Copy Boy

Jane Benjamin #1

by Shelley Blanton-Stroud

Jane’s a very brave boy. And a very difficult girl. She’ll become a remarkable woman, an icon of her century, but that’s a long way off.

Not my fault, she thinks, dropping a bloody crowbar in the irrigation ditch after Daddy. She steals Momma’s Ford and escapes to Depression-era San Francisco, where she fakes her way into work as a newspaper copy boy.

Everything’s looking up. She’s climbing the ladder at the paper, winning validation, skill, and connections with the artists and thinkers of her day. But then Daddy reappears on the paper’s front page, his arm around a girl who’s just been beaten into a coma one block from Jane’s newspaper―hit in the head with a crowbar.

Jane’s got to find Daddy before he finds her, and before everyone else finds her out. She’s got to protect her invented identity. This is what she thinks she wants. It’s definitely what her dead brother wants.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Book Club, LGBT

264 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2020

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They rode the Okie trail, Route 66...built a canvas-and-cardboard home just off the levee at the confluence of two rivers-the clear American and the muddy Sacramento". The meager abode housed Jane's hope chest of books including self-penned notebooks filled with her detailed account of the family's migration to California in the 1930's. "Momma had always said Jane was gonna 'do' something. Not that she 'was' something, but that she was gonna 'do' something".

Jane owed Momma...she was the first twin born, second twin, Benjamin, was still-born. Benjamin became "a spirit, a stream of particles". "[Jane] hadn't cleared the account though she'd tried in a thousand off-target ways...Though Jane didn't know what she was going to do, she did know why she had to keep trying". She won many contests "...winning all in spite of being a white trash Okie freckled with pollen and tent dirt". Working tirelessly as a tomato picker, Jane knew there would be no payoff in tomatoes.

Momma, a woman "powerful, real and completely herself" confessed to Jane, "Your Daddy don't have...power over me no more...". A fight got out of hand, fists flew. Momma, heavily pregnant, was thrown on the ground. In self defense, Jane hit Daddy with a crowbar. Instructed by Momma, guilt ridden Jane dumped Daddy in an irrigation ditch leaving him for dead. It would appear, to an onlooker, that he was attacked and robbed after playing a gig. Jane was on the run, with seven pennies in her pocket and a hand-printed card-"Sweetie, 3528 Clay Street, San Francisco".

Arriving at Sweetie's dwelling, Jane begged for assistance...after all "...though they weren't blood, they were from the same clay". In order to stay as a lodger in Rivka's home with Sweetie and Rivka, Jane must earn a living. "It is ugly, an unfair world for unskilled women...there is more for unskilled men...'You can do men's work', said the radio voice in Jane's head". Rivka noticed a newspaper ad. "Copy boys wanted for expanding staff of ambitious regional newspaper. Need smart, hardworking hustlers". Six foot tall and skinny, Jane stated,"I could be a boy...It was easier to move and be in the world in overalls than the hose and heels a city girl required". Rivka would school her...hair cut short and pomaded, how to smoke a cigarette and how to speak using a low raspy voice. Meet Jane's new persona. Meet Benny Hopper!

"And because she'd been succeeding so well at faking so hard, she had a good distance to fall. Anything could topple her". Although her reinvention as Benny seemed secure, her "invented identity" was threatened by a documentary photograph depicting a hardscrabble Okie family. The front page photo showed Jane's Daddy with his arm around a teenage girl, a girl who since had been attacked with a crowbar. If this was a current photo, Daddy was still alive and could come after Jane threatening to undo all of her accomplishments. What was Jane to do?

"Copy Boy" by Shelley Blanton-Stroud is an excellent work of historical fiction taking place in Northern California during the Depression. The depiction of Dust Bowl migrants rings true as does the plight of the unskilled worker, especially women. Blanton-Stroud has written a captivating debut novel I highly recommend.

Thank you She Writes Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy Boy is a gem of a story about a strong woman in history. Jane has a rough start in life, living in the Dust Bowl. She wants a better life and heads off to San Francisco during the Great Depression. She wants to be a “copy boy” at the newspaper, so she has to fake it.

Jane’s success at the paper builds, and she learns more about her trade.

One person knows her true identity, her father, and he may find Jane and expose her secret.

I enjoyed this historical mystery set during the Depression. I admired Jane’s strength and her commitment to what’s right. Overall, this was a quick and captivating historical with some added suspense.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane escapes from her abusive father to San Francisco in the 1930’s. To survive, she reinvents herself into Benny Hopper and lands a job as a Copy Boy at the San Francisco Prospect. A story lead she is working on about a young girl beaten into a coma leads her back to her father, who is looking for her.

