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The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming
High-spirited young Jane is excited to be part of Mr. Mercer’s plan to bring Civil War widows and orphans to Washington Territory—but life out west isn’t at all what she expected.
Washington Territory is just the place for men of broad mind and sturdy constitution—and girls too, Jane figures, or Mr. Mercer wouldn’t have allowed her to come on his expedition to bring unmarried girls and Civil War widows out west.
Jane’s constitution is sturdy enough. She’s been taking care of her baby brother ever since Papa was killed in the war and her young stepmother had to start working long days at the mill. The problem, she fears, is her mind. It might not be suitably broad because she had to leave school to take care of little Jer. Still, a new life awaits in Washington Territory, and Jane plans to make the best of it.
Except Seattle doesn’t turn out to be quite as advertised. In this rough-and-tumble frontier town, Jane is going to need every bit of that broad mind and sturdy constitution—not to mention a good sense of humor and a stubborn streak a mile wide.
Washington Territory is just the place for men of broad mind and sturdy constitution—and girls too, Jane figures, or Mr. Mercer wouldn’t have allowed her to come on his expedition to bring unmarried girls and Civil War widows out west.
Jane’s constitution is sturdy enough. She’s been taking care of her baby brother ever since Papa was killed in the war and her young stepmother had to start working long days at the mill. The problem, she fears, is her mind. It might not be suitably broad because she had to leave school to take care of little Jer. Still, a new life awaits in Washington Territory, and Jane plans to make the best of it.
Except Seattle doesn’t turn out to be quite as advertised. In this rough-and-tumble frontier town, Jane is going to need every bit of that broad mind and sturdy constitution—not to mention a good sense of humor and a stubborn streak a mile wide.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2017
36 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
J. Anderson Coats
9 books202 followersJ. Anderson Coats has received five Junior Library Guild selections, two Washington State Book Awards, and earned starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, the Horn Book Review, and Shelf Awareness. Her newest book is The Loss of the Burying Ground, a YA action-adventure about two warring nations, one fragile peace treaty, a ruinous storm, and two girls who are just starting to realize who the enemy really is. Her next middle grade historical, The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls, is forthcoming from Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 23, 2017
Yeah, this nailed it. A frontier book about expectations -- both realistic and unrealistic -- as well as the meaning of "broadening" one's mind and the meaning of family, this story gives no easy answers to any of the above, while also giving hope to the many definitions of personal growth. The main character is sweet and likable, the writing is excellent, and the historical setting is enthralling. Exactly right. Highly recommended.
March 19, 2017
I probably wouldn't have picked this up without the local connection (Washington Territory!), but I'm very glad I did. It's one of those too rare books that manages to be realistic without being bleak. Jane's life was hard and sad things happened, but that's not all there is to the story!
Worth reading.
Worth reading.
June 26, 2017
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
J. Anderson Coats' debut novel, The Wicked and the Just, is one of my go to recommendations for historical fiction. When I discovered she had a new MG book coming out this year, I couldn't wait to read it despite being unsure of whether the premise would work for me or not. It completely did though. The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming is excellent.
Jame Deming is not living her ideal life. Her father was killed in the Civil War and she lives with her incredibly young step-mother and two year old brother. She had to quit school at 9 to take care of her newborn baby brother while Mrs. D went to work in the Lowell factories. But now Jane has an opportunity for a new life. Mrs. D is taking them to live in Seattle, WA. They are going on a ship to start a new life. Mr. Mercer is taking a boat load of young ladies and some widows to the Washington territory. Jane has read Mr. Mercer's pamphlet so many times she nearly has it memorized. She can't wait to begin her new life, she only hopes that she has the heart and mind for it. As the journey unfolds and Jane adapts to her new life, she has to learn a lot about who she is, what is important, and how to be in her new life. One thing she knows for certain is that she wants to be a person no one ever refers to as a "poor dear" ever again.
Telling the story of the second group of Mercer girls to go to Washington Territory from the point of view of an 11 year old works really well. Jane's age gives access to the time period for a younger audience. It's also an interesting in to the situation from a modern adult perspective too, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jane has taken on a lot of responsibility for one so young, but none that was unheard of for a girl in her time. She is the primary care giver for her brother. She does this job incredibly well, but finds herself feeling resentful of her step-mother (understandably). Jane is smart and longs to continue her schooling. She has opinions, fears, hopes, and dreams that make her so incredibly REAL. As I was reading her story, I was struck by how much I felt like I knew her which speaks to how well Coats crafted her character. The book has many strong secondary characters too that see the potential in Jane in work to foster it. Being 11, Jane is in a position of not really being a Mercer Girl, but her responsibilities make her more than a child too. She struggles with always being in the middle and not having a real place. Yet the Mercer Girls treat her with care and compassion even as they get caught up in their own lives and passions. Once she's in Washington, Jane makes friends that bring out other aspects of her personality. Then there is Charles Wright, who Mrs. D ends up marrying. This man may be the most amazing father figure in all of MG fiction. I loved him to pieces. Each and every character in this book is memorable and impacts the story. I was further impressed by Coats' ability to write a two year old into the story realistically.
Jane's story begins in New York. The reader travels with her on the ship to San Fransisco and on to Washington. The last third of the book takes place in Washington is about Jane learning to be in the territory and adjusting to her new family set-up. What I really appreciated was how there was no added unnecessary drama as is often the case in historical fiction for children. The history itself is dramatic and compelling enough, and Jane's story is hard to put down in its authenticity. Her voice and personality carry the book so well. I also appreciated how Coats showed frontier life and how she included the Native people's struggles.
Westward expansion/settlement stories have never been a favorite of mine, but The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming is one I love. I highly recommend it. It definitely rises above most similar books and would be an excellent addition to school libraries and US history units.
J. Anderson Coats' debut novel, The Wicked and the Just, is one of my go to recommendations for historical fiction. When I discovered she had a new MG book coming out this year, I couldn't wait to read it despite being unsure of whether the premise would work for me or not. It completely did though. The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming is excellent.
