Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pacing
- Moderate
- Mood
- Heartwarming, reflective, emotional, hopeful
The Secret Journal of Brett Colton Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
The Weight of a Perfect Brother
Sixteen-year-old Kathy Colton lives in the shadow of her older brother, Brett, who died of leukemia when she was two. Her family constantly idealizes Brett, portraying him as perfect. This fuels Kathy's resentment and feelings of inadequacy. She feels she can never measure up to this impossible standard and is tired of living with the ghost of someone she never knew. Her parents' grief, though decades old, still influences the family, making Kathy feel overlooked and misunderstood. This family pressure affects Kathy's self-perception and her interactions, leading her to create a defensive, often sarcastic, exterior.
A Journal's Discovery
On her sixteenth birthday, a significant milestone for her family, Kathy discovers a hidden journal in Brett's old room. To her astonishment, the journal is not just a personal diary but a series of entries specifically addressed to her, intended to be read when she turned sixteen. This revelation is a shock, suggesting Brett knew he wouldn't live to see her grow up and deliberately prepared this legacy. The journal immediately challenges Kathy's ideas about her brother and sparks a reluctant curiosity about the boy behind the myth, starting her on an unexpected path of discovery.
Tutoring the Quarterback
Adding to Kathy's already difficult life, she is assigned to tutor Jason West, the popular, charismatic, and attractive high school quarterback. This assignment is a source of immediate mortification for Kathy, who sees herself as an outsider and finds interacting with someone so popular daunting. Furthermore, Jason is a devout Mormon, a detail that initially creates a barrier for Kathy, who has skepticism and preconceived notions about his faith. Their initial interactions are awkward, marked by Kathy's defensiveness and Jason's attempts to bridge the social gap. This sets the stage for an unlikely connection.
Brett's Early Entries: A Glimpse of Humanity
As Kathy hesitantly begins to read Brett's journal, the entries reveal a more complex and human brother than the idealized image she's been given. Brett writes about his daily life, his struggles with school, his crushes, and his fears. He expresses frustrations, doubts, and typical teenage anxieties, slowly changing Kathy's perception of him as perfect. These early entries show Brett's vulnerability and humor, creating a connection Kathy never thought possible with her deceased brother. She starts to see him not as a saint, but as a real person, a brother she might have known.
Jason's Patience and Faith
Despite Kathy's initial resistance, Jason West is patient, kind, and genuinely interested in helping her with their tutoring sessions. His good nature and polite demeanor slowly start to break down Kathy's defensive exterior. He doesn't conform to her stereotypes of a 'popular jock' or a 'Mormon,' instead showing sincere faith and an easygoing personality. Jason's consistent kindness and his willingness to engage with Kathy on her own terms make her reconsider her judgments, not just about him, but about people in general and even about faith itself.
The Diagnosis and Its Impact
Deeper into the journal, Kathy reads about the devastating moment Brett received his leukemia diagnosis. His entries shift from typical teenage concerns to the raw fear, confusion, and sadness that accompany such an illness. He writes about the initial shock, the grueling treatments, and the emotional toll on himself and his family. This section of the journal provides Kathy with a firsthand account of her brother's suffering, giving her a deeper understanding of the family's enduring grief and the true battle Brett faced. It is a key moment in her understanding of his short life.
A Friendship Blooms
As the tutoring sessions continue, the initial awkwardness between Kathy and Jason becomes a genuine friendship. They find common ground beyond academics, sharing laughs, insights, and personal stories. Jason's easygoing nature and genuine interest in Kathy help her to open up, a stark contrast to her usual guarded self. Their conversations extend beyond schoolwork, into personal beliefs and experiences. This growing friendship provides Kathy with a much-needed connection and a safe space, allowing her to explore her own identity and feelings without the pressure of her family or the ghost of Brett.
