The History of Jane Doe

by Michael Belanger

A poignant, deeply funny coming-of-age story about first love, first loss, and the power of history to give life meaning.

History buff Ray knows everything about the peculiar legends and lore of his rural Connecticut hometown. Burgerville's past is riddled with green cow sightings and human groundhogs, but the most interesting thing about the present is the new girl--we'll call her Jane Doe.

Inscrutable, cool, and above all mysterious, Jane seems as determined to hide her past as Ray is to uncover it. As fascination turns to friendship and then to something more, Ray is certain he knows Jane's darkest, most painful secrets and Jane herself--from past to present. But when the unthinkable happens, Ray is forced to acknowledge that perhaps history can only tell us so much.

Mixing humor with heartache, this is an unmissable coming-of-age story from an exciting new voice in YA.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Mental Health, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2018

Reviews

[Michael Belanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top Ten Reasons to read The History of Jane Doe:

1) My mom loves it.

2) My dad gave it a lukewarm, "pretty good," which in dad language counts as a five star.

3) My cat, Louisa, has tried to eat the hardcover edition multiple times.

4) Way before Louisa literally tried to gobble it up, Kirkus gave it a starred review and said, "Fans of John Green will gobble this one up."

5) Publishers Weekly called it an "exceptional debut," and I'm almost positive no friends or extended family work there.

6) The reclusive and completely not made-up author, H. R. R. Carlington, said it was "a tour de force, unforgettable, destined to become part of the American canon."

7) It tackles important issues for both teenagers and adults.

8) There's a town called Burgerville with green cows.

9) Ray, the narrator, loves history and knows all the legends and lore of Burgerville, including stories about the aforementioned green cows and a festival that features a human groundhog.

10) Did I mention the green cows?

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/



Allow me to apologize in advance for beginning this review with a spoiler, but I think you need to know this is the story of a girl who commits suicide. If that’s a dealbreaker for you, stay far far away because it even made an old grizzly bear like me almost have a feeling.

You should also know that if you’re not a fan of this guy . . . .



Again you should stay far far away because Michael Belanger definitely channels his inner John Green here. On the other hand, if you are sad that Green doesn’t crank out a book a week, this most likely will be a suitable doppelgänger until his next release.

I’m going to let Ray tell you the rest . . . .

“I don’t have cancer and both of my parents are still alive. I just thought I’d get that out of the way so you’re not disappointed. While we’re at it, I might as well tell you that I’m not a vampire, I don’t have magical powers, and the closest I’ve ever come to fighting a war against an evil dystopian government was in a video game. The truth is, I’m writing this mostly to help me understand everything that happened over the past year between my (ex) girlfriend Jane and me.”

Thus begins the history of Ray and a new girl we will know only as Jane Doe who moved to town . . . .

“Maybe she just likes us,” I said. “Be serious, Ray.”

Much like in An Abundance of Katherines, this one featured a best friend I would like to adopt as my own child. Sidenote: And really, what kid WOULDN’T want me to be his mama????



The story is told in a very 500 Days of Summer Format . . . . .



And by the end it has done everything possible to rip your heart out. For like the 47th time this year, this is a book that has me questioning why it has so few ratings and reviews – I mean that dang cover alone should garner a second looksee! I loved it and I think many YA readers would love it too.

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine the quirky ~deepness~ of a John Green book but set it in Pawnee and you get The History of Jane Doe, lol. There were some things about this that I really liked, but mostly this was just okay. For me, this was very much an average 3 star book. Nothing specifically wrong with it, but I honestly don’t have much else to say except to give a content warning for suicide and depression. Tread cautiously, friends.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

There was a whole lot to like about this book. I decided to read this book largely because I was intrigued by the cover. I mean why would a green cow be on the cover of this book? I had to know. Once I started reading the story hooked me right away and I didn't want to set the book aside. There is a so much more to this book than the green cow on the cover. This was an emotional story filled with wonderful characters I wanted to pull into a big hug before I turned the final page. I am so glad that I took a chance and decided to read this wonderful story.