Jame Deming is not living her ideal life. Her father was killed in the Civil War and she lives with her incredibly young step-mother and two year old brother. She had to quit school at 9 to take care of her newborn baby brother while Mrs. D went to work in the Lowell factories. But now Jane has an opportunity for a new life. Mrs. D is taking them to live in Seattle, WA. They are going on a ship to start a new life. Mr. Mercer is taking a boat load of young ladies and some widows to the Washington territory. Jane has read Mr. Mercer's pamphlet so many times she nearly has it memorized. She can't wait to begin her new life, she only hopes that she has the heart and mind for it. As the journey unfolds and Jane adapts to her new life, she has to learn a lot about who she is, what is important, and how to be in her new life. One thing she knows for certain is that she wants to be a person no one ever refers to as a "poor dear" ever again.
Telling the story of the second group of Mercer girls to go to Washington Territory from the point of view of an 11 year old works really well. Jane's age gives access to the time period for a younger audience. It's also an interesting in to the situation from a modern adult perspective too, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jane has taken on a lot of responsibility for one so young, but none that was unheard of for a girl in her time. She is the primary care giver for her brother. She does this job incredibly well, but finds herself feeling resentful of her step-mother (understandably). Jane is smart and longs to continue her schooling. She has opinions, fears, hopes, and dreams that make her so incredibly REAL. As I was reading her story, I was struck by how much I felt like I knew her which speaks to how well Coats crafted her character. The book has many strong secondary characters too that see the potential in Jane in work to foster it. Being 11, Jane is in a position of not really being a Mercer Girl, but her responsibilities make her more than a child too. She struggles with always being in the middle and not having a real place. Yet the Mercer Girls treat her with care and compassion even as they get caught up in their own lives and passions. Once she's in Washington, Jane makes friends that bring out other aspects of her personality. Then there is Charles Wright, who Mrs. D ends up marrying. This man may be the most amazing father figure in all of MG fiction. I loved him to pieces. Each and every character in this book is memorable and impacts the story. I was further impressed by Coats' ability to write a two year old into the story realistically.
Jane's story begins in New York. The reader travels with her on the ship to San Fransisco and on to Washington. The last third of the book takes place in Washington is about Jane learning to be in the territory and adjusting to her new family set-up. What I really appreciated was how there was no added unnecessary drama as is often the case in historical fiction for children. The history itself is dramatic and compelling enough, and Jane's story is hard to put down in its authenticity. Her voice and personality carry the book so well. I also appreciated how Coats showed frontier life and how she included the Native people's struggles.
Westward expansion/settlement stories have never been a favorite of mine, but The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming is one I love. I highly recommend it. It definitely rises above most similar books and would be an excellent addition to school libraries and US history units.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 2, 2018
The last thing Jane's father asked her to do was to get her leavening certificate from school so that she could broaden her mind. But after his death in Vicksburg, Jane is pulled out of school to take care of her baby brother and do all the housework while her stepmother works fourteen hours a day at the mill.
Then an incredible offer comes through—move all the way across the country to the Washington Territory, where the beaches are sandy, the weather amazing, banks and shops and jobs abound, proper gentlemen are looking for wives, and palm trees are everywhere.
The opportunity is there for the taking, and Jane sees her chance to broaden her mind.
~
I really loved the concept of this book, but I felt like it could have been a bit tighter. There was a huge cast of characters, and while I loved Jane immensely, the book felt a whole lot like Boston Jane, where a girl moves to San Fransisco in the mid-nineteenth century to meet her beau and discovers that the town is rough and muddy—and she learns that propriety means something a little different out West.
I also liked the title, and how it fit really well with the plot and the idea that not all education comes from formal schooling, and that cover is just gorgeous.
Overall, it's a solid, educational read about moving to the West Coast right after the end of the Civil War, with good commentary on the concept of slavery, family, women's rights, racism and Native Americans, and charlatans tricking people with false claims and hopes.
Then an incredible offer comes through—move all the way across the country to the Washington Territory, where the beaches are sandy, the weather amazing, banks and shops and jobs abound, proper gentlemen are looking for wives, and palm trees are everywhere.
The opportunity is there for the taking, and Jane sees her chance to broaden her mind.
~
I really loved the concept of this book, but I felt like it could have been a bit tighter. There was a huge cast of characters, and while I loved Jane immensely, the book felt a whole lot like Boston Jane, where a girl moves to San Fransisco in the mid-nineteenth century to meet her beau and discovers that the town is rough and muddy—and she learns that propriety means something a little different out West.
I also liked the title, and how it fit really well with the plot and the idea that not all education comes from formal schooling, and that cover is just gorgeous.
Overall, it's a solid, educational read about moving to the West Coast right after the end of the Civil War, with good commentary on the concept of slavery, family, women's rights, racism and Native Americans, and charlatans tricking people with false claims and hopes.
April 6, 2018
3.5+ stars
Miss Jane Deming late of Lowell, Massachusetts is on her way to Washington Territory with her stepmother (Papa always said steps are for stairs) and 2-year-old brother, Jer as part of Asa Mercer's bride ship expedition. Mrs. D hopes to find a wealthy banker to marry so she can keep house and not work in the mills. Jane wants time for herself since she's been looking after Jer since he was born. The one thing she really wants from Washington Territory is school. When Jane was forced to quit, she realized how much she missed it. Since Mr. Mercer claims Washington is for men of broad minds, she thinks that means girls too, since their ship is full of unmarried women looking for husbands. Jane worries her mind is not sufficiently broad enough. When the long journey is finally over Washington turns out not to be what Mr. Mercer said it was. Seattle is barely a real town. Jane worries Mrs. D won't be able to cope, so it's up to her to broaden her mind and figure out how to make the best of their new home.