Brett's Spiritual Journey
Amidst his physical decline, Brett's journal entries reveal a spiritual journey. He grapples with questions of life, death, and the existence of God, finding solace and strength in his faith. He writes about moments of doubt and despair, but also about spiritual experiences and a growing conviction in an afterlife. His reflections are mature beyond his years, showing deep introspection and a search for meaning in the face of his impending death. These entries offer Kathy a perspective on faith and resilience that she had previously dismissed or never considered.
Sharing Secrets
Feeling a growing trust and connection with Jason, Kathy begins to share snippets and insights from Brett's journal with him. She finds herself able to articulate the complex emotions and discoveries she's experiencing through her brother's words. Jason listens attentively, offering support and understanding, and sometimes sharing his own spiritual perspectives without being preachy. This act of sharing deepens their bond, as Kathy allows herself to be vulnerable with someone outside her immediate family, and Jason proves himself a trustworthy confidant.
The Final Entries: A Brother's Love
As Kathy nears the end of the journal, Brett's final entries are filled with acceptance and love for his little sister. He offers her advice, encouragement, and reassurance, expressing his wish for her happiness and for her to live a full life. He speaks directly to her, bridging the gap of time and death with his words. These entries show his unconditional love and his desire to guide her even after his passing, leaving Kathy with a sense of connection and comfort she never anticipated.
Confronting Family Grief
Through reading Brett's journal, Kathy understands the depth of her family's grief and how much Brett's death affected them. She realizes that their idealization of Brett was not meant to diminish her, but was a manifestation of their own pain and a way to preserve his memory. This new empathy allows her to see her parents and other family members in a new light, creating a sense of forgiveness and connection. She begins to heal the rift that had grown between them due to her resentment.
Kathy's Transformation
Kathy undergoes a significant transformation. She sheds her cynical exterior, embracing a more open and empathetic perspective on life, faith, and relationships. She no longer feels overshadowed by Brett but cherishes his memory and the unique connection made through his journal. Her friendship with Jason blossoms into a budding romance, built on mutual respect and understanding. Kathy learns to appreciate her family, herself, and the importance of faith, finding peace with her past and optimism for her future. She becomes a more confident and compassionate individual.
The Secret Journal of Brett Colton Characters
Kathy Colton
Protagonist
A sixteen-year-old struggling with her deceased brother's idealized image.
Kathy is a sarcastic, somewhat cynical sixteen-year-old who feels overshadowed by the perfect memory of her older brother, Brett, who died of leukemia when she was young. She resents her family's constant idealization of him, which makes her feel inadequate and misunderstood. Initially guarded and defensive, Kathy slowly opens up as she reads Brett's journal and develops a friendship with Jason. She is intelligent and perceptive, though her emotional walls often prevent her from fully expressing herself.
Relationships: Brett Colton (Deceased older brother, initially resented, later deeply understood and cherished.); Jason West (Tutoring partner, friend, and eventual romantic interest.); Colton Family (Parents) (Initially strained due to their grief and idealization of Brett, later understood and reconciled.)
Brett Colton
Supporting
Kathy's deceased older brother, whose journal guides her journey.
Brett is Kathy's older brother, who died of leukemia at sixteen. Though deceased, he is a central character through his journal, which reveals him to be a complex, thoughtful, and spiritually mature teenager. He grapples with typical adolescent challenges, his terminal illness, and profound questions of faith and purpose. His journal entries demonstrate his love for his family, his resilience, and his desire to connect with and guide his younger sister, Kathy, long after his death.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Younger sister, for whom he wrote his secret journal.); Colton Family (Parents) (Son, deeply loved and mourned.)
Jason West
Supporting
The popular, kind, and devout Mormon quarterback who tutors with Kathy.
Jason is the popular high school quarterback assigned to be tutored by Kathy. He is kind, patient, and possesses an unwavering good nature. A devout Mormon, he exemplifies his faith through his actions and respectful demeanor, challenging Kathy's preconceived notions. He is genuinely interested in Kathy, listening without judgment and offering support, which helps her to open up and grow. His calm and steady presence provides a strong contrast to Kathy's initial cynicism and helps her to see the world differently.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Tutoring partner, friend, and romantic interest.)
