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Janes #1-2 + Janes Attack Back
The Plain Janes - Omnibus Edition
Meet the Plain Janes--artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town. This cult classic graphic novel is perfect for fans of The LumberJanes and Awkward .
When artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved city life behind for the boring suburb of Kent Waters, she thinks her life is over. But then she finds where she at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with fellow misfits Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things-a shared name and frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to fighting suburban apathy with guerrilla works of art scattered around their small town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than simple teenaged rebellion; it's an act of survival. She's determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors' lives. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, the PLAIN Janes are out to prove that passion, bravery, and a group of great friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
With each installment printed in its own distinct color, this volume includes the original two stories-- The Plain Janes and Janes in Love --plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back . The Janes are back, and better than ever.
When artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved city life behind for the boring suburb of Kent Waters, she thinks her life is over. But then she finds where she at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with fellow misfits Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things-a shared name and frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to fighting suburban apathy with guerrilla works of art scattered around their small town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than simple teenaged rebellion; it's an act of survival. She's determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors' lives. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, the PLAIN Janes are out to prove that passion, bravery, and a group of great friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
With each installment printed in its own distinct color, this volume includes the original two stories-- The Plain Janes and Janes in Love --plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back . The Janes are back, and better than ever.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2020
13 people are currently reading
2297 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Castellucci
221 books722 followersCecil Castellucci is an author of young adult novels and comic books. Titles include Boy Proof, The Year of the Beasts (illustrated by Nate Powell), First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool The Plain Janes and Janes in Love (illustrated by Jim Rugg), Tin Star Stone in the Sky, Odd Duck (illustrated by Sara Varon) and Star Wars: Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
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April 29, 2025
An artist must be a reactionary.
Evelyn Waugh
& so to tenderness I add my action.
Aracelis Girmay
Art is a form of communication with the world, an expression of ideas, a reaction to the world around you. The PLAIN Janes b Cecil Castelucci and illustrated by Jim Rugg is a fantastic discussion on the importance of art in our lives and of the conversations that occur around it. It is also very dear to me on a number of levels. Just a quick flip through this book told me I needed to read it: street art, police opposition and censorship, female empowerment, trying to make something beautiful in a frightening world...everything I wanted to read. Particularly the discussions around the tone policing of art in a public sphere the impetuses of creating public art, especially since my own artistic endeavors came under scrutiny of the local authorities….but more on that in a bit. This edition collects the complete three volumes, the first two published in 2007 and 2008 and then the third finally arriving in 2020. While the second volume--Janes in Love--wraps up the story to some extent, the third volume really brings the message of their art to question amidst the natural breakdown of teenage friend circles and feels like a more fulfilling conclusion to the whole story instead of tacked on. The story follows Jane--Main Jane--as she forms an art coalition of friends (all named Jane) in an effort to bring art to their town through pop-up installation work over the course of their high school years. Their attempts are met with both support and backlash--particularly from the local police--and the three volumes chronicle the ways their art and friendships change with the times and how they overcome the obstacles that befall them. From under-cover-of-night street artists to a City-sanctioned art coalition with a grant to fund their work, PLAIN Janes takes a hard look at how the message of art is altered by the conditions in which it is made as well as how the creative spirit can thrive in the face of adversity. A really beautiful portrait of friendship and perseverance, The PLAIN Janes is as moving as it is inspirational and thought provoking through its messages about artistic expression, individuality, finding your own way in the world and--most importantly--standing up for what you believe in an attempt to recraft the world in a better way.
The story begins with Main Jane living in Metro City and surviving a bombing at a local cafe. Her parents flee the city to a quiet community out of fear and Jane finds herself displaced. Despite being openly welcomed by the popular crowd, Jane shrugs them off hoping to find a new start without any pretenses and forces her way into the “uncool” table at lunch--three girls all named Jane who are social outcasts. We meet Theater Jane, Brian Jane and Sporty Jane, who, along with James (the solitary member of the school’s Gay Club), are brought into a close friendship by Main Jane’s enthusiasm for public art. While initially caricatures for their individual social standings and a bit flat--Theater Jane constantly quotes famous authors and is dramatic, Brain Jane quips about the mathematical beauty in music, Sporty Jane….well she just wants to get off the bench and actually play--Castellucci slowly grows each character into multi-dimensional personalities that make up a fairly authentic teenage social group (and who isn’t sort of a caricature of themselvesx at that age anyways with all the posturing and effort to be an individual?). The books mature along with the characters, as well, being more nuanced with their personalities (initially they all seemed a bit too cookie-cutter these-are-the-attractive-people but volume two briefly explores body image issues in a pretty productive and empowering way) as well as the themes as it goes along. Through the three books we see them come close together as friends, support each other, find romantic relationships and then, inevitably, begin to go their own ways as they blossom into themselves as Seniors who are planning ahead to their next phase in life.
Main Jane has PTSD from her brush with death and the news is filled with existential threats of violence from bombings to anthrax and school shootings (this is set closly after 9/11 but does not stoop to presenting a fear of foreigners though in the whole conversation about the treatment towards “outsiders” it would have been nice to see a conversation about race occur. There are a variety of races depicted in the book but the book stays fairly white and never discusses race). Amidst the attack she finds a notebook with “ART SAVES” written on the cover next to an unconscious young man, whom she visits in the hospital while he is in a coma and continues to write to him. John Doe eventually wakes up and goes back to his home in Poland, but their correspondence continues throughout all three volumes and serves a narrational purpose exposing her inner thoughts. The words on the notebook have inspired her and she uses it to plot out public artworks that she and her friends leave about the city under the name of P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods).
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, the you win.
-Ganhdi
The project is loved by peers, who don’t know who is doing it, but the local police do not like it. Cue the narrative about under cover art attacks, police enforcement, conversations about if street art is vandalism or not, etc. One thing that this book does very well is present a wide variety of really cute and cool street art ideas from installation pieces to yarn bombing (yes, yarn boming is a real form of graffitti). Unfortunately, aside from referencing the Dadaists, there is little to no mention of actual street artists which could have been a great jumping off point for readers to learn more about street art and the artists that inspired this book. Central to PLAIN is Jane’s desire to present the world in a beautiful way, as a reaction to the terror and violence in the world. The random “art attacks” are a direct contrast to the bombing she experienced. When met with resistance, Jane perseveres not only for her friends and for her art, but because the resistance in a way is to her belief in beauty that keeps her going. We witness her mother so afraid of the world that she refuses to leave the house, and Jane just wants to remind people of the good in the world and in coming together (such as a city-wide dance party they organize inspired by the Case of the Meowing Nuns as a reaction to curfews). PLAIN Janes is adorable and heartfelt when dealing with interpersonal relationships (this is a really positive book for teens) but is best when it comes to conversations on art, which is the predominant theme in the series.