I liked this novel for the history. I knew a little about the Mercer brides but not from a child's perspective. Personally I think Mrs. D would have dumped the children in an orphanage and presented herself as a girl. This is one of the only books written for this age group that deals with the aftermath of the Civil War. Industry was booming but at the expense of the widows and children the soldiers left behind. Those soldiers who survived returned disabled, impoverished and ragged. This is quite different from the typical GAR narrative. I appreciated the more accurate portrayal of events that led the Demings family to Seattle. I did know what Jane was going to see when she got to Seattle so that wasn't new to me but I liked how she learned to adjust to the situation. I took off points because the ending is somewhat too sentimental and reflective for my personal tastes as an adult reader.
Jane is a fun heroine. Unlike most tween girls in novels these days, she isn't overly spunky and modern. She knows when to keep her mouth shut and not sass her stepmother. Jane is downtrodden because of all the work she's had to do. Her spirit is resistant though and inside her shines a light that can overcome her circumstances. She isn't a Cinderella waiting for someone to come whisk her away. She's practical and wise. I like her relationship with Jer. I found him mildly annoying especially towards the end. Mrs. D appears to be the wicked stepmother stereotype but an adult reader will catch that her character is more nuanced than that. She was married at 16, widowed and pregnant at 20 and forced to work in the mills. Jane never tries to imagine what Mrs. D is feeling, just what Mrs. D is thinking about Jane. Mrs. D is desperate for a better life and I admire her taking a chance and bringing the children with her. By the end of the book she is more sympathetic though still not all that likable.
Jane's friends Nell and Flora are high-spirited teenagers whose lives have not been affected by the war the way Jane's has. Nell is especially strong-willed and independent which makes her rather naughty. I am not her biggest fan. I prefer Flora who is a little more concerned with rules and more down-to-earth. Miss Gower, the spinster, is my favorite adult on the expedition. She is not a demonstrative person but still a caring one. She must be from New England. I like her no-nonsense ways and how she works to fight ignorance.
The description of Seattle is great. The book cover shows just how I imagined it to look with the rain pouring down in sheets. The terrain is almost a character in and of itself. I don't want to spoil the story by sharing my opinions on who Jane meets there, but I like the key figure in her life and how they still have learning to do. This is where it gets too heartwarming.
This is a good book for tween girls old enough to read independently or old enough to listen to a long book without pictures. My nieces are 7 and 9 and they're still a wee bit too young so I'd suggest 10+ (4th grade). Adults can enjoy this along with children.
Miss Jane Deming late of Lowell, Massachusetts is on her way to Washington Territory with her stepmother (Papa always said steps are for stairs) and 2-year-old brother, Jer as part of Asa Mercer's bride ship expedition. Mrs. D hopes to find a wealthy banker to marry so she can keep house and not work in the mills. Jane wants time for herself since she's been looking after Jer since he was born. The one thing she really wants from Washington Territory is school. When Jane was forced to quit, she realized how much she missed it. Since Mr. Mercer claims Washington is for men of broad minds, she thinks that means girls too, since their ship is full of unmarried women looking for husbands. Jane worries her mind is not sufficiently broad enough. When the long journey is finally over Washington turns out not to be what Mr. Mercer said it was. Seattle is barely a real town. Jane worries Mrs. D won't be able to cope, so it's up to her to broaden her mind and figure out how to make the best of their new home.
I liked this novel for the history. I knew a little about the Mercer brides but not from a child's perspective. Personally I think Mrs. D would have dumped the children in an orphanage and presented herself as a girl. This is one of the only books written for this age group that deals with the aftermath of the Civil War. Industry was booming but at the expense of the widows and children the soldiers left behind. Those soldiers who survived returned disabled, impoverished and ragged. This is quite different from the typical GAR narrative. I appreciated the more accurate portrayal of events that led the Demings family to Seattle. I did know what Jane was going to see when she got to Seattle so that wasn't new to me but I liked how she learned to adjust to the situation. I took off points because the ending is somewhat too sentimental and reflective for my personal tastes as an adult reader.
Jane is a fun heroine. Unlike most tween girls in novels these days, she isn't overly spunky and modern. She knows when to keep her mouth shut and not sass her stepmother. Jane is downtrodden because of all the work she's had to do. Her spirit is resistant though and inside her shines a light that can overcome her circumstances. She isn't a Cinderella waiting for someone to come whisk her away. She's practical and wise. I like her relationship with Jer. I found him mildly annoying especially towards the end. Mrs. D appears to be the wicked stepmother stereotype but an adult reader will catch that her character is more nuanced than that. She was married at 16, widowed and pregnant at 20 and forced to work in the mills. Jane never tries to imagine what Mrs. D is feeling, just what Mrs. D is thinking about Jane. Mrs. D is desperate for a better life and I admire her taking a chance and bringing the children with her. By the end of the book she is more sympathetic though still not all that likable.
Jane's friends Nell and Flora are high-spirited teenagers whose lives have not been affected by the war the way Jane's has. Nell is especially strong-willed and independent which makes her rather naughty. I am not her biggest fan. I prefer Flora who is a little more concerned with rules and more down-to-earth. Miss Gower, the spinster, is my favorite adult on the expedition. She is not a demonstrative person but still a caring one. She must be from New England. I like her no-nonsense ways and how she works to fight ignorance.
The description of Seattle is great. The book cover shows just how I imagined it to look with the rain pouring down in sheets. The terrain is almost a character in and of itself. I don't want to spoil the story by sharing my opinions on who Jane meets there, but I like the key figure in her life and how they still have learning to do. This is where it gets too heartwarming.
This is a good book for tween girls old enough to read independently or old enough to listen to a long book without pictures. My nieces are 7 and 9 and they're still a wee bit too young so I'd suggest 10+ (4th grade). Adults can enjoy this along with children.
March 22, 2017
Jane is a great role model and her story is well told. I highly recommend this book.
