Just Jenifer

Jordon Family #1

by Janet Lambert

At the outbreak of WWII, with her father, an army general overseas, adolescent Jenifer musters her wits to housekeep for her large and lively family in the first of this famous series.

Genres: Young Adult, World War II, Historical Fiction, Romance, Childrens

187 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Janet Lambert, born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, was a popular girls' story author from 1941 through 1969 (and beyond to today). She wrote 54 books during that time about a number of different girls and their families. Her most popular series were about the Parrishes and the Jordons. These stories, and many of her other series, became entwined as the various characters met each other, married, and then had children of their own!

Janet, having an interest in both the theater and writing, decided to write her own plays in which to act. She did achieve her goal and appeared on Broadway. When she married a career Army officer, her life on stage came to a close, but her stories were still flowing. Knowing well the "life of the Army," many of Ms. Lambert's books are set on Army posts throughout the United States.

Legend has it that her stories started as bedtime stories for her children while they were overseas. Each night, the author would tell the next "installment" of the series. Later, after her kids were grown, she penned one of her stories (Star Spangled Summer) and—according to legend—it was sold to a publisher the very day after she sent it to them.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Jordan family series and in multiple places it's suggested that this book should be read before continuing with the Parrish books since the families become entwined at some point. Although both Penny Parrish and Jenifer are warm vibrant girls (young women) and the author describes great personalities, they are very different. Or I should say that their circumstances are very different. Penny lives on an Army base with two loving parents and her life is mostly rounds of gay parties. Jenifer is a very responsible girl indeed.

General Jordan is sent overseas in the War (WWII). Jenifer, age 16, must quit school to take care of the motherless Jordan brood. Since they live in Florida, General Jordan figures that at least they won't need to worry about heat! Jenifer runs the family like an Army; each child has chores and any misdemeanors require a court-martial and punishment, Jenifer included. There are 8 younger children: Peter aged 15 is her real brother. Her father had remarried after their mother died bringing into the family her two girls: Gwenn and Alice. After having a son Vance, twins Neal and Susan, and baby Bitsy, the adored step-mother also died. As if that weren't enough children, General Jordan's brother and sister-in-law are killed and their 10 year-old son Donny is added to Jenifer's charges.

Nearby the cottage they move to in the country is an estate and Jenifer meets the forlorn boy who lives there, Cyril, a victim of the London blitz, who was sent to his hoity-toity aunt in Florida. She is the one able to bring him forward and I think he will play a big part in her future. She also is able to charm the stiff aunt he lives with.

This is another book/series that I highly recommend.

[Lydia Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Jenifer by Janet Lambert is the first book in the Jordon Family series.

I really enjoyed the first quarter or so of this book. I am much like Jenifer -- not really in personality, but in the fact that I am taking on a lot of responsibility as a teenager because of an unfortunate situation in my life. However, by the time I reached the halfway mark, Cyril had entered the picture. I very much disliked Cyril and the entire plot that revolved around him and his aunt.

I also found the "romance" between Lacey and Andy to be very random and out-of-nowhere. I didn't think they were cute and I think their relationship needed way more time to develop.

Her family was cute, although I felt like there didn't need to be so many children. 5 or 6 instead of 8 kids would have served just as well and it would have been just as busy. Susan and Donny and Neal didn't even have personalities.

Also, a nitpick, is it even possible for two people to kiss while riding horses and be able to stay in their saddles?? This confuses me. I would like to know the answer. XD

I enjoyed the old-fashioned charm that this book had and Jenifer reminded me of myself, but the plot was dry and the resolution was very rushed. I definitely preferred the first Parrish book over this.

However, I still probably will be reading the next book in this series. 3 stars out of 5.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

four stars, not because it had any literary merit, but because it was a perfect comfort read at a trying time!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been years since I've read the Jordon series, so it was almost like reading this for the first time. I do so like Jenifer and Peter. Most of the other young Jordons weren't as easy to get to know since the book wasn't about them. It was a lovely read and Andy made me smile several times.
This book takes place during WWII when General Jordon is away in the war.
A fun story with lots of characters and it takes place in Florida. Not a place I usually find stories taking place in that time period.
This is not a Christian book and there is at least one swear word.

[Karen Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of the Jordon family series, introducing each of the Jordon children (Jenifer and Peter from General Jordon's first marriage and his second wife's children Gwenn and Alice, along with additional progeny from the second marriage Neil, Susan, Vance, and Bitsy) and their cousin Donny. The Parrish and Jordon families end up very much intermingled so I decided to read the books in publication order instead of series order.