This book is told in alternating chapters of before and after which I think worked really well. From the start, you know things around going to work out the way you would want. But you also get to see everything as it starts and the comparison was very powerful. The book does handle a lot of difficult topics and I think it does a really good job keeping everything realistic.

I liked Ray and his friend Simon from the first page. These characters were just fantastic and you couldn't help but cheer them on. Jane fit in with the pair almost perfectly. There was a bit of mystery around Jane and it was apparent early on that she was hiding a few things but her friendship with Ray and Simon felt very authentic. It was so easy to envision this group of teens trying to navigate life in Burgerville. I think that Simon and his love of milk caused more than a few laughing fits from this reader so expect a dose of humor in the story as well.

I would highly recommend this book to others. This book deals with so many difficult issues in a seemingly expert manner. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to see things work out in their life. I will definitely be reading more from Michael Belanger in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Dial Books via First to Read.

Initial Thoughts
There was a whole lot that I liked about this book. The characters were great and I found myself liking them almost instantly. I thought that the way the story was told in alternating chapters of before and after worked really well and I just had to know what happened to Jane. I thought that the book dealt with some very difficult topics very well.

[Joe B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Humor is the pathway to depth, and Belanger's whit and relatable characters guide us to plunge the authentic feelings of high school anxiety, love and self worth with frequent laughs between the tears. Read this book.

As a high school teacher and father I feel compelled to read YA lit, and in general often gag at the tired tropes and long for an intelligent yet fun book to recommend to my students and children. I have found one.

As an adult my tastes run toward Pinker, Barzun, and Foster Wallace but its no exaggeration that this new author has taken that level of scholarship, craftsmanship and depth of thought to generate a work that transcends the genre. Not since reading Infinite Jest have I felt like a character has made me understand the blackness of depression like Jane Doe.

The late great historian and wordsmith Jaques Barzun often discussed the "Working of the Mind and Heart" and by weaving in historical anecdotes and allusions Belanger somhowe is able to achieve this a true synthesis of heart and mind.

Wow!

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, when the library recommended this book to me, I thought it was great timing since I didn't know what to read next. I clicked the Loan button before I even read the description. Then I made the mistake of reading reviews. I got spoilers, mediocre reviews and comparisons to John Green. I also had the 4 books I had on hold come in on the same day! I had to know what the deal was with the green cow, so I decided to read this one first anyway. The reviews were right about this story having a very Fault In Our Stars kind of feel. It's definitely a YA story with funny banter, coming of age adventures and awkward best friends. But it wouldn't be likened to John Green if it didn't have drama and make you cry. Even if I didn't read the spoilers it wouldn't have been hard to figure out where the story was going. It is a well written story about a very serious issue and I applaud the author for doing it so well.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel via the First To Read program through Penguin Random House LLC in exchange for an honest review.

Ray loves history, especially the local legends involving his suburban hometown of Burgherville, CT. Ray and Simon, his teen vampire loving sidekick, are not what you would call the popular kids in school. When Jane Doe, the cool and mysterious new girl, moves to town and befriends them their live will be forever changed. Ray decides to take Jane through all of Burgherville's strangest historical landmarks to help her adjust to her new life. Ray soon learns that Jane has a history of her own, one that she keeps secret even from him. So this tale begins as Ray recounts the history of Jane Doe.

I am giving all of the love and stars to this amazing novel. This has instantly become one of my favorite YA books this year. This novel takes you through laughter, heartache, and even disaster as Ray retells the story of him and Jane. Please be aware that this novel discusses some intense subjects including teen depression and suicide. I felt that the author did a wonderful job with a very sensitive subject and even included his own personal experiences in the acknowledgements and resources for those who suffer with depression. The characters were all so charming and witty and I just couldn't help falling in love with them.

[Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free e-ARC through First to Read from the publishers at Penguin Random House. Trigger warnings: mental illness, depression, suicide.