June 19, 2017
The aftermath of the Civil War means widows, and the Pacific Northwest needs settling. Mr. Asa Mercer offers a chance to start over to the widows of Lowell, Massachusetts. A boat ride around Cape Horn, some minor discomfort, and then the promised land. Palm trees, blue skies, wealthy bachelors, and the wonderful city of Seattle all await Jane Deming's stepmother, who hates the mills. Jane, 11 years old, wouldn't mind the chance to go to school, make new friends, and not be poor and have to take care of her two year old brother day in and day out. Upon arrival, though, Jane realizes that Mr. Mercer wasn't totally honest, and that they are all going to have to adapt. Coats is a master at characterization and setting. Jane's distinctive voice is perfect and the adults around her equally well-developed. I loved Coats' first book for young adults and she has shown her talents at writing for younger readers. Terrific from start to finish.
July 21, 2022
4.5 stars for this engaging historical fiction book. I'd like to think I would have a sturdy enough constitution to survive what Jane did, but I'm not sure!
September 12, 2018
This is a charming little novel about a girl whose stepmother (a young widow) has booked them onto the Mercer Girl ship to Seattle (of "Here Come the Brides" fame) so she can find a prosperous husband. It's not a romantic novel, though...it's more of a survival story. What are the options for women or girls left on their own in those days?
Life in 1865 Lowell, Massachusetts was certainly grim for Jane, her stepmother and her little brother, but will the fantasy of a perfect life in Seattle come true?
Along the way, Jane deals with her irritating stepmother, poverty, obstacles to fulfilling her promise to her father (get an education), and hopes for friends. Jane and her "family" discover lots of challenges in the mucky lumber town of Seattle, but also lessening of restrictions, which is a blessing for women everywhere and at every time.
Life in 1865 Lowell, Massachusetts was certainly grim for Jane, her stepmother and her little brother, but will the fantasy of a perfect life in Seattle come true?
Along the way, Jane deals with her irritating stepmother, poverty, obstacles to fulfilling her promise to her father (get an education), and hopes for friends. Jane and her "family" discover lots of challenges in the mucky lumber town of Seattle, but also lessening of restrictions, which is a blessing for women everywhere and at every time.
November 25, 2018
A delightful historical fiction story set in Washington territory with a spunky girl named Jane. Jane embarks on a journey with her 22 year old step-mom and 2 year old brother. They take a steam ship around the world to get to Seattle. Along the way she seeks to broaden her mind, something she promised her father to do. What she realizes is that there are different ways to do that, and her expectations and reality might not match up. There is humor, adventure, and new relationships. I laughed when she thought that Seattle was balmy and tropical. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this gem. 5th grade and up.
June 12, 2021
So enjoyable!
"Its a hard thing. Realizing that what you want more than anything doesnt really exist. At least not how you pictured it in your head. You convince yourself it's the only thing that will make you happy. Then you're confronted with absolute proof you'll never have it. Not because you didn't earn it or arent willing to work for it. You'll never have it, because it just isnt there to be had. By anyone."
"[P]reserving your ignorance only leaves you at the mercy of someone else, and you'll be very lucky if they merely call you 'poor dear' and leave you alone."
"Its a hard thing. Realizing that what you want more than anything doesnt really exist. At least not how you pictured it in your head. You convince yourself it's the only thing that will make you happy. Then you're confronted with absolute proof you'll never have it. Not because you didn't earn it or arent willing to work for it. You'll never have it, because it just isnt there to be had. By anyone."
"[P]reserving your ignorance only leaves you at the mercy of someone else, and you'll be very lucky if they merely call you 'poor dear' and leave you alone."
March 30, 2022
I loved this so much! It was just right in so many ways. It had Hattie Big Sky, Sweet Home Alaska, Our Only May Amelia, Anne of GG, Prairie Lotus, and The Year of Miss Agnes vibes. It loved every bit of this book.
I could really relate to Jane as she navigated taking care of her little brother and having to do many adult chores. She is a very endearing protagonist who has a love of learning that warms my heart. I can’t wait to pass this on to my daughter. Highly recommend for ages 9 or 10 to adult.
I could really relate to Jane as she navigated taking care of her little brother and having to do many adult chores. She is a very endearing protagonist who has a love of learning that warms my heart. I can’t wait to pass this on to my daughter. Highly recommend for ages 9 or 10 to adult.
July 1, 2019
A beautiful story of Jane (kindred spirit to Anne of Green Gables) who left the east coast to find a new beginning in the rough Seattle. The author wrote a love story to the wild beginning of Seattle. What I loved most was the authenticity of the characters. Their voice, characteristics and development during the story felt real. Jane and her reflections is a character to remember.
August 3, 2017
I really enjoyed this historical account of the Washington territory. Strong, young female protagonist and flawless writing.
July 26, 2018
Coming-of-age, homesteading, historical fiction… One of my favorite kinds of books and so well done!
March 20, 2021
I read this book aloud to my kids and we all missed the characters when the book was over. They keep asking me if there's a second book. We didn't want it to end! The vocabulary was tricky in this one, I had to define a lot of the words for my kids. I think they learned a lot of new words, too.
November 18, 2025
This was beautiful.
November 13, 2019
Hallelujah! My daughter and I just finished this book reading it out loud together. I have never been happier to finish a book and at the ripe old age of 46, that's saying a lot because I have read many books! Until the last year or so, I have always finished the books I have started. But in the last year, I thought, life is too short. If you gave it a good go for a hundred pages or so and still hate a book, why continue? I so wanted to quit this book. However, I also wanted to be a good example to my nine year old daughter so alas... we powered through this piece of work. We high-fived each other after reading the last few sentences together.
Although the subject of this book was interesting, the vocabulary (i.e. "sturdy constitution") is too much for a fourth grader. This is one of the books that has been picked for Battle of the Books this year. Who picked this? With all due respect to the author, the story covered so much in the way of terrain that it missed in character development. Or it could be that I just enjoy reading more about what the characters are actually thinking.
This is the story of Jane, a girl who leaves her home in Lowell, Massachusetts, to travel to Washington Territory in the mid-1860's. She has recently lost her dad in the war and is left with a less than warm step-mother. It describes Jane's voyage along the eastern side of South America, her stop in Rio, around Cape Horn, north by Peru, and then up to San Francisco, finally ending in Seattle. It covers so much geography but not enough details on how Jane is feeling. I would have liked to have read more about that. The author does touch on her high expectations of what Seattle would be like but I would have liked to have gotten to picture Jane and her friends better. I could not keep them straight. Jane is so grown up compared to her ignorant step-mother.
