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Just Jane: A Daughter of England Caught in the Struggle of the American Revolution – A Powerful Young Adult Novel of Family Torn by War and the Courage to Choose Independence
When Lady Jane, orphaned daughter of an English earl, arrives in Charlestown, South Carolina, in 1776, she finds herself in the middle of a heated war--a war not only between her former country and her new home but one between the members of her own family, whose loyalties are strongly divided in America's fight for freedom. Torn by family feuds, the war, a secret romance, and her own growing need for independence, Jane struggles for the courage to become the person she wants to be: just Jane.
Includes a reader's guide.
Includes a reader's guide.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
35 people are currently reading
1791 people want to read
About the author
William Lavender
22 books9 followersWILLIAM LAVENDER'S career has spanned the areas of music, film documentary, theater, and literature. He published six adult novels in the seventies and eighties that received accolades, were brought out in many languages, and even made the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. JUST JANE was his first novel for young readers. William lives with his wife in Riverside, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
September 15, 2011
This...book...was...awful. I cannot believe that someone could write this (or read this, for that matter)and be satisfied. The history of the Revolutionary War was only brought in at times convenient to the author and in ways convenient to the author.
Jane was a dull, bland, goody-goody who, in some mysterious way, has everyone she meets longing to marry her. I have no idea why. She hadn't one speck of human interest in her.
The dialog is stilted and so tacky I cringed, the storyline is not believable and exceedingly ridiculous, the supporting characters are as flat and insipid as Jane herself. You never really care about any of them, because you are never given a reason to. Good characters must have depth, problems, inner struggles, flaws, and a good speaking voice with interesting things to say. These people have none of them or, at least, nothing really believable...
I got rid of the book a while ago, otherwise I would have thrown in a few examples to extenuate my point.
There is no war fought over her hand, at least not the kind of war that the back cover suggests. The men who are in love with her hardly meet and when they do the exchange -- at the most -- slightly heated words. Not really war-like.
The hero is supposed to be this strong and chivalrous man. Instead he was a sort of weak, almost wimpy character. When he gets caught spying for the Patriots, he is put on trial and is (supposedly) going to be condemned to death. Fortunately Jane is there to convince her Tory uncle to LIE to save him. Her main reason for success is the fact that she has run away from this uncle and is living with her Patriot uncle, and she tells him that she will not go back to his house, ect. ect. It was very lame. I thought that perhaps the Mr. Lavender could have thought of a better way to free Simon than having one of his characters tell blatant lies. That turned me off even more.
Of course, since he is in jail and condemned, Simon is very depressed and no longer feels like fighting for his life. But he only has to look at Jane to get his will to live back. Another thing I thought was rather lame, because Jane is not a terribly inspiring or loveable person.
Jane was a dull, bland, goody-goody who, in some mysterious way, has everyone she meets longing to marry her. I have no idea why. She hadn't one speck of human interest in her.
The dialog is stilted and so tacky I cringed, the storyline is not believable and exceedingly ridiculous, the supporting characters are as flat and insipid as Jane herself. You never really care about any of them, because you are never given a reason to. Good characters must have depth, problems, inner struggles, flaws, and a good speaking voice with interesting things to say. These people have none of them or, at least, nothing really believable...
I got rid of the book a while ago, otherwise I would have thrown in a few examples to extenuate my point.
There is no war fought over her hand, at least not the kind of war that the back cover suggests. The men who are in love with her hardly meet and when they do the exchange -- at the most -- slightly heated words. Not really war-like.
The hero is supposed to be this strong and chivalrous man. Instead he was a sort of weak, almost wimpy character. When he gets caught spying for the Patriots, he is put on trial and is (supposedly) going to be condemned to death. Fortunately Jane is there to convince her Tory uncle to LIE to save him. Her main reason for success is the fact that she has run away from this uncle and is living with her Patriot uncle, and she tells him that she will not go back to his house, ect. ect. It was very lame. I thought that perhaps the Mr. Lavender could have thought of a better way to free Simon than having one of his characters tell blatant lies. That turned me off even more.