Ray’s life in rural Connecticut is pretty average. He and his best friend, Simon, are nerds that basically fly under the radar, and while Ray’s dad left when he was younger, he and his mom are on fairly good terms. Everything changes when Jane arrives in Burgerville. Inexplicably, she chooses Ray and Simon to be her new best friends, and the three become inseparable as they explore the history and urban legends of their strange town. Jane’s history is darker than it seems though, and when her struggle with depression leads to the unthinkable, Ray is left to gather the pieces and try to make sense of what happened.

The History of Jane Doe is basically an updated version of Looking for Alaska. It’s my favorite John Green novel (arguably not his best, but still my favorite), and I like to think I would have felt better about Jane Doe if I didn’t love Alaska so damn much. Jane Doe is better in some important ways. Its representation of mental illness is much more accurate, and Jane’s depression is actually called by name and addressed with therapy and medication. I think it’s important to see teenage characters with mental illnesses seeking help and breaking down some of the stereotypes that come with it. The downside is that it’s missing most of Alaska’s heart.

The characters are bland. Ray is the typical Nerdy Male Protagonist, with Simon as his faithful sidekick. His passion for history, particularly the weird history of his small town, is notable, but it never really pulled me in. The best things about him are his attempts to understand what Jane is going through. He never stops trying to help or being on her side. Jane is dry and sarcastic, which are characteristics that wear on me after a while. All that being said, I’m well outside the target age group for this book, and I suspect sarcasm as a personality goes over a lot better in high school.

The description of this book made me nervous, since it could so easily edge into Manic Pixie Dream Girl territory. While Jane is more distinct than that stereotype, she does fulfill some of the same roles, namely in making Boring Male Protagonist’s life more exciting and meaningful. I wanted to like her, but she never quite moves past ���mysterious, edgy girl who can’t be understood”, and I’m tired of that angle. We don’t need more books about men who can’t understand women, YA or not. (In that respect, Alaska is MUCH more a MPDG than Jane, but I still love her the most. Feelings are inexplicable.)

On the other hand, the writing itself is good, and structurally, I think the book really works. It moves seamlessly between past and present, and I never felt jolted out of the narrative or like Belanger was leaving me in suspense between the two. It also deals pretty well with Jane’s suicide. It’s clear early in the novel that’s what’s happened, as the narrative alternates between Ray and Simon meeting Jane and their history together and present-Ray struggling to understand why Jane took her life. His grieving process is well detailed and painful (and also includes therapy), and I like the ambiguity of the overall message. Ray will never be able to cope with Jane’s death by trying to piece together their history because he’s asking a question that doesn’t have an answer. Despite what Thirteen Reasons Why would have us believe, sometimes there is no “why.” Sometimes mental illness is an ugly voice that won’t let us see past the darkness. It’s not a very hopeful book, but it does deal well with some serious issues.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start with this beautiful book? I lost track of the number of times I laughed out loud at Simon’s often oblivious goofiness and Ray’s stories of the weird history of his town. I also lost track of the number of tissues I literally blew through as I was finishing the book. The last few chapters made me a sobbing mess. I somehow did not catch on to the inevitability of the “zero days before” until I was reading that chapter—I think I was trying to ignore that growing panic in my chest that things were not all milk and cookies and first kisses in Burgerville.

Ray’s voice—his humor, his know-it-all-history-nerd-ness, his bursts of desperate anger—felt so real. I also loved loved LOVED Jane; when she was “up,” her dry, cutting humor made me feel like she’s exactly the kind of girl I’d want to be friends with. And when she was “down”…well, that felt real, too, as did Ray’s frustration with her for being down. One part that really got me was when Jane apologized for being "such a bummer lately,” the kind of brush-off, please-don’t-prod apology that feels true to my own experiences with depression. It’s an understatement that reveals why Ray might have such difficulty understanding why Jane is the way she is.