I personally empathized with their plight and really enjoyed the arguments in favor of public installations as art instead of vandalism. For the past four years I’ve had my own public art project consisting of leaving poems behind on trees wherever I go. As with Main Jane, my art idea accrued in reaction to the world and emotional state around me. At the time it began I was a delivery driver going around the midwest, staying overnight out of town, spending long days on the road. It was a lonely existence for awhile. I read a lot of poetry on breaks in my delivery van and would leave ones that touched me on trees as a sort of beacon to people who might also need them. An “I was here” so to speak. I wanted people to stumble upon poetry in nature and maybe think about poetry for just a moment of their day. I created an instagram account (follow me or take a look at @poe_a_tree on instagram) and wrote my anonymous handle on the poems so people could tag them and I could see if people found them. Turns out a lot of people did. With the help of a very good friend who also joined in for awhile, we came up with the idea to add art to them to catch people’s attention. I began practicing with oil pastels and started creating large works of art for each snippet of poetry and began going out at night and leaving them throughout the local campus and downtown--my own “art attacks” like the Janes.
I’ve met so many wonderful people this way, including my partner, and it was amazing to overhear people talk about it or tell me about it because I was completely anonymous. After 3 years, the city declared it vandalism and sent a cease and desist order to my account with the threat of arrest and fine. Like the Janes, I was caught and punishment awaited. But, as the Janes learn, art can inspire a community. I had posted the letter onto my accounts and was flooded with messages encouraging me. Within a few hours the local paper contacted me and businesses’ started to contact me asking for a PoeATree post for their store. You can read about it here from the local paper, or, read and watch the regional news story about it. I’ve kept at it, having been given permission to continue on the local campus and in several stores. They even ran a follow-up article. So reading The PLAIN Janes came at a good time for me, especially the third part.
In Volume 3, the Janes have their own city sanctioned art space but are beginning to feel like it is state. Jane goes to France to study art with the girlfriend of her penpal and while she is gone everyone goes their own way. Enter a nemesis. A new girl in school arrives fronting a punk band and bold ideas for public art, mocking the Jane’s “corporate” art project and their insistence on staying within legal boundaries. Jane wants art to comfort, Pain (okay, the names in this book aren’t exactly stretching creativity) wants art to shock. It’s a perfect final act with the two debating while also learning from each other that leads to an incredibly moving conclusion when Jane realizes taking a stand can be a form of artistic expression. Written 11 years after the second volume, the third act builds on the fears in the world from the previous two while also adding a message about the necessity of resistance. This brings to mind Czesław Miłosz’s book The Captive Mind about how authoritarianism squashes the creative mind either by eliminating it or forcing it to create Party propaganda. Pain directly confronts the police art bans and while the message of direct action is built up throughout the first two volumes, it speaks loudest and most eloquently in the final act. ‘All art is political’ Jane yells at the police officer near the end. I am inclined to agree. ‘All good art is political!’ says the immortal Toni Morrison, ‘There is none that isn’t. And the ones that try hard not to be political are political by saying, ‘We love the status quo.’’ To not be political is, in effect, a political statement. Morrison adds that ‘We’ve just dirtied the word ‘politics,’ made it sound like it’s unpatriotic or something,’ as any statement of expression made into the world has some form of belief behind it. Even wanting to show beauty in the face of fear, Jane discovers, is a statement and direct action is the best way to make that statement heard.
This book is sheer enjoyment and fun but also deals with some deep themes along the way. The artwork is engaging, the voices are fun and nuanced, and the message is pure gold. I loved The PLAIN Janes and it really inspired me to think about my own artwork. Since reading this book I’ve experimented around a lot and I am really excited about some new projects I have brewing (I’ve already built a homemade projector and am projecting poems onto the sides of buildings for short periods). While it may occasionally dip into cliche and takes a bit for the characters to come to life the flaws are hardly any deterrent to the fun. Let PLAIN Janes inspire you as much as it did me.
⅘
Evelyn Waugh
& so to tenderness I add my action.
Aracelis Girmay
Art is a form of communication with the world, an expression of ideas, a reaction to the world around you. The PLAIN Janes b Cecil Castelucci and illustrated by Jim Rugg is a fantastic discussion on the importance of art in our lives and of the conversations that occur around it. It is also very dear to me on a number of levels. Just a quick flip through this book told me I needed to read it: street art, police opposition and censorship, female empowerment, trying to make something beautiful in a frightening world...everything I wanted to read. Particularly the discussions around the tone policing of art in a public sphere the impetuses of creating public art, especially since my own artistic endeavors came under scrutiny of the local authorities….but more on that in a bit. This edition collects the complete three volumes, the first two published in 2007 and 2008 and then the third finally arriving in 2020. While the second volume--Janes in Love--wraps up the story to some extent, the third volume really brings the message of their art to question amidst the natural breakdown of teenage friend circles and feels like a more fulfilling conclusion to the whole story instead of tacked on. The story follows Jane--Main Jane--as she forms an art coalition of friends (all named Jane) in an effort to bring art to their town through pop-up installation work over the course of their high school years. Their attempts are met with both support and backlash--particularly from the local police--and the three volumes chronicle the ways their art and friendships change with the times and how they overcome the obstacles that befall them. From under-cover-of-night street artists to a City-sanctioned art coalition with a grant to fund their work, PLAIN Janes takes a hard look at how the message of art is altered by the conditions in which it is made as well as how the creative spirit can thrive in the face of adversity. A really beautiful portrait of friendship and perseverance, The PLAIN Janes is as moving as it is inspirational and thought provoking through its messages about artistic expression, individuality, finding your own way in the world and--most importantly--standing up for what you believe in an attempt to recraft the world in a better way.
The story begins with Main Jane living in Metro City and surviving a bombing at a local cafe. Her parents flee the city to a quiet community out of fear and Jane finds herself displaced. Despite being openly welcomed by the popular crowd, Jane shrugs them off hoping to find a new start without any pretenses and forces her way into the “uncool” table at lunch--three girls all named Jane who are social outcasts. We meet Theater Jane, Brian Jane and Sporty Jane, who, along with James (the solitary member of the school’s Gay Club), are brought into a close friendship by Main Jane’s enthusiasm for public art. While initially caricatures for their individual social standings and a bit flat--Theater Jane constantly quotes famous authors and is dramatic, Brain Jane quips about the mathematical beauty in music, Sporty Jane….well she just wants to get off the bench and actually play--Castellucci slowly grows each character into multi-dimensional personalities that make up a fairly authentic teenage social group (and who isn’t sort of a caricature of themselvesx at that age anyways with all the posturing and effort to be an individual?). The books mature along with the characters, as well, being more nuanced with their personalities (initially they all seemed a bit too cookie-cutter these-are-the-attractive-people but volume two briefly explores body image issues in a pretty productive and empowering way) as well as the themes as it goes along. Through the three books we see them come close together as friends, support each other, find romantic relationships and then, inevitably, begin to go their own ways as they blossom into themselves as Seniors who are planning ahead to their next phase in life.