Mrs. Colton (Kathy's Mom)
Supporting
Kathy's mother, still grieving Brett and idealizing his memory.
Kathy's mother is deeply affected by the loss of her son, Brett. Her grief manifests in her idealization of Brett, which, while born of love and sorrow, inadvertently contributes to Kathy's feelings of inadequacy. She struggles to connect with Kathy, often inadvertently comparing her to Brett. She is a loving mother, but her unresolved grief creates a subtle distance in her relationship with Kathy. As Kathy learns more about Brett, she begins to understand her mother's pain.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Daughter, with whom she has a strained but loving relationship.); Brett Colton (Deceased son, whose memory she cherishes and idealizes.)
Mr. Colton (Kathy's Dad)
Supporting
Kathy's father, also grieving Brett and struggling to connect with Kathy.
Kathy's father, like her mother, carries the burden of Brett's death, which influences his interactions with Kathy. He also contributes to the idealized image of Brett, though perhaps less overtly than his wife. He is a loving but somewhat distant figure to Kathy, struggling to bridge the emotional gap created by their shared past. His grief is deep-seated, and he, too, benefits from Kathy's journey of understanding Brett, which helps to heal family wounds.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Daughter, with whom he has a somewhat distant but loving relationship.); Brett Colton (Deceased son, whose memory he holds dear.)
Mrs. Jensen
Supporting
Kathy's English teacher who assigns the tutoring.
Mrs. Jensen is Kathy's English teacher, responsible for assigning her to tutor Jason West. She is perceptive and likely sees potential in Kathy that Kathy herself doesn't recognize. Her role is primarily to set up the circumstances that force Kathy and Jason together, thus initiating Kathy's path of personal growth. She represents the external forces that push Kathy out of her comfort zone.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Student.); Jason West (Student.)
Sarah
Supporting
One of Kathy's friends.
Sarah is one of Kathy's friends, who provides a sounding board and a sense of normalcy in Kathy's life. She represents the typical teenage social circle and offers a contrasting perspective to Kathy's more internal struggles. While not deeply involved in Kathy's personal revelations about Brett, she offers friendship and support, helping Kathy navigate the social landscape of high school.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Friend.)
Mark
Supporting
One of Kathy's friends.
Mark is another one of Kathy's friends, part of her small social circle. He contributes to the typical high school banter and provides a sense of normalcy for Kathy amidst her more profound personal journey. Like Sarah, he serves as a background character who helps ground Kathy in her everyday life, offering a contrast to the intensity of her discoveries through Brett's journal.
Relationships: Kathy Colton (Friend.)
The Secret Journal of Brett Colton Themes
Grief and Healing
The novel explores the lasting impact of grief on a family and the individual journey of healing. Kathy's family has been stuck in an idealized remembrance of Brett, which, while born of love, inadvertently alienates Kathy. Through Brett's journal, Kathy not only grieves the brother she never knew but also helps her family begin to process their unresolved sorrow in a healthier way. The theme highlights that healing is a process that can take many forms and can be initiated even years after a loss, creating empathy and understanding within the family.
“Sometimes I think the hardest part about losing someone isn't the goodbye, but learning to live with the silence.”
Faith and Spirituality
Faith is a central theme, appearing in different ways for Brett, Kathy, and Jason. Brett's journal chronicles his spiritual journey as he confronts mortality, finding solace and meaning in his beliefs. Jason's Mormon faith is a gentle, positive influence on Kathy, challenging her cynicism and ideas about religion. Kathy's journey involves questioning, exploring, and ultimately embracing a spiritual dimension to life, finding comfort and guidance that she previously lacked. The book suggests that faith can be a powerful source of strength and hope in difficult times.
“Faith isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting that there's a plan, even when you can't see it.”