Blanton-Stroud’s debut novel is fabulous! Starts with a gripping first chapter, we are suddenly hooked into Jane’s life and ruse as she builds up her life taking on her dead twin brother’s identity. The story well researched with rich detail of depression era San Francisco and the life of journalist at that time. Quite a fascinating read I enjoyed.

This is a fantastic debut!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.

I just couldn not get into it.

I will pick up the book someday again and write a proper review.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction novel that takes place in San Francisco during the 1930s depression era. I loved the depiction of the times, and the history of California! I thought it was an easy, and we'll written story! It definitely held my interest and I enjoyed the twists that played out! I think fans of historical fiction should definitely check this one out!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this time period book. It does seem authentic in the way that back in this time period, if a woman wanted to get a real "job", they would have to work under an new name or in Jane's case, a man with an new name.

When it came to this story, I was not feeling it as much as I would have liked. Jane is nice but she was not enough. The other characters were not as engaging to me. Thus, when it came to the overall vibe of the story; I was not as fully committed.

In addition, I felt like the story started out strong but then moved at a lower pace. It did pick up again after the half way mark and stayed at a even pacing until the ending. While, I may not have "loved" this book, I still liked it and would read another book by this author.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Hopper has had a rough start to life, born into the Depression era and living in a tent camp with her abusive father and strong willed mother. Jane has always felt like she owed her mother after the death of her twin brother, Benny. At seventeen Jane has the chance to make something of herself when she takes a crowbar to her father, leaves him in a ditch and drives to San Francisco. Jane quickly figures out that in order to make money she will have to change, so Jane changes into Benny Hopper and quickly gets a job as a Copy Boy at The Prospect. As Benny, Jane receives the opportunity to work on the stories that have always interested her. However, the hot story is connected to Jane and her Daddy that she left in a ditch along with a picture of a man that carries a large resemblance to Benny Hopper.

An intriguing historical mystery set during the Depression Era, Copy Boy shows the fortitude of the different people who lived during that time. Through Jane I experienced the drive, ambition and heart of the people barely surviving in the encampments along with those who would do anything to get ahead in San Francisco. I was intrigued by the vast difference in circumstances between the people suffering in the midwest and those thriving in San Francisco. Jane's character was hard to get to know as she changed and evolved constantly through the story. I understood the reasons behind becoming Benny as well as all of her waffling between what is good and bad in her life. At the heart of the story is coming to understand a sense of self and realizing that your past does not have to define you. The mystery was well crafted and kept me intrigued. The interactions of the many players made the mystery layered and complex, turning a simple whodunit into a why did they do it. I was glad how things turned out for Jane in the end, but did feel that everything wrapped up rather quickly.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Jim Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you live or have lived in San Francisco, have spent time in the Central Valley, or just love great historical fiction, Copy Boy should be on the top of your list. The characters are fun and complex, and the plot twists are varied and thought-provoking. Can't wait to read what Ms. Blanton-Stroud's writes next!

[Elizabeth Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible premier novel. The artistry of the first few paragraphs drew me and the action held me there until the book was over and it was way past my bedtime. Blanton-Stroud not only tells a captivating story but she also beautifully and heart-wrenchingly describes dustbowl and depression physical and social geographies. A remarkable feat. If you like gritty stories with scrappy characters whose flaws make you somehow love them even more, you will love this book.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

DNF @20%
2020; She Writes Press

I love historical mysteries, and was excited to read Copy Boy, which is set during the Dust Bowl/ Depression Era. Ratings for this book were high, and I have had a good experience with picking up a book from She Writes Press. This is probably me and my mood, but I did not connect with this story or the character of Jane. I would read other reviews on this one as most seemed to like/love this one.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Gretchen Cherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What a brave man she is, and what a good woman.”

Copy Boy did exactly what I needed a great book of fast-paced fiction to do. It fully transported me out of my current world of Covid-19 into the wonderfully constructed world of Jane as she escapes the harsh realities of her family in Oklahoma and lands in 1930s San Francisco. Needing a job and a cover for her risky escape, Jane turns herself into Benny Hopper to land a job of copy boy at San Francisco Prospect, a turn of the century newspaper with fascinating type-setting machines and rough beat characters. Dogged by her place of origin (“Where did you get your grit, Miss Jane,” she’s asked. “Good genes,” she replies) and her dead-at-birth twin who occupies a big place in her mind, Benny (Jane) might be uneducated but she’s as smart as a whip and her creator knows exactly where she’s taking us. I loved every word, every rule broken, every madcap decision Benny (Jane) makes, using her smarts and guts and then rationalizing later. Blanton-Stroud’s secondary characters—especially Rivka and Sweetie—are equally wonderful, fully drawn and utterly believable. And her fire-cracker narration punches us in the gut as we we’re carried along. Her crackling dialog stuns and sings. With great attention to detail, she makes us think about the “acidic tang” taste of anxiety or “the dust that gets in you” or the meaning of simple, yet deeply metaphoric statements, like “you can’t plow straight and keep a-lookin’ back.” I laughed, I cried, I thought hard about what I might have done in a similar circumstances and, routed for Jane all the way through. This is a talented writer whose work I look forward to in the future. In the meantime, I’ll pass this one around and come back to it again and again myself.