It’s hard to understand depression unless you’ve experienced it yourself. After “day zero,” Ray struggles with his own mental health issues, and working through them with the help of his therapist makes him see Jane—and himself—more clearly. The structure of the book is not linear; the year leading up to “day zero” (focused on Ray’s relationship with Jane) and the year afterward (focused on Ray’s strained interactions with his therapist, friends, and family) are intertwined. The climax of both carefully constructed and paced storylines happens in the last pages of the book (hence all my crying).

Ultimately, that’s what I loved about the book; it made me cry, it made me laugh, and it felt effortlessly authentic in provoking those emotions. Well done, Mr. Belanger—I will definitely pick up your next book!

[Jennifer P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The History of Jane Doe resonated with me so much. Belanger perfectly captured what so many teens (and adults) struggle with each day. As someone with my own Jane Doe, I felt so connected with Ray-his strong desire to understand, help and care for Jane. I was so comforted by Ray's experience; his words brought tears to my eyes and filled me with hope. This book is such an important read for those who have in some way dealt with mental illness.

THOJD was beautifully written. I cried, laughed out loud, and smiled all the way to the end. I couldn't put this novel down.

Ray's sarcastic wit and quirks were some of my favorite parts of this book. Through his captivating storytelling, Ray brought his peculiar hometown of Burgerville (what I imagine as a cross between The Simpson's and a Tim Burton film) to life. From Earl Beddington and the green cows to Burgerville Bill, I absolutely LOVED Ray's stories. You must read this book!

The characters were genuine and their relationships were particularly special. Simon is without a doubt one of my favorite characters of all time. He was hilarious. I never laughed so hard reading a book. I found his innocence and love of milk so endearing. The list goes on and on about Simon.

Last, but definitely not least, Jane. Jane brings so much light to Ray and Simon's lives. While impossible to fully know the depths of Jane's mind, I felt so close to her. Jane's history is a powerful one that needed to be told.

I'm so glad Belanger brought these characters to life in such a creative and sincere way. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us!

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading The History of Jane Doe, I wasn’t sure what was going on and what was the big deal about Jane. I found the x amount of days before and x amount of days after a little confusing at first because I didn’t know what the zero-day event was, since it isn’t revealed until more than halfway through the book. Jane, Ray and Simon are slowly revealed to the reader. Their histories, relationship and their personalities. Ray and Simon are kind of nerds at the school. Ray loves history and is almost obsessed with the Burgerville history. He is always giving a historical fact whether people want to hear it or not. Simon is Ray’s best friend and is very loyal. He also is a big milk drinker. This fact kind of cracked me up because he would bring gallons of milk with him to parties. I really liked Ray and Simon. They are a couple of goofballs who don’t really care if the popular kids pick on them. They deal with it and have a whatever attitude. Jane is the new, mystery girl from New York who decides she wants to hang out with Ray and Simon and quickly becomes Ray’s girlfriend. This book has a lot of humor but there is also a lot of heartache. It slowly revealed why Jane and her parents moved to Burgerville and why Jane is depressed. The book also shows what happens to the survivors when someone dies. How everyone copes differently. Some can come out the other side of the sadness and despair just fine and some can’t. I found I cared for Ray, Simon and Jane and was hoping things worked out for them.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The History of Jane Doe was such a wonderful surprise! I loved the characters. They were so awkward, so endearing, so funny, so REAL. I loved Burgerville. It was quirky and eccentric- the definition of small-town America - but I wanted nothing more to visit it, to look for the mutant green cows with Jane, Ray, and Simon. I loved the writing. Michael made every word count. Never once did I feel bored or distracted; instead, I soaked it all in - embracing every feeling, good OR bad, that Michael brought my way.