Identity and Self-Discovery
Kathy's journey is one of self-discovery. She begins the novel defined by her resentment of her deceased brother's idealized image, struggling to forge her own identity. Through reading Brett's journal, she learns about him, herself, her family, and her place in the world. Her interactions with Jason further challenge her self-perception and help her break down her emotional walls. By the end, Kathy no longer feels overshadowed but embraces her unique identity, finding confidence and purpose through understanding her past and present relationships.
“I used to think I had to be perfect, like Brett. But maybe being myself, with all my flaws, is enough.”
The Power of Connection
The novel shows the importance of human connection, both across time and in the present. Brett's journal is a powerful connection from the past, allowing him to guide and comfort his sister years after his death. Kathy's growing friendship and romance with Jason show the power of genuine, empathetic connection in the present. These relationships help Kathy overcome her isolation and resentment, teaching her the value of vulnerability, understanding, and shared experience. It highlights how connections can bridge divides and foster growth.
“Even though I'm gone, I want you to know you're never alone. We're connected, always.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Secret Journal
A posthumous journal written by Brett for Kathy.
The secret journal is the central plot device. It serves as Brett's voice from beyond the grave, allowing Kathy to connect with her deceased brother and understand him as a real person, not just an idealized memory. The journal's structure, with entries specifically for Kathy to read at sixteen, creates a direct, intimate communication that drives Kathy's personal growth and the unfolding of the story. It reveals plot details about Brett's life, his illness, and his spiritual journey, directly informing Kathy's transformation and changing her perception of her family's grief.
Dual Narrative (Implicit)
Alternating perspectives between Kathy's present and Brett's past.
The novel employs an implicit dual narrative structure, alternating between Kathy's present-day experiences (her struggles with family, her tutoring with Jason) and Brett's past experiences as revealed through his journal entries. This juxtaposition allows the reader to experience Kathy's journey of discovery simultaneously with the unfolding of Brett's life story. It creates dramatic irony and allows for a deeper understanding of both characters, showing how Brett's past directly influences Kathy's present and future, and how his story helps her navigate her own coming-of-age challenges.
The Unseen Mentor
Brett, through his journal, acts as Kathy's posthumous mentor.
Brett, despite being deceased, functions as a powerful unseen mentor for Kathy. His journal entries provide her with guidance, wisdom, and comfort, addressing issues she faces in her own life. He offers a perspective on life, death, faith, and family that she desperately needs. This device allows for a profound character development for Kathy, as she learns from her brother's experiences and insights, even though he is not physically present. It emphasizes the lasting impact individuals can have on each other, transcending the boundaries of life and death.
The Tutoring Assignment
Kathy's mandatory tutoring of Jason West.
The tutoring assignment is a crucial plot device that forces Kathy out of her comfort zone and into an unexpected relationship. By pairing her with Jason, a character who initially represents everything she resents (popularity, faith, seemingly 'perfect' life), the assignment creates conflict and subsequently, growth. It provides a separate, yet parallel, pathway for Kathy's self-discovery, allowing her to practice vulnerability and build trust outside her family. This relationship serves as a direct counterpoint and complement to her internal journey with Brett's journal.
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
What is the name of the protagonist's deceased brother?
- Jason West
- Colton Colton
- Brett Colton
- Kathy Colton
Show answer
C. Brett Colton The protagonist, Kathy Colton, discovers the secret journal of her brother, Brett Colton.
Question 2
How old was Kathy when her brother Brett died?
- Sixteen
- Two
- Eight
- Ten
Show answer
B. Two The book states that Brett died when he was sixteen and Kathy was only two.
Question 3
What medical condition did Brett Colton die from?
- Heart disease
- Leukemia
- Cancer
- Aids
Show answer
B. Leukemia The book explicitly mentions that Brett died of leukemia.
Question 4
Who is the protagonist assigned to tutor as part of a school assignment?
- Her brother, Brett
- A new student
- Jason West
- A classmate named Mark
Show answer
C. Jason West Kathy Colton is mortified by an assignment to tutor Jason West.
Question 5
What is Jason West's position on the high school football team?