A pro of this book is the message it conveys. I love that in the end Jane learns reading books is not the only way to learn. She can learn to skin an animal, to build a canoe, and to dig clams. She worked so hard to get the money to go to school. She builds a canoe and paddles across Lake Washington to go to school in Seattle each day, for heaven's sake. :o I wondered where the author intended the "Eastside" to be. I pictured Mercer Island in my mind. I loved that the characters in the story are true settlers of Seattle (Bagley, Asa Mercer, Henry Yesler). Contrary to her step-mother, she craves learning and ends up being taught by her step-father to have a learning mindset which is a great message for everyone.
I think it could have been two books: book one being the voyage and book two being the arrival in Seattle and what happens there for Jane. I would have liked to have been able to know more about Jane's friends. It was hard to keep track of who was who. I would like to have learned a little more about why the step-mother Mrs. D is so close minded. It would be a great follow up book to learn more of where she came from and why she is so insecure. (But that is probably not what the author intended. Since the author has a library science masters, she probably wanted more of a history book versus a novel on character development.) Mrs. D took a huge risk to find another husband. What a brave person. That would be interesting to me. What happens to Jane next? She ends up teaching her half-Indian neighbor boys how to read, in exchange for their goat. I loved reading this part and visualizing where they lived and how the Eastside looked way back then! Did she finish school in Seattle?
A huge pro to this book is that I learned about Asa Mercer and the Mercer girls. Jane visualized a much more exciting Seattle and when she got there, she realized it was not all it's cracked up to be. She was angry at Mercer. I really knew nothing about the Mercer girls before reading this book. It makes me more interested in reading Seattle history, especially since I live here. Kudos to the author though for writing an unforgettable book. While I drove over Lake Washington yesterday, I though about Jane and what it must have been like for those early settlers. We owe so much to the Indians, Asa Mercer, Henry Yesler, and all the others who settled this area.
So... I guess the book wasn't that bad after all! Maybe it's just I who need to have more of a learning mindset. :)
Although the subject of this book was interesting, the vocabulary (i.e. "sturdy constitution") is too much for a fourth grader. This is one of the books that has been picked for Battle of the Books this year. Who picked this? With all due respect to the author, the story covered so much in the way of terrain that it missed in character development. Or it could be that I just enjoy reading more about what the characters are actually thinking.
This is the story of Jane, a girl who leaves her home in Lowell, Massachusetts, to travel to Washington Territory in the mid-1860's. She has recently lost her dad in the war and is left with a less than warm step-mother. It describes Jane's voyage along the eastern side of South America, her stop in Rio, around Cape Horn, north by Peru, and then up to San Francisco, finally ending in Seattle. It covers so much geography but not enough details on how Jane is feeling. I would have liked to have read more about that. The author does touch on her high expectations of what Seattle would be like but I would have liked to have gotten to picture Jane and her friends better. I could not keep them straight. Jane is so grown up compared to her ignorant step-mother.
A pro of this book is the message it conveys. I love that in the end Jane learns reading books is not the only way to learn. She can learn to skin an animal, to build a canoe, and to dig clams. She worked so hard to get the money to go to school. She builds a canoe and paddles across Lake Washington to go to school in Seattle each day, for heaven's sake. :o I wondered where the author intended the "Eastside" to be. I pictured Mercer Island in my mind. I loved that the characters in the story are true settlers of Seattle (Bagley, Asa Mercer, Henry Yesler). Contrary to her step-mother, she craves learning and ends up being taught by her step-father to have a learning mindset which is a great message for everyone.
I think it could have been two books: book one being the voyage and book two being the arrival in Seattle and what happens there for Jane. I would have liked to have been able to know more about Jane's friends. It was hard to keep track of who was who. I would like to have learned a little more about why the step-mother Mrs. D is so close minded. It would be a great follow up book to learn more of where she came from and why she is so insecure. (But that is probably not what the author intended. Since the author has a library science masters, she probably wanted more of a history book versus a novel on character development.) Mrs. D took a huge risk to find another husband. What a brave person. That would be interesting to me. What happens to Jane next? She ends up teaching her half-Indian neighbor boys how to read, in exchange for their goat. I loved reading this part and visualizing where they lived and how the Eastside looked way back then! Did she finish school in Seattle?
A huge pro to this book is that I learned about Asa Mercer and the Mercer girls. Jane visualized a much more exciting Seattle and when she got there, she realized it was not all it's cracked up to be. She was angry at Mercer. I really knew nothing about the Mercer girls before reading this book. It makes me more interested in reading Seattle history, especially since I live here. Kudos to the author though for writing an unforgettable book. While I drove over Lake Washington yesterday, I though about Jane and what it must have been like for those early settlers. We owe so much to the Indians, Asa Mercer, Henry Yesler, and all the others who settled this area.
So... I guess the book wasn't that bad after all! Maybe it's just I who need to have more of a learning mindset. :)
March 6, 2017
Review to come.
May 25, 2017
After losing her father in the Civil War, Jane Deming gives up her friends and schooling to raise her baby stepbrother while her young stepmother works in the mill. Unexpectedly Jane’s stepmother enlists the three of them in an expedition to bring unmarried women to Washington Territory. Using the expedition’s pamphlet as a textbook, Jane works on developing the social and educational skills needed for surviving in the Pacific Northwest. During their sea voyage, Jane’s stepmother tries to keep Jane from improving her abilities for selfish reasons. Luckily, Jane’s new friends and passengers come to her rescue. When they finally arrive in Seattle, Jane and her stepmother discover that it is a wilder place than they expected.