Of course, since he is in jail and condemned, Simon is very depressed and no longer feels like fighting for his life. But he only has to look at Jane to get his will to live back. Another thing I thought was rather lame, because Jane is not a terribly inspiring or loveable person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2009
A young adult novel that tells the story of Jane as she begins her life in South Carolina. After her parents die when she is just a teenager, Lady Jane comes to America to live with her Uncle. She arrives in 1776 and is learning about American culture and trying to find her place within this new country that is defining its own independence.
I just grabbed this book off the young adult section in the library, not knowing anything about it and I was pleasantly suprised. It is a very easy read because its recommended for ages 12 and up, but there was still a lot of substance. It is obviously a historical fiction and the author weaves a sweet little story about Jane while filling in the reader about historical events of that time.
The author doesn't just tell one side of the American Revolution -- he introduces several characters who take "sides" with the Americans and English and some that are confused and don't know which side to join. I think this is the first time that I really thought about how many people that were living in America were probably against the American Revolution. Anyway, it was an easy read that made me think - loved it.
I just grabbed this book off the young adult section in the library, not knowing anything about it and I was pleasantly suprised. It is a very easy read because its recommended for ages 12 and up, but there was still a lot of substance. It is obviously a historical fiction and the author weaves a sweet little story about Jane while filling in the reader about historical events of that time.
The author doesn't just tell one side of the American Revolution -- he introduces several characters who take "sides" with the Americans and English and some that are confused and don't know which side to join. I think this is the first time that I really thought about how many people that were living in America were probably against the American Revolution. Anyway, it was an easy read that made me think - loved it.
September 21, 2015
I would say more like 2.5 stars, in between liking it and it was ok.
I felt a little letdown with the setting. I wish there was more "history" in the story. This really could have taken place anywhere at any given war. I wished I could have known WHY each family member was on the side the were on and what drove them in their loyalties. The secret love affair was lame, and made me not like Simon through the entire book. It also seemed strange to me that Jane always was the one to call on for opinions and help. She was a woman in the revolutionary war! Women were not viewed the way they are now. (I wish it would have been that way back then but women's rights had a long way to go).
I did like reading a different perspective of the revolutionary war, that not all Americans were for independence and how passionate each side could be and was.
I felt a little letdown with the setting. I wish there was more "history" in the story. This really could have taken place anywhere at any given war. I wished I could have known WHY each family member was on the side the were on and what drove them in their loyalties. The secret love affair was lame, and made me not like Simon through the entire book. It also seemed strange to me that Jane always was the one to call on for opinions and help. She was a woman in the revolutionary war! Women were not viewed the way they are now. (I wish it would have been that way back then but women's rights had a long way to go).
I did like reading a different perspective of the revolutionary war, that not all Americans were for independence and how passionate each side could be and was.
January 10, 2012
This book was definitely one of my favorites of all time. Jane is an amazing person, always wanting to help others and be a better person. Jane faces similar personal struggles as I do, and she deals with them remarkably well in a way that I could only hope to in the future. Jane goes through many terrifying events and heartwrenching situations that made me feel as broken as when I read Harry Potter and Dumbledore, Severus, etc. died. Just Jane also is great in the historical sense, as it enables you to really understand what the Revolution was. I never really fuly got it, it was just dates and names, until I read this book. I loved Jane to the death, and couldn't hhave found a better book to read for my outside reading assignment for history.
March 14, 2011
Great book, even if it is for young adults. Gives a personal perspective on the Revolutionary War. Many sacrified everything for what they believed in, on both sides.
October 8, 2017
This book was one of the best books I’ve ever read, it’s in a tie with Echo. Who would have thought, two amazing books in a year! I highly recommend you to read Just Jane!!!