- Wide Receiver
- Quarterback
- Running Back
- Linebacker
Show answer
B. Quarterback The text describes Jason West as the 'popular high school quarterback'.
Question 6
What is a key characteristic of Jason West that Kathy initially finds difficult to accept?
- He is a bully
- He is a Mormon
- He is not intelligent
- He is from a different town
Show answer
B. He is a Mormon Kathy is particularly mortified that Jason West is a Mormon.
Question 7
What major theme does the author, Kay Lynn Mangum, explore in the book?
- The challenges of starting a business
- The complexities of sibling rivalry
- The importance of family and friendship, and nurturing faith
- The struggles of overcoming poverty
Show answer
C. The importance of family and friendship, and nurturing faith The author 'brilliantly weaves the dual stories... who learn the importance of loving our family and our friends and nurturing our faith.'
Question 8
What kind of journal does Kathy discover, and who is it written for?
- A diary written for their parents
- A secret journal written especially for Kathy
- A collection of poems written for a love interest
- A travel log written for friends
Show answer
B. A secret journal written especially for Kathy Kathy discovers her brother's 'hidden journal - a journal written especially for her'.
Question 9
What does Kathy initially feel about her brother Brett before reading his journal?
- She admired him greatly
- She was indifferent to him
- She couldn't stand him and thought he was imperfect
- She felt he was a great influence
Show answer
C. She couldn't stand him and thought he was imperfect The text states, '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.'
Question 10
The narrative structure of the book involves the interweaving of which two storylines?
- Brett's past life and Kathy's future aspirations
- A dying brother's story and a sister's coming-of-age
- Jason's football career and Kathy's academic struggles
- The family's financial problems and their spiritual journey
Show answer
B. A dying brother's story and a sister's coming-of-age The author 'brilliantly weaves the dual stories of a dying brother and a coming-of-age sister'.
The Secret Journal of Brett Colton FAQ
What is The Secret Journal of Brett Colton about?
The book tells the story of Kathy Colton, who never knew her older brother Brett, as he died of leukemia when she was very young. On her sixteenth birthday, Kathy discovers Brett's secret journal, written specifically for her, which reveals the brother she never had the chance to know. Simultaneously, she navigates a challenging tutoring assignment with the popular quarterback, Jason West.
Who are the main characters in The Secret Journal of Brett Colton?
The main characters are Kathy Colton, a teenage girl discovering her deceased brother's legacy, and her older brother, Brett Colton, whose journal entries form a significant part of the narrative. Jason West, a high school quarterback Kathy is assigned to tutor, also plays a key role.
What are the main themes in The Secret Journal of Brett Colton?
The novel explores themes of family love, friendship, faith, and personal growth. It delves into the importance of understanding and appreciating loved ones, even those who are no longer present, and the process of coming-of-age.
Is The Secret Journal of Brett Colton a romance novel?
Yes, the book includes a romance element as Kathy navigates her feelings and interactions with Jason West, the quarterback she is tutoring.
What is the spiritual aspect of The Secret Journal of Brett Colton?
The book incorporates spirituality through the characters' journeys of faith and understanding. Brett's journal entries often reflect on his faith during his illness, and Kathy's experiences also involve nurturing her own spiritual beliefs.
What is the target audience for The Secret Journal of Brett Colton?
The Secret Journal of Brett Colton is primarily aimed at a Young Adult audience, as it features teenage protagonists and themes relevant to adolescence, including coming-of-age, relationships, and self-discovery.
How does Brett's journal impact Kathy?
Brett's journal provides Kathy with a profound connection to the brother she never knew. Through his writings, she learns about his personality, his struggles, his hopes, and his perspective on life and faith, fundamentally shaping her understanding of her family and herself.
What is the significance of Kathy tutoring Jason West?
The tutoring assignment with Jason West is significant because it forces Kathy to interact with someone she initially judges based on stereotypes. Their relationship evolves, challenging Kathy's perceptions and contributing to her personal growth and understanding of friendship and faith.
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