Why You Should Read The History of Jane Doe:

(1) Ray - Ray's the main character, and I loved him to pieces. Over the course of The History of Jane Doe, the reader witnesses two Rays - the one with Jane and the one without Jane. Ray with Jane was a whole new Ray. He was daring and reckless. He lived his life with his heart on his sleeve, and while it got him into trouble at times, he didn't care. He wanted Jane. He wanted her respect, her love, her appreciation. He wanted her to know just how special she was. What I loved the most about Ray, however, was that he fully embraced his quirks. He loved history - talking about it, reading about it, etc. - and he never shied away from that love. His history related talks with Jane were some of my favorites, because I felt that it showed just how strong the bond was between them. The Ray without Jane broke my heart. He was angry and sad. He was a shell of himself, and he didn't know how to move on, how to live his life after he had experienced his own "mutant green cow," something so different, so life-changing that no one else could understand. While I didn't always approve of his anger or his outbursts, I could understand them. I would probably be the same in his shoes. Plus, seeing those low points made seeing the high points, especially towards the end, even more worthwhile.

(2) The History - Like Ray, I'm a huge history nerd. I love learning about new place and new people, and that love transited over quite well when it came to learning about Ray's small town. Michael Belanger has created such a rich history within the pages of The History of Jane Doe. I loved how fresh and unique it was, how Michael as well as his characters made me want to be a green cow believer. I also enjoyed the reflections on history. They made me think, and they always tied in beautifully with the overall story.

(3) Jane - It was easy to see why everyone was so fascinated with Jane. On the surface, she gave off a tough, don't mess with me vibe; however, underneath there was this sweetness to her, this personable side. I enjoyed seeing her find a family with Ray and Simon. I loved that she brought so much good to their lives, that she made them come out of their shells and do more, be more. I also appreciated that Michael never shied away from Jane's problems. Over the course of the book, Jane deals with depression, and it's never a cut-and-dry type issue. It's something she deals with everyday, and it has varying effects on the book. I won't say too much about it, but I will say I appreciated that Michael presented it in such a three-dimensional way.

(4) Action - The History of Jane Doe doesn't contain much action; however, I still liked reading about all the adventures the characters went on and seeing them just live their lives. Michael made the mundane here interesting, because of how rich and developed the characters were. I wanted to know everything about them, to see all the parts of their lives, and that's exactly what I received.

Overall, The History of Jane Doe is a noteworthy debut. Books like this are the reason why I always make a point to read as many debut books as I can during the year, because there's so much potential, so much goodness to be found within them. I've found a new favorite author here, and while Michael did manage to break my heart, he also built it up again by the end.

Side note: If you love Down and Across (another amazing book!!), you need this one in your life ASAP!!

*ARC was provided by the publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review*

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[Anne ✨ Finds Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart & Humor * Quirky & Relatable * Honest & Real

I adored this coming-of-age debut from a new voice in YA, Michael Belanger. The characters were quirky, awkward, funny, and very relatable. There’s Ray (geeky history-nerd), his best friend Simon (comic relief), and the new girl Jane Doe (complexity, depression) who Ray falls for. The subject matter of depression, suicide (and how it affects those around it) is all in here, but it is handled with a huge dose of heart and humor, so it’s a refreshing read that feels very real in a good way.

The story is told through Ray, in alternating chapters of before and after Jane is gone. The author makes Ray a very likable, witty, real character that you’ll connect with from the first paragraph, you'll laugh, and empathize with him, and you'll trust him to take you into the depths of his making sense of the history of Jane Doe.

The feel of this book is being compared to John Green, a cross between Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns. So you might be able to gauge your potential enjoyment of this book based on how much you like John Green's works.

I loved everything about this book: the cover, the quirky town lore, the heart and humor of the characters. From the things said to the things left unsaid. It's a great debut and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thanks to First to Read for providing me a complimentary of THE HISTORY OF JANE DOE by Michael Belanger in exchange for my honest review.***

2.5 STARS

Ray, a history buff to the point of OCD, falls hard for new girl, whom he calls Jane Doe to protect her anonymity. He, Jane and his best friend Simon form an unlikely trio. Told in alternating chapters of after Jane is gone and before, Ray takes readers on THE HISTORY OF JANE DOE.

Michael Belanger’s writing is the strongest part of this novel. He gave Ray such a unique and unintentionally comical voice while dealing with serious topics. In the beginning, we don’t know why Jane is gone when Ray talks to his therapist. Did she breakup with him, move away or die?