Main Jane has PTSD from her brush with death and the news is filled with existential threats of violence from bombings to anthrax and school shootings (this is set closly after 9/11 but does not stoop to presenting a fear of foreigners though in the whole conversation about the treatment towards “outsiders” it would have been nice to see a conversation about race occur. There are a variety of races depicted in the book but the book stays fairly white and never discusses race). Amidst the attack she finds a notebook with “ART SAVES” written on the cover next to an unconscious young man, whom she visits in the hospital while he is in a coma and continues to write to him. John Doe eventually wakes up and goes back to his home in Poland, but their correspondence continues throughout all three volumes and serves a narrational purpose exposing her inner thoughts. The words on the notebook have inspired her and she uses it to plot out public artworks that she and her friends leave about the city under the name of P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods).
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, the you win.
-Ganhdi
The project is loved by peers, who don’t know who is doing it, but the local police do not like it. Cue the narrative about under cover art attacks, police enforcement, conversations about if street art is vandalism or not, etc. One thing that this book does very well is present a wide variety of really cute and cool street art ideas from installation pieces to yarn bombing (yes, yarn boming is a real form of graffitti). Unfortunately, aside from referencing the Dadaists, there is little to no mention of actual street artists which could have been a great jumping off point for readers to learn more about street art and the artists that inspired this book. Central to PLAIN is Jane’s desire to present the world in a beautiful way, as a reaction to the terror and violence in the world. The random “art attacks” are a direct contrast to the bombing she experienced. When met with resistance, Jane perseveres not only for her friends and for her art, but because the resistance in a way is to her belief in beauty that keeps her going. We witness her mother so afraid of the world that she refuses to leave the house, and Jane just wants to remind people of the good in the world and in coming together (such as a city-wide dance party they organize inspired by the Case of the Meowing Nuns as a reaction to curfews). PLAIN Janes is adorable and heartfelt when dealing with interpersonal relationships (this is a really positive book for teens) but is best when it comes to conversations on art, which is the predominant theme in the series.
I personally empathized with their plight and really enjoyed the arguments in favor of public installations as art instead of vandalism. For the past four years I’ve had my own public art project consisting of leaving poems behind on trees wherever I go. As with Main Jane, my art idea accrued in reaction to the world and emotional state around me. At the time it began I was a delivery driver going around the midwest, staying overnight out of town, spending long days on the road. It was a lonely existence for awhile. I read a lot of poetry on breaks in my delivery van and would leave ones that touched me on trees as a sort of beacon to people who might also need them. An “I was here” so to speak. I wanted people to stumble upon poetry in nature and maybe think about poetry for just a moment of their day. I created an instagram account (follow me or take a look at @poe_a_tree on instagram) and wrote my anonymous handle on the poems so people could tag them and I could see if people found them. Turns out a lot of people did. With the help of a very good friend who also joined in for awhile, we came up with the idea to add art to them to catch people’s attention. I began practicing with oil pastels and started creating large works of art for each snippet of poetry and began going out at night and leaving them throughout the local campus and downtown--my own “art attacks” like the Janes.
I’ve met so many wonderful people this way, including my partner, and it was amazing to overhear people talk about it or tell me about it because I was completely anonymous. After 3 years, the city declared it vandalism and sent a cease and desist order to my account with the threat of arrest and fine. Like the Janes, I was caught and punishment awaited. But, as the Janes learn, art can inspire a community. I had posted the letter onto my accounts and was flooded with messages encouraging me. Within a few hours the local paper contacted me and businesses’ started to contact me asking for a PoeATree post for their store. You can read about it here from the local paper, or, read and watch the regional news story about it. I’ve kept at it, having been given permission to continue on the local campus and in several stores. They even ran a follow-up article. So reading The PLAIN Janes came at a good time for me, especially the third part.
In Volume 3, the Janes have their own city sanctioned art space but are beginning to feel like it is state. Jane goes to France to study art with the girlfriend of her penpal and while she is gone everyone goes their own way. Enter a nemesis. A new girl in school arrives fronting a punk band and bold ideas for public art, mocking the Jane’s “corporate” art project and their insistence on staying within legal boundaries. Jane wants art to comfort, Pain (okay, the names in this book aren’t exactly stretching creativity) wants art to shock. It’s a perfect final act with the two debating while also learning from each other that leads to an incredibly moving conclusion when Jane realizes taking a stand can be a form of artistic expression. Written 11 years after the second volume, the third act builds on the fears in the world from the previous two while also adding a message about the necessity of resistance. This brings to mind Czesław Miłosz’s book The Captive Mind about how authoritarianism squashes the creative mind either by eliminating it or forcing it to create Party propaganda. Pain directly confronts the police art bans and while the message of direct action is built up throughout the first two volumes, it speaks loudest and most eloquently in the final act. ‘All art is political’ Jane yells at the police officer near the end. I am inclined to agree. ‘All good art is political!’ says the immortal Toni Morrison, ‘There is none that isn’t. And the ones that try hard not to be political are political by saying, ‘We love the status quo.’’ To not be political is, in effect, a political statement. Morrison adds that ‘We’ve just dirtied the word ‘politics,’ made it sound like it’s unpatriotic or something,’ as any statement of expression made into the world has some form of belief behind it. Even wanting to show beauty in the face of fear, Jane discovers, is a statement and direct action is the best way to make that statement heard.
This book is sheer enjoyment and fun but also deals with some deep themes along the way. The artwork is engaging, the voices are fun and nuanced, and the message is pure gold. I loved The PLAIN Janes and it really inspired me to think about my own artwork. Since reading this book I’ve experimented around a lot and I am really excited about some new projects I have brewing (I’ve already built a homemade projector and am projecting poems onto the sides of buildings for short periods). While it may occasionally dip into cliche and takes a bit for the characters to come to life the flaws are hardly any deterrent to the fun. Let PLAIN Janes inspire you as much as it did me.
⅘
December 22, 2020
Sweet 💕
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
February 8, 2020
I received an ARC of this book for free from The NOVL in exchange for an honest review.
Please note that since this is an ARC, it only includes the first 2 installments and a sneak peek at the third installment. Therefore, my review is based only on these parts.
I really liked this graphic novel and the story it told. The book deals with many relevant topics such as terrorism and PTSD. I was happy that the book didn’t shy away with showing the mental effects that terrorism has on people. Jane’s mother is the perfect example of that.
I liked how the girls came together to make a statement using art. Art is such an important tool in enacting societal change.
I loved the artwork and stylization of the text. Both the illustrations and the text were clear and easy to follow. If you find graphic novels to be a bit distracting, you might want to try this one.
I’m really glad that all the installments were put together in this book because they all come together nicely. For example, the first installment, “The PLAIN Janes,” sort of just ends abruptly. But the second installment, “Janes in Love,” really builds upon the first. I only got a sneak peek at the third one, “Janes Attack Back,” but from what I read, I think it will be a satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel and am looking forward to seeing how it all ends.
Please note that since this is an ARC, it only includes the first 2 installments and a sneak peek at the third installment. Therefore, my review is based only on these parts.
