Customer Reviews
Jay's Journal - Beatrice Sparks - By: Naomi Clark, 04 Dec 2007 
It's hard not to be cynical about this book, knowing it was "prepared" by the same woman who "prepared" Go Ask Alice. The latter was published as a genuine account of a teenage girl's descent into drug addiction & death, but was later revealed to be fabricated by Sparks. Knowing this, it's almost impossible to read Jay's Journal with an open mind.
Once again a "true story" in the form of a diary, Jay's Journal is a tale of drugs & the occult, & how his involvement with these things lead the eponymous author to suicide. It's a rather shalllow tale; I doubt anyone who's seriously been involved with either drugs or voodoo will find it the least bit credible. Whereas Go Ask Alice was a genuinely moving story, despite it's misleading packaging, Jay's Journal offers nothing to sit the emotions. Jay is by turn unbelievably self-righteous & intolerably selfish, often cruel. His attitude to his friends & family often makes for uncomfortable reading & his experiences with black magic are laughably implausible.
There are numerous phrases used & characteristics displayed by Jay that are lifted directly from Go Ask Alice, another element that makes it made to take the book seriously. This kind of book is obviously intended to carry a moral message; Go Ask Alice did in spite of everything. It was a gripping, entertaining read that I believe is of value as a piece of fiction. Jay's Journal has none of these qualities. It's a scaremongering, preachy piece of fluff that rings hollow from beginning to end.
written just like the rest of her "true stories" - By: , 29 Feb 2004 
Having read this story, Go ask Alice & It happened to Nancy, I doubt that these stories were real accounts taken from teenager's diaries. They are alll written in a very close style with many of them writing exactly the same phrases. I found jay's journal to be the most interesting story, however I still found it unbelivable & disappointing. It might possibly be good for a young teenager as a warning, but that's alll.
Jays journal an important read for all, good for LDS parents - By: C. Sharland, 07 Jan 2004 
I had this book recommended to me some years ago whilst serving as a mormon missionary. Soon after my return home from my missionary service I baught a paper back copy for myself & my wife to read together. We found ourselves engrosed in this journal & felt very atched to the author Jay. Since reading it we have lent it out many times. Every one who has read this book has been surprised at how moving it reallly is. In some cases people have found it a wake calll to the things that young people can be involved in. Definately an impotant read.
This book is great but deeply disturbing as you follow the events that lead up to Jays suicide. His experiences with drugs, the ocult & the influence his friends & family did or didn't have upon his lifes direction. A truely important & deeply moving journal.
WOW! Freaked the hell out of me - By: , 31 May 2001 A friend of mine read this book years ago when we were in High School & passed it on to me. I read it & re-read it, & as I have said, it scared the hell literallly out of me. A must read for anyone who might be thinking about getting involved in the occult.