Ray was at times likable, at times frustrating. He certainly didn’t always treat others well. Simon was my favorite character, although he was little more than a sidekick. I never connect with Jane or understood the attraction to her.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF JANE DOE touched on mental illness, loss and depression, without delving below the surface and an almost insta-cure.

As much as I enjoyed Ray’s narrative, a lot of the story was witty banter without much plot. I found myself bored with lack of story movement. Readers don’t get enough of a glimpse into Ray for me to call A BRIEF HISTORY OF JANE DOE a decent character study.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF JANE DOE is s quirky, well-written story that some readers will enjoy more than others.

[Irene O'Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for free through Penguin's First to Read program. I thoroughly enjoyed Belanger's debut novel which deals with friendship, history, coming of age, and mental illness with humor, honesty, and heart. Ray's love of history and his hometown of Burgerville makes him an immediately lovable narrator and the comic relief Simon brings to each scene he is fits perfectly. The characters were all quirky but certainly well-rounded, particularly Jane, whose ups and downs are dealt with in a very realistic way. I hope Belanger continues to write because his crisp, humorous style is one I'd like to read more of.

[Delores · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review: Wow. There are almost no words for this book. How do you fight demons you can’t see? How do you survive the invisible battle? How do you not break everyone’s heart to save yourself? This book hit far too close to home for me. It left me in tears, curled up in a ball. It seemed so real. . . *Read more at https://intoalookingglass.wordpress.c...

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the characters right from the beginning. This book made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes at the same time. The story was honest and real and it’s a story that young adults need right now. I wish I had this book when I was in high school.

[addison ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

made me tear up just a little tbh

[Unauffaellig.auffallend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.. Mein Herz ist schwer wie ein Stein und schlägt mühsam durch die letzten worte von Jane Doe. Wow.

Das Buch ist unfassbar schön und traurig, unglaublich intressant und erschreckend.

Jane, Ray und Simon gehören zusammen wie Seelenverwandte, der Autor hat wirklich eine ganz ergreifende und wunderbare Freundschaft erschaffen. Man wollte sofort dazu gehören und sich komische Geschichten über Burgerville ausdenken.

Das Thema Depression schwebt ganz sachte und schleichend in der Geschichte, es gab dir zwischendurch ein ganz beklommenes Gefühl, an so Tagen wo du aufsteht und einfach merkst, der Tag wird nix, ein unruhiges und nervöse Gefühl das stetig präsenter wird.

Aber hauptsächlich strahlt in diesem Buch die Hoffnung und das Glück zwischen dem dreien.

Der Stil ist einfach toll, durch die DAVOR und DANACH Kapitel weiß man zwar ungefähr was man noch verkraften muss aber es ermöglicht einfach einen Einblick den man so und auch so gut geschrieben, nicht oft vermittelt bekommt.

Ich bin wirklich begeistert, es war einfach so gut! So wichtig und gut.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Regardless of whether or not you have lost someone to suicide, you will instantly connect with Ray and everything that he is going through - recreating his history with Jane to try to understand why she did what she did.

This was a book that I loved and will recommend to many. I loved and connected with Ray and with Jane. With his mom and Tim. With all of the characters. There is something very relatable about all of them and that makes me want to be in this story - but have the ending be different.

A wonderful story that will hopefully reach many people and help those that feel like they might be on an island alone know that they aren't (I realize that sentence is clumsy and I apologize).

Pick up this one. You won't regret it.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I need a bucket for these tears! The synopsis on the back of the ARC had prepared me for something "beautiful, horrible, astonishing, hilarious", and this story delivered. I cried, but I also laughed a lot, and I really appreciated Belanger's representation of Jane's struggles with mental illness. It was honest and realistic, and he said those things that we can't get our loved ones to quite understand.
============================================================================

Be prepared. This book is an emotional roller coaster, but in my opinion, it's a ride worth taking.