I really liked this graphic novel and the story it told. The book deals with many relevant topics such as terrorism and PTSD. I was happy that the book didn’t shy away with showing the mental effects that terrorism has on people. Jane’s mother is the perfect example of that.
I liked how the girls came together to make a statement using art. Art is such an important tool in enacting societal change.
I loved the artwork and stylization of the text. Both the illustrations and the text were clear and easy to follow. If you find graphic novels to be a bit distracting, you might want to try this one.
I’m really glad that all the installments were put together in this book because they all come together nicely. For example, the first installment, “The PLAIN Janes,” sort of just ends abruptly. But the second installment, “Janes in Love,” really builds upon the first. I only got a sneak peek at the third one, “Janes Attack Back,” but from what I read, I think it will be a satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel and am looking forward to seeing how it all ends.
August 24, 2021
i loved this book. it was cute and inspiring. i recommended it.
Read
January 12, 2020I was so bored, the characters are incredibly one-dimensional, and the main character is fairly unbearable most of the time. Pass.
Thank you so much to the Amazon Vine reviewer program for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the Amazon Vine reviewer program for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 16, 2020
Art saves!
This is the rallying cry of the Janes, a group of different girls, all named Jane, who are all dedicated to making things better in their small town. More beautiful, more interesting, especially in the wake of terror attacks and other terrifying events. Spurred on by Main Jane, who moved there from the big city after surviving a bomb attack. Troubled by the state of the world, wanting to make art, Jane rallies her friends, her school, to try and make a difference!
This is the rallying cry of the Janes, a group of different girls, all named Jane, who are all dedicated to making things better in their small town. More beautiful, more interesting, especially in the wake of terror attacks and other terrifying events. Spurred on by Main Jane, who moved there from the big city after surviving a bomb attack. Troubled by the state of the world, wanting to make art, Jane rallies her friends, her school, to try and make a difference!
January 16, 2021
At first I thought this was just a re-release of the 2007 graphic novel, but it turns out it is an omnibus of that book, the 2008 sequel Janes in Love, and a previously unpublished third book called Janes Attack Back.
The Plain Janes Jan. 12, 2021 - two stars
I read this book back in 2007, and my recall is it was unmemorable teen junk. Indeed, I might as well have been reading it for the first time this time around, I remembered so little of it. The survivor of a bombing in the big city, Jane Beckles, is moved by her parents to what they consider safer suburbs. At her new high school she falls in with some unpopular girls who are little more than their stereotypes: Jayne the brainiac, Jane the drama geek, and Polly Jane the jock. Together they become guerrilla artists, and their projects divide the town between those who see vandalism and those who admire the rebellious spirit.
Janes in Love Jan. 13, 2021 - two stars
I also read this book shortly after its original release back in 2008. It too left very little impression with its bland teen drama. It's not bad, mind you, it just does not really stick. There is an attempt to flesh out the secondary Janes by giving each a little romance, but they don't really grow that much beyond their brainy, theater, and jock archetypes.
Janes Attack Back Jan. 14, 2021 - two stars
And finally the new material, which, alas, is as unremarkable as the first two books. It does what it intends to do, wrapping up the discussion of art begun in the first book thanks to a new character who wants the Janes to return to their guerrilla art roots and stop submitting to the town authorities' demands. Jane's trauma from the terrorist bombing is dealt with a bit more. It's all okay, but sure to fall out of my head in a matter of days.
The Plain Janes Jan. 12, 2021 - two stars
I read this book back in 2007, and my recall is it was unmemorable teen junk. Indeed, I might as well have been reading it for the first time this time around, I remembered so little of it. The survivor of a bombing in the big city, Jane Beckles, is moved by her parents to what they consider safer suburbs. At her new high school she falls in with some unpopular girls who are little more than their stereotypes: Jayne the brainiac, Jane the drama geek, and Polly Jane the jock. Together they become guerrilla artists, and their projects divide the town between those who see vandalism and those who admire the rebellious spirit.
Janes in Love Jan. 13, 2021 - two stars
I also read this book shortly after its original release back in 2008. It too left very little impression with its bland teen drama. It's not bad, mind you, it just does not really stick. There is an attempt to flesh out the secondary Janes by giving each a little romance, but they don't really grow that much beyond their brainy, theater, and jock archetypes.
Janes Attack Back Jan. 14, 2021 - two stars
And finally the new material, which, alas, is as unremarkable as the first two books. It does what it intends to do, wrapping up the discussion of art begun in the first book thanks to a new character who wants the Janes to return to their guerrilla art roots and stop submitting to the town authorities' demands. Jane's trauma from the terrorist bombing is dealt with a bit more. It's all okay, but sure to fall out of my head in a matter of days.
March 18, 2020
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
January 7, 2020
I have been waiting years for the third Janes story. It is now coming out in an incredible 3 in 1 volume. A great conclusion to the series. Full review below.
.
.
.
This is a book nearly a decade in the making. Cecil and Jim collaborated on the first two Janes stores in 2007 and 2008. And had a third planned. And it never happened. I interviewed Cecil in 2010 and the working title of a third story at that point was Janes Go Summer. In this finally released three in one edition the title of the third instalment is Janes Attack Back. So the sections in this volume are:
The PLAIN Janes
Janes in Love
Janes Attack Back.
The first two were previously release as single volumes and were done with color coves and the artwork was black and white and grey-scale. In this edition each of the three stories are in a different monochromatic scale. Part 1 is blue, part 2 is fuchsia and part three is green. And this new edition is being simultaneously release in hard cover, paperback and digitally. I went back and check my reading log and I have read both of the first two volumes 10 times. I reread them nearly once a year since I discovered them. And now I will likely be reading this new edition annually. When this book arrived I read it immediately. And it did not disappoint. And I have already started reading it a second time with my oldest daughter who is 13. I can’t wait to find out what she thinks of the Janes.
The Janes are:
Jane - DramaticJane
Jayne - BrainJayne
Polly Jane - SportyJane
Jane - MainJane
Part I: The PLAIN Janes
The story is set shortly after 9/11 and features a girl, Jane, who was near one of the blasts. Her whole life is turned upside down. He parents move her to a small town. Her mother is not getting better from the shock of 9/11; she is getting more frightened, and protective and a little paranoid. Jane was popular and in the 'in crowd' at her old school in the city. Here she decided to make conscious changes; she joins the outcast, a group of Plain Janes. And they use Art as therapy and as a way of understanding themselves and the world around them.
Part II: Janes in Love
MainJane is still dealing with the aftermath of being near ground zero of a terrorist attack. She is getting better but her mother is getting worse. All of Janes' art is an attempt to bring her mother back out of her shell. The Janes get in trouble for their public art. But decide to try and work with the system. This one does go into greater depth about relationships and overcoming adversity.
Part III Janes Attack Back
This story starts with the girls doing art installations in the park. They want to expand to more public spaces but the city threatens to take even the park they have. So then compromise. This causes them to start losing focus and the edge to their art. Then each of them ends up going a different way for the summer. When they come back MainJane hopes her renewed passion is carried by the group, but that at first does not seem to be the case. They are preparing for university the next year. And life is busier than ever. A New girl at school really clashes with MainJane even though she is an artist. They are very different in their styles and approach. But they end up feeding off each other and inspiring each other. And in the end it comes down to a showdown with the city of the art space, and keeping it around for others to take over.