Coat’s novel is an unpretentious coming-of-age story full of yearning and determination. When Jane’s father dies, she loses the only person who believed in her potential. Immaturely, her stepmother forces Jane to give up her dreams for their family’s survival. But as they embark on the expedition, Jane’s new friends point out that Jane’s stepmother is using Jane. Quietly, Jane fights for any control over her life. In the end, Jane’s stepmother finally releases her hold on Jane, thanks to Mr. Wright. Once that hold is gone, Jane is free to become her true, independent self. One item Coats should have included is an author’s note stating the historical facts behind her story. This would have given the book more validity and richness. Otherwise, Coats’ tale is a fun, enlightening read for ages 12 and up.
(Review found on Children's Compass Chronicle: childrenscompasschronicle.blogspot.com)
Coat’s novel is an unpretentious coming-of-age story full of yearning and determination. When Jane’s father dies, she loses the only person who believed in her potential. Immaturely, her stepmother forces Jane to give up her dreams for their family’s survival. But as they embark on the expedition, Jane’s new friends point out that Jane’s stepmother is using Jane. Quietly, Jane fights for any control over her life. In the end, Jane’s stepmother finally releases her hold on Jane, thanks to Mr. Wright. Once that hold is gone, Jane is free to become her true, independent self. One item Coats should have included is an author’s note stating the historical facts behind her story. This would have given the book more validity and richness. Otherwise, Coats’ tale is a fun, enlightening read for ages 12 and up.
(Review found on Children's Compass Chronicle: childrenscompasschronicle.blogspot.com)
April 23, 2019
It's pioneer days. Jane's mean widowed stepmother decides to go out to Seattle find a new husband, bringing Jane and her baby half brother along. Eleven-year-old Jane is excited and eager to escape her life as an unpaid household drudge while her stepmother works in the textile mills of Lowell, Mass. She projects all her fantasies, hopes and dreams onto the new Washington Territory described in the PR brochures. Most of all, she longs to have friends her own age, to play, and to go to school as she promised her late father. Can Seattle ever live up to her expectations? Or could it, just maybe, be great in a way she never imagined? This is a world before child labor acquired a bad name and school attendance became mandatary--surely an eye-opener for contemporary kids.
November 14, 2016
I really enjoyed this story and how easily it flowed. I can see many kids enjoying it once they settle into the story. This will be a book I booktalk in 2017
May 24, 2018
Essentially, this book felt like a previously-unseen volume in the Dear America series I loved when I was seven, but watered down, with less impetus to address the real horrors that underlie so much of American history. The Kirkus review it received, which threw out phrases like "history before it was written by the victors" et cetera, made me believe that this short middle-grade book about the Pacific Northwest would undertake some serious reckoning with Indigenous genocide, human trafficking, or misogyny. In practice, all it can manage is a weak-willed critique of Asa Mercer, a basic acknowledgement that indigenous Seattlites exist, and a little discussion of labor abuses.
The plot, which follows young Jane with her stepmother as she journeys on a steamship to Seattle and finds a new stepfather, essentially validates the white settlers that displaced indigenous people. The white settlers are hopeful, desperate, and eager to make a positive change, to hear Coats tell it. The motivations that Jane's stepmother has for moving are plausible and sympathetic, and I will allow that they are pretty realistic to boot. However, the book avoids any acknowledgement that there were labor movements on the East Coast attempting to reckon with the fallout of the Civil War in ways besides moving out West. It also really doesn't discuss Reconstruction, racism, or slavery, which is profoundly odd to me, given Jane's keen awareness of the Civil War's battles.
As a character, Jane is plucky, but not pluckier than Our Only May Amelia, Sarah Plain And Tall, or Anne of Greene Gables, and she does not endure anything particularly difficult. I have a hard time believing that this book is more interesting than a narrative of an indigenous girl from Oregon or Washington from the same time period, or the narrative of a young Black soldier or cowboy in the West around the same time. Additionally, the portrait of Seattle that Coats paints is lackluster and doesn't address the social problems or public health issues --not to mention labor issues--that plagued the early timber and fishing industries.
While Jane starts learning Chinook as soon as she arrives in muddy Seattle, there are no characters belonging to the Duwamish people, or any of the primary tribes that lived around Seattle during the 1870s. There is absolutely no discussion of missons, battles, illness, or loss of land. This is extremely weak for a book released so recently.
Ultimately, this is a book that is fine. It is okay. But it doesn't do anything very new or unique. It is an adequate book to offer a child who is a history nerd and likes Seattle, but even that child will get a much more juicy, full vision of history from going on a Seattle Underground tour.
The plot, which follows young Jane with her stepmother as she journeys on a steamship to Seattle and finds a new stepfather, essentially validates the white settlers that displaced indigenous people. The white settlers are hopeful, desperate, and eager to make a positive change, to hear Coats tell it. The motivations that Jane's stepmother has for moving are plausible and sympathetic, and I will allow that they are pretty realistic to boot. However, the book avoids any acknowledgement that there were labor movements on the East Coast attempting to reckon with the fallout of the Civil War in ways besides moving out West. It also really doesn't discuss Reconstruction, racism, or slavery, which is profoundly odd to me, given Jane's keen awareness of the Civil War's battles.
As a character, Jane is plucky, but not pluckier than Our Only May Amelia, Sarah Plain And Tall, or Anne of Greene Gables, and she does not endure anything particularly difficult. I have a hard time believing that this book is more interesting than a narrative of an indigenous girl from Oregon or Washington from the same time period, or the narrative of a young Black soldier or cowboy in the West around the same time. Additionally, the portrait of Seattle that Coats paints is lackluster and doesn't address the social problems or public health issues --not to mention labor issues--that plagued the early timber and fishing industries.
While Jane starts learning Chinook as soon as she arrives in muddy Seattle, there are no characters belonging to the Duwamish people, or any of the primary tribes that lived around Seattle during the 1870s. There is absolutely no discussion of missons, battles, illness, or loss of land. This is extremely weak for a book released so recently.
Ultimately, this is a book that is fine. It is okay. But it doesn't do anything very new or unique. It is an adequate book to offer a child who is a history nerd and likes Seattle, but even that child will get a much more juicy, full vision of history from going on a Seattle Underground tour.
