Jenna Bush--The Author

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

06 Mar 2007 01:12 PM

One of the president's daughters is getting a new title--author. According to news reports, 25-year-old Jenna Bush has written her first book, Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope. The book, which will be published this fall, is not political in nature. Rather, Bush says it tells the story of a 17-year-old single mother who is living with HIV.

In an interview with news reporters, Bush said she met the subject of her book while she was working as an intern for UNICEF in Panama. (Prior to the move Bush was a public school teacher in Washington, D.C.) In fact, Bush revealed today that the earnings from her book would be donated to UNICEF.

The book (and the subsequent media blitz to promote it) is new territory for the normally press shy Bush who commented that she was willing to give up some of her anonymity to promote her cause.

According to Bush, the book grew out of her work in Panama, specifically the time she spent being exposed to children of extreme poverty in Central and South America. She also said the project was a team effort, which features photos by Mia Baxter, her former University of Texas classmate.

The first daughter said Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope is aimed at teens and ends with a "call to action." Bush told reporters she hopes to encourage readers to confront issues of "exclusion" that range from examining HIV discrimination to "inviting new kids to sit with them in the cafeteria."

However, some critics say Bush's foray into the literary world is an attempt to debunk the myth that she and her twin Barbara are "a couple of party girls."

In response, Bush told reporters, "I care what people who know me think of me. I think they would disagree (with the image). I like to go to bed early."

We'll see. Once the book hits shelves Bush will return to the United States (currently, she is still in Panama) where she will set off on a book tour that includes visits to schools, libraries and bookstores.

Would you be interested in reading Bush's new book?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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