In this edition you get not only three complete incredible stories you get a whole lot more. There is a wonderful forward by Mariko Tamaki. Between part 1 and 2 there is original concept art for Main Jane. Between parts 2 and 3 there is a section called ‘The Evolution of a Graphic Novel’ with a full page to each of the four steps. Then we are treated to original cover sketches, and 8 evolutions of cover options. And the book ends with other artists renditions of the Janes including: Joshua Middleton, Sophie Campbell, Becky Cloonan, Cliff Chiang, Tom Scioli and Philip Bond.
When I reviewed the first one 10 years ago I stated: “The story is great. It has a message every high school student and maybe every adult could learn from. It is incredibly well written and Jim Rugg did an amazing job illustrating the story. I have a feeling this will become one of those books I read annually because there will be more I can get from it each time I read it.” It has proved true and I am sure will be even more so with this third instalment added. I would love to see what happens to the Janes in University, or even after. But to finally have the third Janes story is a blessing and a treasure. If you have read either of the others you must pick up this to find out how the story continues. And if you have not it is an incredible read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Cecil Castellucci. And also an author profile and interview with Miss Cecil.
.
.
.
This is a book nearly a decade in the making. Cecil and Jim collaborated on the first two Janes stores in 2007 and 2008. And had a third planned. And it never happened. I interviewed Cecil in 2010 and the working title of a third story at that point was Janes Go Summer. In this finally released three in one edition the title of the third instalment is Janes Attack Back. So the sections in this volume are:
The PLAIN Janes
Janes in Love
Janes Attack Back.
The first two were previously release as single volumes and were done with color coves and the artwork was black and white and grey-scale. In this edition each of the three stories are in a different monochromatic scale. Part 1 is blue, part 2 is fuchsia and part three is green. And this new edition is being simultaneously release in hard cover, paperback and digitally. I went back and check my reading log and I have read both of the first two volumes 10 times. I reread them nearly once a year since I discovered them. And now I will likely be reading this new edition annually. When this book arrived I read it immediately. And it did not disappoint. And I have already started reading it a second time with my oldest daughter who is 13. I can’t wait to find out what she thinks of the Janes.
The Janes are:
Jane - DramaticJane
Jayne - BrainJayne
Polly Jane - SportyJane
Jane - MainJane
Part I: The PLAIN Janes
The story is set shortly after 9/11 and features a girl, Jane, who was near one of the blasts. Her whole life is turned upside down. He parents move her to a small town. Her mother is not getting better from the shock of 9/11; she is getting more frightened, and protective and a little paranoid. Jane was popular and in the 'in crowd' at her old school in the city. Here she decided to make conscious changes; she joins the outcast, a group of Plain Janes. And they use Art as therapy and as a way of understanding themselves and the world around them.
Part II: Janes in Love
MainJane is still dealing with the aftermath of being near ground zero of a terrorist attack. She is getting better but her mother is getting worse. All of Janes' art is an attempt to bring her mother back out of her shell. The Janes get in trouble for their public art. But decide to try and work with the system. This one does go into greater depth about relationships and overcoming adversity.
Part III Janes Attack Back
This story starts with the girls doing art installations in the park. They want to expand to more public spaces but the city threatens to take even the park they have. So then compromise. This causes them to start losing focus and the edge to their art. Then each of them ends up going a different way for the summer. When they come back MainJane hopes her renewed passion is carried by the group, but that at first does not seem to be the case. They are preparing for university the next year. And life is busier than ever. A New girl at school really clashes with MainJane even though she is an artist. They are very different in their styles and approach. But they end up feeding off each other and inspiring each other. And in the end it comes down to a showdown with the city of the art space, and keeping it around for others to take over.
In this edition you get not only three complete incredible stories you get a whole lot more. There is a wonderful forward by Mariko Tamaki. Between part 1 and 2 there is original concept art for Main Jane. Between parts 2 and 3 there is a section called ‘The Evolution of a Graphic Novel’ with a full page to each of the four steps. Then we are treated to original cover sketches, and 8 evolutions of cover options. And the book ends with other artists renditions of the Janes including: Joshua Middleton, Sophie Campbell, Becky Cloonan, Cliff Chiang, Tom Scioli and Philip Bond.
When I reviewed the first one 10 years ago I stated: “The story is great. It has a message every high school student and maybe every adult could learn from. It is incredibly well written and Jim Rugg did an amazing job illustrating the story. I have a feeling this will become one of those books I read annually because there will be more I can get from it each time I read it.” It has proved true and I am sure will be even more so with this third instalment added. I would love to see what happens to the Janes in University, or even after. But to finally have the third Janes story is a blessing and a treasure. If you have read either of the others you must pick up this to find out how the story continues. And if you have not it is an incredible read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Cecil Castellucci. And also an author profile and interview with Miss Cecil.
March 26, 2020
Cecil is an auto-buy around these parts so to receive an early copy of the recently updated Plain Janes was such a treat! I was so engrossed I couldn’t put it down on a plane ride.
After tragedy strikes, Jane moves to a new community and turns to art as a way to bring herself back to stability and process her feelings. To do this, she recruits a few other Janes and they start a rebellion.
What I love most is the sensitive way that Cecil manages the emotions that Jane goes through as she is faced with situations that trigger her. I also like how the story shows natural transition high school friend groups go through.
Overall this is a kick-ass story about art, friendship, healing, and community. Highly recommend!
After tragedy strikes, Jane moves to a new community and turns to art as a way to bring herself back to stability and process her feelings. To do this, she recruits a few other Janes and they start a rebellion.
What I love most is the sensitive way that Cecil manages the emotions that Jane goes through as she is faced with situations that trigger her. I also like how the story shows natural transition high school friend groups go through.
Overall this is a kick-ass story about art, friendship, healing, and community. Highly recommend!
January 2, 2020
Arc provided by HBG Canada. Definitely not for me. This one read as a sad moppy story about misfits who changes the school with art.
February 6, 2020
I got this through Vine to review. Before that I had not heard of the series. The review copy is black and white and only has the two previously published stories, not the third new one.
That said, I loved this enough I’ll be reading the actual release copy to finish the third story.
Jane was the survivor of a terrorist attack. She saved a young man’s life. She’s been visiting him regularly at the hospital as he’s in a coma as a John Doe. Then her parents decide the best course of action is to leave the city. Thrust into a new school while dealing with the complex emotions of having survived such a thing leaves Jane pretty difficult to know. And yet a group of girls, The Janes, become her BFFs. Using John Doe’s sketchbook for inspiration the girls set out to art bomb their sleepy town. The police feel that their art is essentially a form of terrorism. As the members of their PLAIN collective get caught, Jane’s devotion to the idea of spreading art starts to waiver. Until John Doe goes home and a letter from him inspires Jane to try to legitimize their work via art grants.