Top Ten Reasons to Read The History of Jane Doe

1. Ray was sarcastic, insightful, and his love and knowledge of history was unparalleled.
2. Simon has been added to my list of favorite sidekicks. His adoration of milk and vampires made me smile, and he was also a wonderful, supportive, and big-hearted best friend to Ray.
3. Jane was quirky and interesting without being a manic pixie dream girl. She had this whip smart wit, and I have never encountered a character who counts folk music and conspiracy theories among her favorite things.
4. The friendship between these three was sort of wonderful. I promise there will be lots of laughter for a majority of this book, and most of it will be due to the interactions between these three characters.
5. I have never seen "folk" used in so many ways. Jane wore these obscure folk music t-shirst, which never failed to make me smile with sayings such as "Let's Folk", "Folk You", "O Come, All Ye Folkful". I just started looking forward to seeing what her next t-shirt would say.
6. Tommy Beddington, because I like when people surprise me.
7. The format of the book was days before and days after "the event". It's a format I am a fan of, because I like the back and forth and the buildup.
8. Carnivorous Green Cows and all the other odd attractions in Burgerville. It was fun learning the history of this quirky little town, as well as, getting to know its oddities.
9. Mental health issues were treated in a very honest and sensitive way. We don't get a lot of first hand reflections, because the story was narrated by Ray, but rather, we see how a loved one's mental health issues affected those around them. Ray also worked with a therapists, Richard Dawson, who was simply wonderful. One of my favorite Richard quotes: "Depression is like this black light on everything in your life so you can only see the bad stuff."
10. The ending of this book was beautiful. Yes, I cried buckets, but I thought it was a wonderful way to end Jane's story.

This book was heartwarming and heartbreaking. So grab some tissues and get to know Ray, Jane, and Simon.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica It took me a while to finish The History of Jane Doe because my daughter stole it from me. It eventually came back to me with (voluntary!) stickies.

This is what I loved about The History of Jane Doe: 
Authentic characters: I thought about them after I put the book down. They seemed like the real deal, and stayed on my mind. 
Impending tragedy: I knew something terrible was going to happen, but I still wanted to keep reading because I wanted to know how it could go wrong. 
Honesty: Jane remains an enigma, and that’s the point. I love that Belanger doesn’t cave and try to give us all the answers. Profound depression is like that. It isolates everyone. And Jane’s deep desire to protect others from what she can’t control about herself is heartbreaking. Not only does this poor child suffer for herself, she tries but simply can’t explain it to the people she loves. 
Ray’s amazing therapy sessions: Ray wants to feel better, but he also doesn’t. The point is that he CAN and he knows he can (unlike Jane). His half-hearted attempts to try his counselor’s practical recommendations reveal this nicely. While they generally devolve back into Ray’s very funny but cynical place, there’s always just a hint of his progress. 
Real adults: I was captivated by the parents in this novel. We get so little of them, and that’s good, but what I saw captured my heart. I’m the mother of a teen, and I was also a depressed little handful for own my mother. The parents doing their best to help their children but stay out of their way too… that made me so sad. 

This novel went beyond the typical YA novel. Belanger obviously respects the intellectual and emotional lives of young adults. He knows how to offer complexity in an entertaining and engaging format. I’m excited to pass this along to teens and adults alike.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great to read a book that deals with such hard topics as mental health and suicide from the perspective of those that love the one feeling depressed. It hits just as hard (if nor harder) and it shows that mental health issues don't just affect the individual.
Ray is the one left behind and this history lover deals with his pain by reconstructing the facts as he knows them. We get glimpses into his past with Jane and of the present as he deals with his sorrow. Thru it all is a general feeling of realness that helps the reader really connect with all the characters and really engages emotions. I laughed with them as they had their teenaged adventures, worried when they did, and cried when things got hard.
Belanger created a book that engages the reader's emotions and shows that as corny and cliché as it may sound, life goes on.
Also "Simon's Law" should become a thing that people practice and believe in and it would make the world a better place.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is on our audio platform and I'm plugging away reading a heap of these to promote them to our students. This is a good one. With definite appeal to those who like realistic fiction, this is part mystery, part relationship fiction with a hefty dose of mental health issue to boot. It is also witty and funny!

