story progressed, you’ll notice he’s no longer using the codes, which means he’s no longer afraid. Thanks to his English teacher who was very understanding…and this girl in class.

Speaking of this girl in class…she’s also weird. I forgot her name (sorry) but well, she’s one important character in the story. I could relate to her and Julian…talking about weird stuffs together, sharing the same angst…wanting to escape together. They ended up falling in love…but in such a complicated way. You just have to discover the love story if you’re planning to read the book.

I give this book 4 and a half stars.

[Ms BooksAholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was, in a word, fabulous! I was a bit confused in the beginning with all the "codes", but after a while I found it enhanced the story's authenticity and made me feel as if Julian was a real, breathing person (and maybe somewhere he is).

This story of a teenage boy in search of his past and identity had me itching to read more after I had put it down for only a minute. There is, literally, never a dull moment!

Mixed in with the exceptional dialect of this troubled 15-year old are wonderful pieces of "poetry" that express Julian's inner most intelligence and feelings: his work for Mrs. Pope, the concerned English teacher; as well as his thoughts on "U" (you), "43" (he), "543" (she), and "S" (Susan). Despite being misunderstood by family and himself, he somehow finds peace through the writings in his "NB". I picked up this book not knowing what to expect, but was indeed pleasantly surprised.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book. Strait and to the point, there is a kid that lives with his parents and four siblings. He is stuck living in the basement will his siblings live a peaceful life almost. His mom will give him old food or little to none food while his siblings get whatever they want. While he is in his room which is all plain and a couple of things he hides his note book and he writes in code. He writes in code so his parents couldn't read it. The story goes on and he finds a teacher that changes his life. He gets a job with and becomes friends with a co-worker. He starts to like the co-worker. After a while he starts righting normal and reveals his life to the world. All in all I recommend the book it’s a great story. It shows how you can always over come something no matter how bad the situation is. I recommend the book, and rate it about three stars out of five.

[Jasmyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. Not as good as I thought it would be. I put the book down a few times but I kept reading. Part of the book is written in code. The code is actually fairly easy to figure out. Maybe not for everyone, but I already knew the code before I read the book. Overall, I liked the book.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journals sof a troubled 15-year-old who lives with his father and emotionally and physically abusive stepmother and her children after the death of his own mother years ago. He runs away from Tempe, AZ to Wheeling WV where he had lived when his mother was alive.

[Taryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my summer school students recommended this book. It is really bizarre. Cleverly written, but it got a little creepy for me about 3/4 of the way in.

[Nilsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

so far so good

[FlyWithMe * a y a n n a * · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good in all its confusion. Totally made me cry :')

[Gianny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It made me think of myself in a way. I couldn't understand it, but then I could. Ironic yet contradicting. I want to read it again.

[Shanice · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good! Really different from the books I usually read.

[Shannen Stiffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that is unassuming immediately after you read it but will pop up and haunt you at random times in the future.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Birthday, Julian Drew. May all good things come your way.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book.