This is a sweet story of survival, friendship, and using art to heal yourself and maybe the world around you as well.
That said, I loved this enough I’ll be reading the actual release copy to finish the third story.
Jane was the survivor of a terrorist attack. She saved a young man’s life. She’s been visiting him regularly at the hospital as he’s in a coma as a John Doe. Then her parents decide the best course of action is to leave the city. Thrust into a new school while dealing with the complex emotions of having survived such a thing leaves Jane pretty difficult to know. And yet a group of girls, The Janes, become her BFFs. Using John Doe’s sketchbook for inspiration the girls set out to art bomb their sleepy town. The police feel that their art is essentially a form of terrorism. As the members of their PLAIN collective get caught, Jane’s devotion to the idea of spreading art starts to waiver. Until John Doe goes home and a letter from him inspires Jane to try to legitimize their work via art grants.
This is a sweet story of survival, friendship, and using art to heal yourself and maybe the world around you as well.
February 28, 2020
Amazing!! This story made me want to go out and yarn-bomb something...even though I neither knit or crochet (tried to learn both, but everything unraveled into a mess and I literally ended up tangled up in yarn).
Anyway... Great story and very inspiring how the Janes motivated an entire town to love art, from the Quiet Kid to the resident Queen Bee. Well...almost everyone. Officer Sanchez... WTF was that Piggy's problem with art and kids being creative? And why did he go out of his way to be so freaking malicious nazi? The motivation behind his complete and total hater-ness was never really explained. And a villain without a reason to be a villain isn't much of a villain. Just a flat character. He's worse than Cruella DeVille, because at least she had a reason, as awful as that reason was (although he probably hates puppies too). This was a major plot hole and deserved more attention. Like a reason. Maybe a resolution. Maybe a chance for the character to redeem himself...even if he agrees to disagree. But nada. For me, this was reason enough to drop this from a 5-star book to a 4-star book. Seriously, though...I hope he chokes on his next donut.
All that aside, this was a fantastic book. So empowering! So inspirational! I loved the friendships and how the girls got the whole town involved. I loved pretty much everything. I really hope there's more Plain Janes books on the way, because I'd read it!
Anyway... Great story and very inspiring how the Janes motivated an entire town to love art, from the Quiet Kid to the resident Queen Bee. Well...almost everyone. Officer Sanchez... WTF was that Piggy's problem with art and kids being creative? And why did he go out of his way to be so freaking malicious nazi? The motivation behind his complete and total hater-ness was never really explained. And a villain without a reason to be a villain isn't much of a villain. Just a flat character. He's worse than Cruella DeVille, because at least she had a reason, as awful as that reason was (although he probably hates puppies too). This was a major plot hole and deserved more attention. Like a reason. Maybe a resolution. Maybe a chance for the character to redeem himself...even if he agrees to disagree. But nada. For me, this was reason enough to drop this from a 5-star book to a 4-star book. Seriously, though...I hope he chokes on his next donut.
All that aside, this was a fantastic book. So empowering! So inspirational! I loved the friendships and how the girls got the whole town involved. I loved pretty much everything. I really hope there's more Plain Janes books on the way, because I'd read it!
March 9, 2024
This edition includes volumes 1-3 and additional artwork. The story was phenomenal, the characters inspiring, and the artwork perfectly reflects all Castellucci puts in words. It's a winning combination. Highly recommend for an inspiring heartwarming story.
April 11, 2020
I had a hard time connecting with these characters. The first part was a lot more compelling than the second and third parts, as the same themes and issues are explored repeatedly for 450 pages. It got a bit repetitive and dull. This was a labor of love, but just not my cup of tea.
December 16, 2019
THE PLAIN JANES is a YA graphic novel that celebrates friendship and art. The book is in two parts for the first two graphic novels originally published years ago. THE PLAIN JANES tells of how Jane came to Kent Waters, a small town, found a group she wanted to call her own and began the PLAIN movement (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods). The second, JANES IN LOVE, continues this storyline as well as goes into the romances that the Janes have, centered around the Ides of March dance, where girls ask the boys.
The main Jane (their names all happen to be variants of Jane) came from Metro City, and her parents moved her away to a small town after she was injured by a bomb explosion. This moment really altered Jane's perception, and when she helped another young man following, she found his Art Saves notebook. In the small town without museums, Jane is determined to bring art to the people, and so begins the PLAIN movement. However, the police and authorities are avidly against PLAIN from the start, focusing on the attack part of the art attacks.
At the same time, Jane is dealing with a maybe-romance with Damon and parent issues, where her mother is constantly checking up on her- until another bad thing happens to someone her mother used to know, and she becomes so anxious she cannot leave the house.
The book tackles some big issues in a really approachable way. The artwork is fantastic, and though a lot of the story is told in Jane's letters to John Doe (the man she helped save after the bomb) or through her thoughts and not dialogue, it is still really readable. The font size does mean I had to keep the book close to my face, but the text-to-image ratio is spot-on.
The storyline itself is highly engaging, making this a really fun read to dive into. I would highly recommend for fans of books like MOXIE and ON THE COME UP. This is a really fun graphic novel.
Please note that I received an ARC through The NOVL. All opinions are my own.
The main Jane (their names all happen to be variants of Jane) came from Metro City, and her parents moved her away to a small town after she was injured by a bomb explosion. This moment really altered Jane's perception, and when she helped another young man following, she found his Art Saves notebook. In the small town without museums, Jane is determined to bring art to the people, and so begins the PLAIN movement. However, the police and authorities are avidly against PLAIN from the start, focusing on the attack part of the art attacks.
At the same time, Jane is dealing with a maybe-romance with Damon and parent issues, where her mother is constantly checking up on her- until another bad thing happens to someone her mother used to know, and she becomes so anxious she cannot leave the house.
The book tackles some big issues in a really approachable way. The artwork is fantastic, and though a lot of the story is told in Jane's letters to John Doe (the man she helped save after the bomb) or through her thoughts and not dialogue, it is still really readable. The font size does mean I had to keep the book close to my face, but the text-to-image ratio is spot-on.
The storyline itself is highly engaging, making this a really fun read to dive into. I would highly recommend for fans of books like MOXIE and ON THE COME UP. This is a really fun graphic novel.