[Debra Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable historical thriller with a scrappy, “tomato-picking Okie girl” protagonist, determined to make her own way in depression-era San Francisco, even if it means disguising herself as a boy. A copy boy, of course, with aspirations to become a famous reporter in a male-dominated field. Just like Momma, I knew Jane was gonna do something, and it was a fun ride finding out just what that something was. With a cast of characters out of a Dickens novel, Copy Boy has murder, mayhem, and mystery enough to keep any reader awake into the night, unable to put it down. I’ll definitely be recommending this one to all my friends.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy Boy by Shelley Blanton-Stroud is a book about a young girl, Jane, in Depression era California who dresses as a boy and becomes a copy boy at a newspaper. She wants to be a journalist but knows she has to work her way up and being a boy would be easier.

She left her mother behind, but had left her father for dead in a ditch after hitting him with a crowbar. As she settles into her job, following leads in a case where a young girl was beaten and left in a coma, Jane finds a picture of the girl with a man who looks like her father. She needs to find him before he finds her. She does not know why her father is after her but she has a good idea.

She needs to keep her identity a secret, she has taken her brother's name. She is a twin and her brother died at birth and her mother kept telling Jane that she owes her mother due to the pain and the sacrifice she made for Jane.

This was an interesting story, depicting the Depression era and life of a young girl, in order to make it at a newspaper, decides to dress as a boy. The only way she can be recognized for her talents. I found it a bit slow going at first but I did finally get into the story. It was easy to read except for certain parts but I got past that. I was particularly impressed with the epilogue. I don't want to give away any of the details just to say that it is a fun story!

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelley Blanton-Stroud, Author of "Copy Boy" has written an intriguing, dramatic, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and memorable novel. The genres for this novel are historical fiction,  fiction, adventure, and suspense. This is also a coming of age novel and a novel about fighting to survive.  The timeline for this story is during the Great Depression. Parts of the story are told in San Franciso. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated, flawed, and dysfunctional. There are betrayals, fabrications, and manipulation during these depressing times, to survive.

Jane is the courageous protagonist in this story. She is determined to be a survivor and does some things that could be described as very questionable. In order for her to get work, she changes her identity and becomes a "boy", and works as a "Copy Boy" for a newspaper. Jane faces danger and adventure at every turn.  Everything seems to be going well until Jane sees a picture that is supposed to be printed in the paper, which can cause drastic consequences for her.

As Jane gets involved with the photographer, and other suspicious characters, she is aware that she has the story of the century, although she might not survive to tell it. 

I appreciate the author's many hours of research and the vivid and descriptive way she tells her story. I would recommend this story for readers who enjoy Historical Fiction.

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane escapes Oklahoma and ends up in California during the depression era, she dresses as a boy and becomes a copy boy at the newspaper. Her dream is to become a journalist, and she’s knows the only way to achieve her dream is to continue posing as a boy and work her way up. Being a boy is easier and people take her more seriously. After leaving her father for dead in a ditch after hitting with a crow bar she settles into her job. She takes her brothers name since he died at birth he was her twin. She follows a lead into a case where a young girl was left in a coma, after finding a photo of the girl with a man who looks like her father she had left for dead, it appears her father is after Jane and she has an idea why and she’s determined to stay two steps ahead of him. Her own mother would always tell her that Jane owes her after the pain she suffered during childbirth. With little money and absolutely no family to turn to she relys on her gut and intuition. This book was fast paced and character driven. I loved the characters and Jane was amazing. Her strong will and her quick wits made me love her. This book was an escape especially during a time where we need this type of escape. The twists and turns left me wanting so much more! I was truly invested in this book! Four stars!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review of
COPY BOY
By Shelley Blanton-Stroud
Published by She Writes Press
**********
A strong historical fiction story of a female protagonist, Jane, who after a traumatic family experience must find her own way in the times when women were inferior to men.