April 11, 2018
As a native Washingtonian and lover of historical fiction, I was excited to discover this book. Before I could read it, one of my students borrowed it, but she brought it back a couple of days later saying she was unable to get into it from the start as it was “boring.” Her assessment might actually mean it bored her, or it could be ‘code’ for a book that was difficult to follow or understand. I didn’t put much stock into her account until I set out to enjoy it for myself. But even with my adult patience, I found a similar experience and almost gave up on it a few times.
This is a sweet and patient story, it just felt like it needed to go through more revisions. The pacing was mostly slow, examining many of the nuances of Jane’s journey on the boat, only to skip over several weeks of time in a single paragraph while I was still imagining it prodding along. I needed to reread whole paragraphs at times to check my understanding as some events were unclear by the author’s choice of language.
About 3/4 of the way in I finally found myself reading it with much more ease and interest. Jane finds what she needs and I appreciate that the tension in the story remained centered on achieving that. Where many books force conflicts to develop a story, the author allowed the conflict to be character-driven despite all of the external changes happening in Jane’s life. This was enough in itself and it makes a thoughtful story in the end, redeeming it from my original appraisal.
Still, I think many children will have a hard time sticking with it to see this outcome. I can’t blame them, even if I do love the picture it gave me of early Seattle and the Eastside.
This is a sweet and patient story, it just felt like it needed to go through more revisions. The pacing was mostly slow, examining many of the nuances of Jane’s journey on the boat, only to skip over several weeks of time in a single paragraph while I was still imagining it prodding along. I needed to reread whole paragraphs at times to check my understanding as some events were unclear by the author’s choice of language.
About 3/4 of the way in I finally found myself reading it with much more ease and interest. Jane finds what she needs and I appreciate that the tension in the story remained centered on achieving that. Where many books force conflicts to develop a story, the author allowed the conflict to be character-driven despite all of the external changes happening in Jane’s life. This was enough in itself and it makes a thoughtful story in the end, redeeming it from my original appraisal.
Still, I think many children will have a hard time sticking with it to see this outcome. I can’t blame them, even if I do love the picture it gave me of early Seattle and the Eastside.
March 11, 2025
Eleven-year-old Jane has had a lot of tragedy in her young life. Her mother passed when Jane was young, and then her father remarried Mrs. D, a self-centered young woman who doesn't see the value of education. She gives birth to Jane's stepbrother, Jer, who becomes Jane's primary responsibility to raise. When Jane's father is killed during the Civil War, Mrs. D looks for a new life. Mr. Mercer, a man of some questionable character, recruits a shipload of young ladies and widows and entices them with tales of a glamorous life in Washington Territory. He promises them that there will be plenty of eligible bachelors to choose from.
Mrs. D and about 100 other people pay the $300 fee to sail from New York around Cape Horn to the Washington Territory. While Jane spends much of the voyage caring for Jer, she manages to make friends with some older girls and is excited by the prospects of new adventures and becoming a teacher.
Upon arriving in Washington, the ladies learn that Mr. Mercer has greatly exaggerated their new home as a paradise. Life is hard, but they have to make the best of things. Mrs. D eventually meets Mr. W and marries him. Although Jane likes certain qualities of her stepdad, he's still not her father. Jane wonders if she'll ever broaden her mind or be destined for an ordinary and unappealing life like her stepmother.
J. Anderson Coat's novel is an excellent coming-of-age story as Jane learns she wants more out of life than cooking and cleaning. I enjoyed the entertaining story combined with some excellent historical fiction. Though the recommended grade level is 5-6, (I taught several years in those grades), I feel it is geared more for grades 7-8.
Mrs. D and about 100 other people pay the $300 fee to sail from New York around Cape Horn to the Washington Territory. While Jane spends much of the voyage caring for Jer, she manages to make friends with some older girls and is excited by the prospects of new adventures and becoming a teacher.
Upon arriving in Washington, the ladies learn that Mr. Mercer has greatly exaggerated their new home as a paradise. Life is hard, but they have to make the best of things. Mrs. D eventually meets Mr. W and marries him. Although Jane likes certain qualities of her stepdad, he's still not her father. Jane wonders if she'll ever broaden her mind or be destined for an ordinary and unappealing life like her stepmother.
J. Anderson Coat's novel is an excellent coming-of-age story as Jane learns she wants more out of life than cooking and cleaning. I enjoyed the entertaining story combined with some excellent historical fiction. Though the recommended grade level is 5-6, (I taught several years in those grades), I feel it is geared more for grades 7-8.
July 8, 2017
I found this book wildly appealing -- my inner history dork was delighted with the pacific NW slant, with the inclusion of Mercer's brides, even with the depiction of the textile mills in Lowell. I'm not entirely sure why I could not put it down (probably the excellent writing and pacing), but it kept me up late as I wanted to see the end of Jane's adventures. Love the plucky heroine, not least for growing during the book. Love the pragmatic depiction of the hardships many people faced in this time, but also the threads of kindness and strength that flow through the book. Jane has many caring adults who fight for her to the best of their abilities, even though it's clear that she doesn't always understand all the aspects of their care. That sounds cryptic, but even the very contentious relationship she has with her stepmother has another side to it -- she never abandons Jane, and Mrs. D does, in the end, do whatever she can to ensure their survival as a family.
Anyway, my last favorite bit is that this is a great recommendation for history kid readers who are on the sensitive side -- unlike the wonderful Our Only May Amelia, this Northwest adventure remains tragedy free, or at least the tragic loss of Jane's father happens well before the book opens. Also, props to the author for due diligence in consulting a Duwamish tribal member for a Native perspective.
Anyway, my last favorite bit is that this is a great recommendation for history kid readers who are on the sensitive side -- unlike the wonderful Our Only May Amelia, this Northwest adventure remains tragedy free, or at least the tragic loss of Jane's father happens well before the book opens. Also, props to the author for due diligence in consulting a Duwamish tribal member for a Native perspective.