Please note that I received an ARC through The NOVL. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2021
tw: shootings, homophobia, sexism, etc.
characters are one dimensional. there’s a token gay character who’s given nothing more than stereotypical gay traits (liking fashion, using “girl” when addressing the other characters, etc). also seriously there’s only one queer kid in the entire school? it’s literally not realistic. why do all the janes want boyfriends? none of the relationships made any sense but when do teenage relationships make any sense. also the dialogue is terrible, annoying, and hard to read. i don’t understand any of the characters’ motivations. they’re just so boring. the random popular girl?? what was her storyline ?? i don’t get it. she just wanted to piss off her dad? like i get that but also where’s the depth? also like all of theater jane’s (yes she’s really referred to as this throughout the book) lines are quotes from random famous people. how is this a thing that happened? there’s a sporty jane but somehow she was forced to wear a dress when she didn’t want to and “brainy jane” (as is her screen name in whatever messaging app they’re using) and she likes science. that’s it. that’s all you have for characters. ugh the stupid damon guy that the mc liked for literally no reason had to personality other than driving her around. like he literally said i just want to be friends to the mc and she’s like oh well i’m in love with him, he’ll come around. then like kissed him and was like oh yeah sorry you just wanted to be friends and he’s like yeah nah never mind let’s date like WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING
ALSO why did she go to France to meet the unconscious adult man she’s never spoken to before??? she’s a teenager???? her parents just let her?? her mom was scared of shootings but she was like yeah go meet this random dude that’ll be fun for you. also why did the mom want to cut off the dad’s ponytail? just let him live bro.
this looked so cute and easy to read. the author tried to deal with senseless acts of violence but never really went anywhere with it. if the author spent more time fleshing that out, i think it would’ve been a very compelling read.
characters are one dimensional. there’s a token gay character who’s given nothing more than stereotypical gay traits (liking fashion, using “girl” when addressing the other characters, etc). also seriously there’s only one queer kid in the entire school? it’s literally not realistic. why do all the janes want boyfriends? none of the relationships made any sense but when do teenage relationships make any sense. also the dialogue is terrible, annoying, and hard to read. i don’t understand any of the characters’ motivations. they’re just so boring. the random popular girl?? what was her storyline ?? i don’t get it. she just wanted to piss off her dad? like i get that but also where’s the depth? also like all of theater jane’s (yes she’s really referred to as this throughout the book) lines are quotes from random famous people. how is this a thing that happened? there’s a sporty jane but somehow she was forced to wear a dress when she didn’t want to and “brainy jane” (as is her screen name in whatever messaging app they’re using) and she likes science. that’s it. that’s all you have for characters. ugh the stupid damon guy that the mc liked for literally no reason had to personality other than driving her around. like he literally said i just want to be friends to the mc and she’s like oh well i’m in love with him, he’ll come around. then like kissed him and was like oh yeah sorry you just wanted to be friends and he’s like yeah nah never mind let’s date like WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING
ALSO why did she go to France to meet the unconscious adult man she’s never spoken to before??? she’s a teenager???? her parents just let her?? her mom was scared of shootings but she was like yeah go meet this random dude that’ll be fun for you. also why did the mom want to cut off the dad’s ponytail? just let him live bro.
this looked so cute and easy to read. the author tried to deal with senseless acts of violence but never really went anywhere with it. if the author spent more time fleshing that out, i think it would’ve been a very compelling read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2019
I received a copy of this from the Novl via Goodreads and am so glad that I did. I don't keep up with graphic novel releases and this book was so cute. I loved the exploration of grief and overcoming trauma. I loved the role that art played in these stories. The art style was really cute as well. Highly recommend these graphic novels!
May 4, 2021
The PLAIN Janes are artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town. Main Jane suffers from PTSD and uses art as a survival mechanism. She's determined to not let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors' lives. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, the PLAIN Janes are out to prove that passion, bravery, and a group of great friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
I loved Jane’s bond with Miroslaw, and how having someone that can relate to your experience can be therapeutic and help face the fear of it all. I can’t even fathom what it must be like to suffer from PTSD.
I loved how each book section had its own color scheme. The art the Janes were doing around town was really inspiring, even when it got more sanctioned, and I enjoyed the message the story was making — art saves. Each character came into their own towards the end of the book, but they came back together when it mattered. Their story gets 4 licks from me!!
Side note: None of the Janes are queer, but I was totally shipping Main Jane with Cindy. The Janes didn’t want to join the Queer Club with James and Cindy, but I would’ve loved to see it!!
I loved Jane’s bond with Miroslaw, and how having someone that can relate to your experience can be therapeutic and help face the fear of it all. I can’t even fathom what it must be like to suffer from PTSD.
I loved how each book section had its own color scheme. The art the Janes were doing around town was really inspiring, even when it got more sanctioned, and I enjoyed the message the story was making — art saves. Each character came into their own towards the end of the book, but they came back together when it mattered. Their story gets 4 licks from me!!
Side note: None of the Janes are queer, but I was totally shipping Main Jane with Cindy. The Janes didn’t want to join the Queer Club with James and Cindy, but I would’ve loved to see it!!
February 18, 2020
There were things I loved about this book and there things that made me go...”eh”, “hmmm”, and “ugh”.
I’d prefer to focus on what I liked!
* The overall message and theme of these stories are positive! Art is therapeutic and truly can save lives.
* The artwork is very cute. Love the character designs and color schemes used for the stories.
* It’s easy reading. I teach 4th grade and at the moment I have about five students I know are going to adore this book.
I’d prefer to focus on what I liked!
* The overall message and theme of these stories are positive! Art is therapeutic and truly can save lives.
* The artwork is very cute. Love the character designs and color schemes used for the stories.
* It’s easy reading. I teach 4th grade and at the moment I have about five students I know are going to adore this book.
December 15, 2020
I am so glad Plain Janes is back in print and with fresh art and an expanded story. Without Cecil Castellucci and the Janes, there would be no Smile, no Real Friends, no Roller Girl. Plain Janes paved the way for many of the beloved graphic novels today and I'm so excited to reintroduce them to this story. Art Saves.
September 11, 2021
Beautiful sweet book about how any kind of art (music, writing, painting, street art) saves us and makes the world more special.
After Jane Beckles has a horrifying traumatic experience, she and her family move to the suburbs where she meets fellow outsiders and tries to show the sleepy town of Kent Waters that Art truly saves.
After Jane Beckles has a horrifying traumatic experience, she and her family move to the suburbs where she meets fellow outsiders and tries to show the sleepy town of Kent Waters that Art truly saves.
December 18, 2020
An *excellent* book about a young girl (Jane) who deals with her trauma of having lived through a terrorist attack by bringing beauty to the world through guerilla street art installations.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
June 26, 2021
This is a really cool graphic novel! I love the limited color palette and how it changes with each of the three stories included in the book. The Janes are so fun with their own personalities, their guerilla art, and their changing views of friendship and the world.
December 27, 2020
Good story but it felt like the story would never end leaving me with feelings of penance paid in purgatory.
March 12, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from TheNovl! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Book Series: Janes Book 1-2 and Janes Attack Back
Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Graphic Novel Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bombing TW, terroristic threats mention TW, hijinks and law breaking behavior in the name of art!)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Meet the Plain Janes--teenage artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town in this graphic novel bind up, perfect for fans of This One Summer and Awkward.
After getting caught in the midst of a terrorist attack on Metro City, artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved bustling metropolis for the boring suburb of Kent Waters. At first Jane thinks her life is over, but then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things--a shared name and an all-too-relatable frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to waking up their fellow citizens with guerrilla works of art scattered around town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than just a simple act of teenaged rebellion, it's an act of survival. She's determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors'. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, she's out to prove that true passion and a group of good friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
Includes the original two installments of the cult classic graphic novel The Plain Janes--The Plain Janes and Janes in Love--plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back. And it gets even better: In the final book, each part will be printed in its own distinct color, because there's nothing plain about these Janes.