This book was a continuous adventure that kept me involved wanting to know more. Especially when Jane has nowhere to go and ends up in the care of two women that help her get back on her feet after her awful experience. Together they devise a plot and Jane becomes “Benny”, who will chase after Jane’s life long goals, up the ladder; one rung at a time. Even if it means becoming a copy boy at the newspaper.

Jane/Benny makes connections and learns of some stories that she unearths that are newsworthy. But at what cost will it be if she lets what she’s discovered come out. Death and peril are risks she/ he has and will be taking. When she finds out that a particular story is so corrupt and it ties her to her own personal past, does she go back and risk her identity to warn her family? Is it a risk that she’s willing to take.

This book was certainly a different historical fiction than I’ve ever read before. A bit confusing at times, but it still was an enjoyable read.

[Sharon Dukett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this fascinating, well-researched historical novel. This novel follows Jane, a young woman whose family has left the dust bowl to work the fields in California in the 1930s. She wants to be a journalist, but that job isn't opened to women. She is desperate to find employment so she dresses up like a boy and lands an entry level position at a newspaper as a copy boy and fools all her co-workers into believing this. Her experiences as she witnesses life from the other gender are eye-opening. Then she stumbles onto a newsworthy situation which challenges her to examine all that she knows and risk everything to get the story.

Suspenseful and full of detail of the newspaper world in San Francisco in the 30s, as well as the lives of farm workers of that time and the effects of the depression in general, this book takes you into a world where gender and economics defined who you could or could not be.

The audio version is narrated using unique voices and accents that differentiate the characters. It does a great job of enhancing the narrative and making it easy to follow when not reading. During the 1st chapter, the audio seemed to go a bit slow, but then I either got used to it or it sped up as I did not notice it after chapter 1.

[Terry Sue Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woven into the plot-rich pages of Copy Boy are two timeless, sexless, ageless questions: What do we do to survive? and Why? Through the author’s cast of hardscrabble characters is a subtext of striving to get ahead, to improve life’s lot. Each of them has their unique driving motivations. Why do we do the things we do? is the lingering takeaway I get from having just finished this coming of age/family drama/crime thriller.

The first chapter, titled “Debt,” is packed with information, and I had to read it twice to get the setup. The effort was well worth it. The opening lines, “You think you’re a body, but you’re not. That’s just the container you collect in,” gave me an immediate pause of appreciation. Knowing ahead of time that this was going to be a depression-era story about a young girl dawning a mannish costume in order to get her foot in the door filled me with spine tingling anticipation. I wanted to know what experiences were going to fill that girl’s “container.” The opening assertion, powerful and declarative, didn’t disappoint. To the end, the story maintained a momentum that had me cringing at Jane/Benny’s struggles and narrow escapes and cheering over the triumphs. The main character may be dressing like a man to fool some, but she’s perceptive, daring, confident, and above all, she’s nobody’s fool.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Blanton-Stroud’s debut novel set in 1930s San Francisco pulled me in quickly. I loved Jane and her strong will. This historical fiction/coming of age story was a pretty unique read and I loved that it was largely female-focused.

My only complaint about this book was the pacing. The momentum it had in the beginning waned in the middle and made it hard for me to stay invested in Jane’s story. Thankfully it picked back up and had some powerful moments including a thought-provoking epilogue that brought it all together.

Despite not loving the middle, I think this is a story that would resonate well in today’s world. I would recommend this one when you’re looking for something that has a lot of layers and will stick with you.

(I received an advance copy in exchange for my review.)

[Sally Cole-Misch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within a few pages, Copy Boy reminded me of the latest novel by one of America's great authors, William Kent Krueger's This Tender Land, in its descriptive prose and how it pulled me into Jane's life and the cruelty and starkness of people's lives during the Depression. In spite of all she doesn't have, Jane is one determined and gutsy young woman, and she takes advantage of a loss to create a new life in San Francisco -- as a young man. But as in all good fiction, trouble comes from her unresolved past and how it might unravel all she's tried to create for herself. A dynamic, beautifully written story that drew both my husband and me in, and we battled for the book every evening to find out what Jane would do next in her coming-of-age tale. Highly recommend!

[Elizabeth Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, easy read. Jane is part of a migrant worker family in California during the depression. She wants a better life. She dreams of becoming a writer.

Following a violent fight with her mother and father, she flees to San Francisco. There, after a couple failed interviews, she decides to dress and act like a boy to get a job as a copy boy. The story follows her as she works at the paper and gets her break as a writer.

I liked the easiness of the story. There wasnt a lot of characters to keep track of. The story was simple and straight forward. This was one of those books you pick up when you don't want to think or feel. When you just want to read for the sake of reading.