General Jordon, a two-time widower, has been assigned to the European theater as World War II continues and he left his large family with a paid house-keeper, but really his eldest daughter Jenifer is in charge of her siblings. At 16, Jenifer has been an army brat all her life and has developed a great sense of duty. When the house-keeper suddenly has to leave, Jenifer takes over, moving her charges to a new house (rented from the local general store owner) and running the house like an army base. The family is filled with fun and the normal mishaps of any large family, so the military precision isn't completely true to form but it helps them keep organized.

Jenifer has a lot to handle for a sixteen-year-old. Running a house, keeping eight children in line, and taking on helping a young English teen named Cyril who's recovering from a London blitz attack. When she collapses, Cyril's aunt who originally didn't like Jenifer takes over and helps the Jordon family out.

I do like the Jordon family... there's such a variety of personalities. This isn't the best of the series but serves as a great introduction to the family.

[Kate Donnelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new YA series written in 1945. A look at an army family during the war. It shows a little perspective of an army base and activities of "army" brats. A charming family being cared for by an older sibling while the father is in the war. A look at the loose governing of children at this time. Pleasant read.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Janet Lambert apparently wrote 20-30 girls' books between 1941 and 1967. Just Jenifer is an early example from 1945. I found it as a reprint.

I was drawn to the book as I always am drawn to period books. Plus the blurb on the back noted that Jenifer "meets a young and attractive English nobleman." While this is true, it wasn't nearly as exciting as it sounds. Jenifer, the protagonist, is 16 years old, but acts like a 45 year old housewife the entire book, taking care of her 8 siblings and the young, ill, English nobleman. Hardly romantic.

Good points - the novel is set in Orlando, Florida! A pleasant surprise for me, and rare especially for 1945. The city sadly didn't play a big part, other than one reference to Rollins.

I may be interested in checking out one of Lambert's later books, to see if her style changed and her youthful characters matured over the course of 20 years. But if they are all like this one, I won't bother. May be fine for young girls - the intended audience - but less so for adult readers.

[Meg W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Jordan family series and the only one devoted entirely to Jennifer. It starts with Jennifer and her 8 siblings (one is really a cousin), who have been left in Florida by their army General father at the beginning of world war 2. Jennifer is left with the help of maid who isn't all there and a fractious housekeeper who is fired in the first chapter. The Jordan clan rents a lake house from a friend and settle into the army barracks life they create. They make friends with a lieutenant in the army named Andy and a young pretty school marm named Lacey. While there Jennifer meets a young English noble named Cyril, sent to visit his aunt in America during the war. Jennifer helps Cyril deal with some traumatic exposure to war in London. Another 1940s book for YA and most enjoyable. Although I do wish Janet Lambert devoted more books to Jennifer's development before moving on to Gwenn and Alice.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another charming story by Janet Lambert, this one introducing a new family, the Jordons--a blended military family whose father, an army general, is away fighting in WWII.
How she manages to make each character distinct and lovable, the setting vivid, the conflicts believable and interesting, AND add in one romance complete with a wedding and one teen romance with promise for the future . . . I can only imagine. I am in awe! :-D
I'm hooked and already downloaded book 2 in the series. These stories are quick, sweet, addictive reading with a fun 1940's flavor.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a copy of this book that I got from a rummage sale when I was in my early teens. It's inscribed "Dec. 25, 1945" which makes this story about the oldest daughter of an army officer so poignant, since it was a gift for a girl who had likely been in a similar situation. It's a sweet wholesome story about family and duty with a touch if young love thrown in that I can wholeheartedly recommend for tweens and teens. And I just discovered that it's the first in a series!

[Dawn Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like finding an old friend

Rereading this book was like running into an old friend and talking about old times. Even though it was written in a different time, the characters hold true.

[Chrisanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pollyanna + 5 Little Peppers and How They Grew+ WWII = This book.

Lambert, apparently, was the first Sarah Eden. :)

Nothing wrong with it, from what I could tell, but I skimmed like crazy.

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Jenifer is keeping the home fires burning with her eight brothers and sisters while her father, a general, is off fighting in WWII. This is a good "before I go to sleep" book so I'll probably read more of them.

[Jen Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, a first edition from 1945 was given to me - due to the title - and while the first few pages were hard to get through I kept at it and it really was a charming book for a young person. Fitting for 1945 and enjoyable to read even with some unusual spelling and some grammatical issues.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid three! It was fun to read a popular book published in the 1940’s. It felt comforting, like Anne of Green Gables.

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was both better and worse than the Penny Parish Books. My biggest dislike is that it seemed to jump time frames with no segues.