February 18, 2020
I bought this for full price at the wonderful Queen Anne Book Company in Seattle, the "city" where the second half of this junior/middle grade historical novel is set. It's an interesting bit of history I was unfamiliar with: the literal "shipping" of Civil War widows and single women to Washington Territory to potentially marry the lonely loggers. Jane Deming, the 12-year-old narrator and main character, is the orphaned stepdaughter to one of these widows.
At its core, the story is Jane's realization that the promises she reads about Seattle in a pamphlet from Asa Mercer (a name still seen today around Seattle) doesn't match with the reality she encounters at the journey's end. She begins writing her own "reflections" on the place and reflecting on her new life.
It's well-written if a little slow-moving in parts. I'm a pretty patient reader, but kept wondering when they'd ever get off that darn boat! And wondering how long junior readers would stick with the story. To be fair, this is the first junior/middle grade book I've read since recently reading the amazing books "The War That Saved My Life" and "The War I Finally Won" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. It will be hard for any historical fiction for young readers to compare to those. I would recommend Jane though.
At its core, the story is Jane's realization that the promises she reads about Seattle in a pamphlet from Asa Mercer (a name still seen today around Seattle) doesn't match with the reality she encounters at the journey's end. She begins writing her own "reflections" on the place and reflecting on her new life.
It's well-written if a little slow-moving in parts. I'm a pretty patient reader, but kept wondering when they'd ever get off that darn boat! And wondering how long junior readers would stick with the story. To be fair, this is the first junior/middle grade book I've read since recently reading the amazing books "The War That Saved My Life" and "The War I Finally Won" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. It will be hard for any historical fiction for young readers to compare to those. I would recommend Jane though.
May 8, 2017
High-spirited young Jane is excited to be part of Mr. Mercer’s plan to bring Civil War widows and orphans to Washington Territory—but life out west isn’t at all what she expected.
I loved this middle reader/historical fiction story. Jane's father passed away in the battles of the Civil War. Her step mother is determined that she will find a new husband and a better life in the Washington Territory. They join an expedition bringing unmarried girls and civil war widows out west. They travel from New York City- around South America- then up to the Washington territory.
Just as Jane's pamphlet says, Washington territory is for women with a sturdy constitution. (From the book jacket) "Seattle doesn’t turn out to be quite as advertised. In this rough-and-tumble frontier town, Jane is going to need every bit of that broad mind and sturdy constitution—not to mention a good sense of humor and a stubborn streak a mile wide."
Jane learns how to live in the territory, to love a new family and to find creative ways to continue her education.
delightfully written- I would highly recommend it for any middle reader.
I loved this middle reader/historical fiction story. Jane's father passed away in the battles of the Civil War. Her step mother is determined that she will find a new husband and a better life in the Washington Territory. They join an expedition bringing unmarried girls and civil war widows out west. They travel from New York City- around South America- then up to the Washington territory.
Just as Jane's pamphlet says, Washington territory is for women with a sturdy constitution. (From the book jacket) "Seattle doesn’t turn out to be quite as advertised. In this rough-and-tumble frontier town, Jane is going to need every bit of that broad mind and sturdy constitution—not to mention a good sense of humor and a stubborn streak a mile wide."
Jane learns how to live in the territory, to love a new family and to find creative ways to continue her education.
delightfully written- I would highly recommend it for any middle reader.
June 5, 2017
I love historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint me in the least bit.
Jane Deming is such an easy character to want to cheer along the whole time, and as a reader, I grew connected with her to the point where her losses and triumphs became mine too. Her stepmother was so easy to hate, but she also felt realistic too, which is not always the case with antagonists in stories.
Jane's desire for an education, as well as her care for her young half-brother, Jer, was so refreshing and could be inspiring to children of today. Jane is a good role model, and the reader is able to watch her slowly find her place and purpose in Washington Territory and even find a new father-figure. Everything worked out for her, but there was enough struggle to make it believable and enjoyable to read.
Girls who enjoyed Little House on the Prairie or any other work of historical fiction, would most likely enjoy this book as well. I do not know if it is completely historically accurate or not, but the portrayal of the Civil War era feels real and there is definitely a good amount of history that a young reader could take away from this book.
Jane Deming is such an easy character to want to cheer along the whole time, and as a reader, I grew connected with her to the point where her losses and triumphs became mine too. Her stepmother was so easy to hate, but she also felt realistic too, which is not always the case with antagonists in stories.
Jane's desire for an education, as well as her care for her young half-brother, Jer, was so refreshing and could be inspiring to children of today. Jane is a good role model, and the reader is able to watch her slowly find her place and purpose in Washington Territory and even find a new father-figure. Everything worked out for her, but there was enough struggle to make it believable and enjoyable to read.
Girls who enjoyed Little House on the Prairie or any other work of historical fiction, would most likely enjoy this book as well. I do not know if it is completely historically accurate or not, but the portrayal of the Civil War era feels real and there is definitely a good amount of history that a young reader could take away from this book.
July 29, 2017
Jane Deming's father has died at Vicksburg. Now she only has a stepmother that does not like her and a baby brother that she takes care of instead of going to school. Until her stepmother, Mrs. D decides to leave Massachusetts for Seattle Washington via sea voyage. Mrs. D is only 20 and as tough as a boot, stubborn too. She thinks that she will step off the boat and a banker will sweep her off her feet. Then she can take care of the house and he can go to work. There is no banker waiting, just of bunch of men with long beards and torn clothes. They paid $300 toward a marriageable young lady's trip to Washington Territory. Through all this Jane is doing what her step-mother should be doing, washing diapers, looking after Jer, feeding him and keeping him out of his mothers way while she sits around gossiping.
when they get there Jane makes friends with Mr. W. He tells stories to her and Jer. He whittles toys for them too. Before long he will be their new father. Jane is thankful, but thinks of herself as a third wheel.
she is not related to any of them by blood....
Read it to see how it ends.
when they get there Jane makes friends with Mr. W. He tells stories to her and Jer. He whittles toys for them too. Before long he will be their new father. Jane is thankful, but thinks of herself as a third wheel.
she is not related to any of them by blood....
Read it to see how it ends.
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