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Jenna Bush Signs Book, Talks About Children With AIDS

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2007

BRANDON - Although it's a story about a Latin American orphan who was born HIV-positive, later sexually abused and pregnant at age 16, "Ana is a lot like many teenagers in the United States," Jenna Bush said Thursday.

"In fact, she reminds me a lot of me when I was 17," she said.

Bush, 25, daughter of the president and first lady Laura Bush, spoke Thursday to customers at Books-A-Million at Westfield Brandon mall, where she signed copies of her book, "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope." About 50 people got Bush's autograph after security checks by Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies.

She said she was inspired to write the book after documenting the life stories, or historias de vida, of children in Latin America and the Caribbean as an intern for UNICEF in 2006.

A typical teen, Ana loves listening to Latin pop music star Shakira and taught Bush how to do the bachata, a popular Dominican dance.

Also like other teens, Ana would not have overcome the obstacles in her life without friends, mentors, educators and spiritual leaders, Bush thinks.

"It's something all children need," she said. "All the children and teens we met had hard lives. And when I first began interviewing Ana, I ignorantly thought she would be scared and sad and would have trust issues. I didn't know she'd already gotten the help she needed and had talked about her problems. By the time I met her, she was incredibly positive. She said, 'This is the way God created my life. What is the point in being sad?'"

"Ana's Story" is intended to be inspirational, not depressing, Bush said.

"Yes, 2.3 million children in the world live with AIDS, and millions live with abuse," she said. "But as Ana showed us, small gestures of kindness can make a big difference."

Most of those attending the book signing said they hadn't had a chance to read "Ana's Story," but they were impressed with Bush's commitment.

"I admire her and really wanted to meet her," said Darlene Masterson of Apollo Beach.

Bush encouraged people to become volunteers, teachers, tutors and mentors to children in need of a helping hand and to educate themselves about AIDS, sexual abuse and other issues affecting children. The final chapters of the book are a primer on AIDS and abuse that includes myths about HIV and AIDS.

While in Jamaica, Bush said some HIV-positive boys told her they had to keep their condition a secret or other villagers would stone them to death.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at dlwhite @tampatrib.com or (813) 657-4524.

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