*disclaimer* I am writing this review after recieving a free copy of the book

[David Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this depression era novel, set in the 1930's San Francisco we find Jane, a young woman who finds herself escaping her harsh upbringing after hitting her Daddy with a crowbar and leaving him in a ditch. She takes her Momma's car and drives to nearby San Francisco to try to start anew. With no skills for getting a job as a girl she transforms into a boy and gets a job at the Prospect as a copy boy. Jane becomes Benny, taking the name of her twin brother who died soon after birth.
Highly atmospheric, the author does a great job of transporting the reader into the era. Jane is a gritty determined girl who soon finds herself in the middle of a mystery. Is her Daddy still alive? Did he beat a girl Jane meets by chance with a crowbar to send her a message? Jane needs to find out and get to him before he has a chance to ruin her newfound life. Highly researched and well written I found this piece of historical fiction very entertaining and recommend this original story to those who want to escape to this time period for a while...

[Nik's Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane has ambitions far beyond the tent her family sleeps in. Ambitions her family encourages and then laughs at. So, when she sees a chance to escape, by leaving her father bleeding in an irrigation ditch and stealing her mother's car, she takes it. Off she goes to San Fransisco to start her career as a newspaper writer. Only problem? She'd have to start as a boy... a copy boy. So, when something surfaces at the paper that threatens to blow her cover, Jane has to think fast and retrace her steps to make sure her dreams come true.

"She's a very brave boy. And a very difficult girl."

What an original, heartbreaking, and uplifting story. Jane is the type of character who will stick with readers. I'm actually a little envious of her ambition and drive. Despite her awful start in life and the terrible hand she was dealt in terms of parents, she knew she wanted more for herself, and she went out and attempted to get it, despite being laughed at by those who doubted her. I really enjoyed this debut and am curious to see what else she comes up with!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm admittedly biased because I was a student of this author and she was one of favorite professors, but I promise this work earned it's 5 starts on it's own merit!

I honestly started and stopped this book at the beginning a couple times over the years because of how dark the beginning is, but once that passes I got wholly absorbed in the polished-but-not-overly-flowery descriptions and generous amounts of historical detail. To say this was lovingly researched would be an understatement!

I like that Jane is ambitious and capable but definitely not perfect and not a "pick me" type.

[Eileen Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy Boy Shelley Blanton-Stroud
Twists and surprises till the end


Fascinating view into the ways of survival during the Depression from the Dust Bowl camps to San Francisco . The title Copy Boy reveals a dual meaning as you learn about Jane and a secret her mother reveals at the end. Jane listens to that voice in her head as it guides her through a rough and tumble life , not sure who she can trust - except for that voice. Follow Jane as she meets Momma's wish to "do something".

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical fiction focuses on Jane, who heads to Depression-era San Francisco after tragedy. She transforms herself into a boy in order to get a coveted job as a Copy Boy at a newspaper. Unfortunately, her past comes knocking and she has to deal with it. This was a great read!

[Julie Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved it!

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy. (I'll do pretty much anything for a free book.) This one, however, was surprisingly and wonderfully worth the read. Loved the California history and the characters and the story and all the voices. Truly an enjoyable read. I'll watch for more from this author.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane is an unforgettable character with enough grit to carry her, at age 17, from a Sacramento migrant laborers' camp to a newspaper job in San Francisco. To build the life she has dreamed about, all she has to do is convincingly transform herself into a boy, lose her Okie dialect, and stay one step ahead of her father who is desperately trying to catch up with her, bringing her past along with him.

This fast-paced and beautifully written novel completely transported me to 1930's California, and provided enough action, suspense, and drama to keep me reading well past my bedtime. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a fun escape, and I look forward to reading the next book by this very talented author.

[Dorothy Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy Boy was a joy to read. The prose: gorgeous. Time and place: vividly portrayed. The voice: like being inside Jane's/Ben's (the novel's plucky protagonist) head. This unforgettable girl risks all to break into the man's world of reporting and writing the news, while simultaneously routing out uncomfortable truths about her past, her family and the harsh ways the world works. All while doing a passable job of assuming a male identity.

Copy Boy is a gritty slice of California history, character-driven suspense and San Francisco noir. As Sharma Shields, author of The Cassandra has said of Copy Boy, "“This is Raymond Chandler for feminists.”

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC - you can pre-order Copy Boy now, in advance of it's June release.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to both slap and hug Blanton-Stroud's protagonist. Janes seethes with oppositional defiance to her life's lot. Supporting characters live out the life she longs to escape. The more Blanton-Stroud reveals about the voice inside Jane's head, the easier it is to feel compassion for and to forgive Jane her faults. I cannot wait to read another Blanton-Stroud tale!