It is the story of Ray, suffering from depression, whose girlfriend Jane (except that isn't really her name) has committed suicide. Ray and Simon have been the outcast weird guys of their school, they are the shunned ones, the picked on and the ignored. Then that all changes with the arrival of Jane. A girl of mystery from Brooklyn. She arrives in their small town, sits next to Ray in biology and gradually gradually they become friends. Then more than friends. Simon who definitely needs help with his dairy product addiction gets drawn into the orbit and they become a formidable threesome.

There is a lot about the weird history of their town, Ray is a history buff and local history is his obsession. Think crazy stories about gun toting mayors, green cow conspiracies, haunted houses and plenty more.

It probably deserves another half a star just for it's engaging story. The author knows what he is writing about, has suffered from depression and I'd be happy to hand this book to any of my students who have issues like this. With a generous serving of quirk, this book is great.

[Mieke Schepens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dit boek las ik voor Nienke's kinderboekenblog, de boekensite van Nienke Pool.

In het eerste hoofdstuk lees je over een gedachte van Ray die gaat over wat iedere tiener en volwassene ook graag zou willen hebben. Wat zou dat veel verdriet, teleurstellingen en moeilijkheden kunnen voorkomen.

"Als je zoveel over geschiedenis leest als ik, ga je er op den duur naar verlangen dat er over het echte leven ook lesboeken bestonden, het soort met geïllustreerde tijdlijnen en 'wist je dat'-ballonnetjes die alles zo overzichtelijk en eenvoudig te begrijpen maken."

Vanaf dat moment was mijn aandacht gevangen.
In 'De geschiedenis van Jane Doe' lees je hoe de geschiedenisfreak Raymond Green probeert te doorgronden wat er in het afgelopen jaar gebeurde tussen zijn (ex-)vriendin Jane en hemzelf. Hij noemt haar Jane Doe om haar ware naam niet te hoeven onthullen.

Het verhaal speelt zich af in Williamsburg, Connecticut maar iedereen noemt deze plaats Burgerville. Het leven van Ray veranderde compleet toen Jane in Burgerville kwam wonen; het saaie plaatsje en de mensen die er in leefden werden meteen minder saai.
Hijzelf en zijn vriend Simon zijn een beetje de buitenbeentjes op school, maar door de vriendschap met Jane worden ze ineens belangrijker, zo lijkt het.
Jane geeft weinig prijs over zichzelf en haar leven, maar Ray is hartstikke gek op haar.
Lees mijn recensie hier verder: https://graaggelezen.blogspot.com/201...

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I teared up. I was angry. I was sympathetic. Three high school students that will stay with me for quite some time: Jane, Simon, Ray!

[natty b · Rating 3 out of 5]

a mia batkiewitcz library read. it was actually kind of cute

[Energy Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always appreciate it when an author takes on real-life issues, and I feel that Belanger hit it out of the park with The History of Jane Doe. Simon and Ray lead a rather mundane life, just the two of them as social outcasts, until Jane transfers to their school. For some reason, she chooses them to be friends with. Told in chapters reflecting the past and then the present, readers watch their friendship and then relationship unfold. We are given slight glimpses at first as to something being different about Jane, and while the author doesn't come right out and say it, it's clear she suffers from depression, if not bi-polar or some other mental illness I would be hesitant to name. But she does go through her ups and downs, which we learn, she probably inherited from her grandmother. The History of Jane Doe is fun, well-written, and touching. I loved how well Belanger was able to weave Jane's illness into her new life with Simon and Ray, making it my new favorite YA read.

[Liz Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite books make me cry a little, laugh a lot, and have something to teach me. They make me feel. The History Of Jane Doe does all that and more. A stunning debut from new author Mike Belanger! I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

as soon as i got this in the mail I started reading it and couldn't put it done! LOved it, very much worth a read!