Book Guide
“Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope” by Jenna Bush
Jenna Bush wrote the book “Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope” after interning with UNICEF for nine months starting in 2006. There she met a teenage girl whose story inspired her to become an activist for HIV/AIDS and AIDS orphans. “Ana’s Story” retells the story of Ana, a seventeen year old AIDS orphan with HIV. After Ana’s mother dies of AIDS Ana experiences many hardships including discrimination, abuse, and pregnancy. It is a powerful story targeted for younger readers that can open discussion about HIV/AIDS.
Questions to consider:
- What kind of trials does Ana overcome throughout the story?
- Whom does Ana go to for support?
- In what circumstances does Ana’s family help her and hurt her?
- What kind of discrimination does Ana encounter?
- What is the role of non- governmental organizations in helping Ana?
- How does anti-retroviral treatment help Ana to live with HIV?
- Why would “Ana” want her name to remain anonymous in her story?
- How does Mia Baxter’s photography help to tell Ana’s story?
Personal reflection questions:
- What can I personally do to help AIDS orphans?
- How does reading the real life testimony of an AIDS orphan further my understanding and empathy for those living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS orphans?
Other books about AIDS orphans:
“AIDS Orphans Rising: What You Should Know and What You Can Do To Help Them Succeed” by Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd
This book details the lives of AIDS orphans and provides ways for the reader to get involved. All profits from this book go towards efforts to help Child Headed Households, or AIDS orphans.
“Taking Away the Distance: An African AIDS Orphan and His Crusade to Unite Children Orphaned by the Epidemic” by Miles Roston
Miles Roston retells the life of Kevin, an AIDS orphan, and how HIV/AIDS affects his whole community. It follows Kevin’s quest to have questions answered about AIDS.
“Children of AIDS: Africa's Orphan Crisis” by Emma Guest
In this book, Emma Guest shares touching stories of homeless children affected by AIDS and evaluates efforts to help AIDS orphans in Africa.