Review: This book was amazing! I loved how the book was wrote in graphic novel form and I think it really enhanced the theme of how important art is to everyone. Art is everywhere and this book really highlights that fact. The book had amazing character development, especially for our main character, and it did well to discuss sensitive topics. The plot is also very well developed and immediately engrosses you.
The only issue with the book is that the pacing is very fast, so if you’re not usually one for graphic novels it’ll throw you off balance. The book also ends on a cliffhanger but I’m so pumped for book 2 (3? I’m confused as I had two books in one arc but I think it was one book lol).
Verdict: Amazing graphic novel series about art!
Book: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Book Series: Janes Book 1-2 and Janes Attack Back
Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Graphic Novel Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bombing TW, terroristic threats mention TW, hijinks and law breaking behavior in the name of art!)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Meet the Plain Janes--teenage artist activists on a mission to wake up their sleepy suburban town in this graphic novel bind up, perfect for fans of This One Summer and Awkward.
After getting caught in the midst of a terrorist attack on Metro City, artsy misfit Jane Beckles is forced to leave her beloved bustling metropolis for the boring suburb of Kent Waters. At first Jane thinks her life is over, but then she finds where she belongs: at the reject table in the cafeteria, along with Brain Jayne, Theater Jane, and sporty Polly Jane. United by only two things--a shared name and an all-too-relatable frustration with the adults around them--the girls form a secret club dedicated to waking up their fellow citizens with guerrilla works of art scattered around town.
But for Main Jane, the group is more than just a simple act of teenaged rebellion, it's an act of survival. She's determined not to let fear rule her life like it does her parents' and neighbors'. Armed with her sketchbook and a mission of resistance, she's out to prove that true passion and a group of good friends can save anyone from the hell that is high school.
Includes the original two installments of the cult classic graphic novel The Plain Janes--The Plain Janes and Janes in Love--plus a never-before-seen third story, Janes Attack Back. And it gets even better: In the final book, each part will be printed in its own distinct color, because there's nothing plain about these Janes.
Review: This book was amazing! I loved how the book was wrote in graphic novel form and I think it really enhanced the theme of how important art is to everyone. Art is everywhere and this book really highlights that fact. The book had amazing character development, especially for our main character, and it did well to discuss sensitive topics. The plot is also very well developed and immediately engrosses you.
The only issue with the book is that the pacing is very fast, so if you’re not usually one for graphic novels it’ll throw you off balance. The book also ends on a cliffhanger but I’m so pumped for book 2 (3? I’m confused as I had two books in one arc but I think it was one book lol).
Verdict: Amazing graphic novel series about art!
March 13, 2023
Like the graphic novel Numb to This, this graphic novel begins with an act of domestic terrorism–a bombing that leaves the protagonist forever changed. Before the bombing, Jane Beckles was a blonde, urban high school student. After the bombing, she cuts her hair, dyes it black, moves to the suburbs with her parents, and begins to focus on the saving power of art. In addition to her PTSD, Jane suffers typical new kid angst: learning the school’s culture, figuring out her classes, and finding her people. She identifies her tribe in the cafeteria, an eclectic group of girls who share her name. While she, MainJane, is the arty kid, BrainJayne is focused on academics, especially science. SportyJane prefers activities that require movement, and TheaterJane has a famous quote for every situation. Together, the Janes found People Loving Art in Neighborhoods (P.L.A.I.N.) and begin creating art in public places, which puts them at odds with local law enforcement.
The book is separated into into three sections that are easily discernible because of the predominate colors used by the illustrator. The first section is all blue, the second pink, and the third is green. Though each section features the girls doing art and battling the establishment, we also see them growing up, trying new things, falling in love, and preparing for life after high school.
Like so few YA books these days, this story is told without profanity or sex or substance abuse. I liked that and the fact that the characters are active problem-solvers rather than individuals who point out everything that’s wrong in the world but never do anything to improve the situation. 3.5
The book is separated into into three sections that are easily discernible because of the predominate colors used by the illustrator. The first section is all blue, the second pink, and the third is green. Though each section features the girls doing art and battling the establishment, we also see them growing up, trying new things, falling in love, and preparing for life after high school.
Like so few YA books these days, this story is told without profanity or sex or substance abuse. I liked that and the fact that the characters are active problem-solvers rather than individuals who point out everything that’s wrong in the world but never do anything to improve the situation. 3.5
February 3, 2020
I enjoyed this high school graphic novel about a city girl named Jane, injured in a terrorist attack, whose parents move to the safety of a suburb. Jane doesn't like the blandness of the burbs but quickly finds her crowd in a group of girls all named Jane. City Jane inspires the group to start a spontaneous (yet planned out) community art movement, sparking community fears of unknown people defacing property. Meanwhile, there are the trials and tribulations of high school romance or lack thereof and non-understanding parents. Like some of the other reviewers, I have an ARC and do not have the third part - Janes Attack Back - other than a preview. From what I read, I expect it is of the same quality as the rest of this volume. The strengths of this graphic novel are 1) encouraging self expression through art; 2) having friends that share goals; and 3) life is messy and some of the plot points simply don't have easy solutions. The weaknesses of this graphic novel are 1) each Jane has a stereotypical role - jock Jane, science nerd Jane, dramatic actress Jane. This is why I rate this at 4 stars despite liking it a lot. I'm fine with the 'messy' parts raised such as when is art defacement versus spontaneous expression (a theme teenagers through pranks as well as art have been grappling with for years and years) and how the cope with legitimate fears raised by modern life; and how to deal with threats that one can't control such as the attack which made Jane's parents decide to move away from Metro City and made Jane follow her passion for artistic expression. Still, this is a lot of fun to read.
April 28, 2022
I did like this book and the illustration was fantastic. However, I wish that the story and character development of all the characters could have been more drawn out. I could see this being a 5 or 6 book series versus the 3 in this collection. There is one part where the characters go different ways for one summer and I think each of their stories could have been told in more detail than just a few pages. That being said though, I love the idea of art being anything you make it. It can be a statement, it can be healing, it can bring people together. Jane loves making art but after a very scary experience and moving to a new school, she isn't sure who to talk to, who to trust, and if she should continue her art. But when she meets the other Janes, things take a drastically fantastic change! Definitely a quick read but totally worth it!
October 4, 2020
It was ok, I liked the art style a lot, did a neat single color risograph looking thing. Street art and community art is always a fav topic. The focus on recovering from a bombing and its effects wasn't something that felt tired, and the way it kinda just formed a background to the character made me sad. This graphic novel felt like it gave me a glimpse into a type of teenage psyche that I don't always encounter in writing, it was familiar, to be sure, but different enough that I think it gave me a new perspective on the ways that teens confront and work though anxiety and trauma today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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