January 13, 2017
Despite the boring beginning, this book really brought the reality of war to me. I was able to kind of realize how much bloodshed there was for the freedom of America, and that not everyone in America was actually for this idea of freedom. "Just Jane" shows readers the struggles that civilians went through during this bloody time in history, all of it just to give us our freedom that we take for granted today. This showed me the true meaning of freedom and what it costs to have. Jane is a girl from England who moved to America, and was struggling to find who she was. When the war begins, she doesn't know who to support. Having family on both sides doesn't help her very much either. Through a long turn of events, she eventually finds out who she is. Throughout the whole story, Jane is just trying to find out who she is, and she is also on a search for love. Many boys are interested in her, but she is not interested in them. Jane is for honesty and kindness while most of everybody is for war and bloodshed. Jane wants everyone to be at peace while others tear down buildings, start riots, and threaten those on opposite sides. The reality of war and what it means sinks in as you read this book, it settling in more and more how much the freedom of this country cost. Families are torn apart in this bloody war and people struggle to find ways to keep on living through this mess. In this book readers discover the reality of war and how it actually affected the people of this time, readers experience the struggles of maintaining life in an intriguing story that takes places long ago.
February 7, 2015
While I enjoyed the connections to my adopted hometown, Charleston, and the love story that develops slowly throughout the book ( something I had not expected when I first picked up the book), I can't give a very positive review overall.
This book suffers from two generic problems. First, Jane is described as beautiful, compassionate, self-sacrificing yet strong willed, brilliant, curious, and the object of admiration wherever she goes. It's a bit nauseating being beaten over the head all the time with how exceptional she is, and Her apparent perfection makes her less realistic and relatable for readers.
The second problem is that the author imbues Jane (and several other characters we are meant to admire) with 21st century morality. While I'm sure there were burgeoning feminist, abolitionist, and democratic movements at this time, it seems rather far fetched that a sheltered British tween girl would be so miraculously removed from the context of the 18th century in her ideals. Jane is again perfect because she reinforces 21st century beliefs about women, people of color, war, etc. This is a common problem in historical fiction; perhaps the author felt like retaining any outdated, non-PC beliefs would be damaging to his young audience (or to his possibility of sales in the school market).
This book suffers from two generic problems. First, Jane is described as beautiful, compassionate, self-sacrificing yet strong willed, brilliant, curious, and the object of admiration wherever she goes. It's a bit nauseating being beaten over the head all the time with how exceptional she is, and Her apparent perfection makes her less realistic and relatable for readers.
The second problem is that the author imbues Jane (and several other characters we are meant to admire) with 21st century morality. While I'm sure there were burgeoning feminist, abolitionist, and democratic movements at this time, it seems rather far fetched that a sheltered British tween girl would be so miraculously removed from the context of the 18th century in her ideals. Jane is again perfect because she reinforces 21st century beliefs about women, people of color, war, etc. This is a common problem in historical fiction; perhaps the author felt like retaining any outdated, non-PC beliefs would be damaging to his young audience (or to his possibility of sales in the school market).
March 23, 2011
Just Jane: A Daughter of England Caught in the Struggle of the American Revolution by William Lavender was an okay book. One thing I didn't like about the book was that it jumped from character to character alot. It was very confusing and very distracting. Also another thing that I didn't like about the book was, Jane didn't grow as a character. She just stayed exactly like she was in the begining of the book. Other characters like Robert, Brandon, and Simon grew but they weren't really as important as Jane was. Jane should have grown not the other characters. One other thing that I didn't like about this book was that it had too much detail in it. It seemed like the author tried to explain everything and have an answer for everything that a reader could possibly ask. I think that it actually made the book less interesting. It made it seem like the chapters were just dragging on. I really liked the story line though. It was interesting but I wish that it were written better without as much detail as the author included. All in all I thought that the book was alright. Would I recommend it to a high school student? No i wouldn't. Would I recommend it to a middle school student? Yes I would.
March 24, 2011
If you asked me if I would read this book again I would probably say no. In my opinion the main character is not the focus of the book; it is more the people that are around her. It focuses on the progression of other characters and them learning from mistakes rather than the main character. It also really annoyed me that she seemed to do everything right. No matter what bad thing happened everyone turned to Jane. It was like the moments when you see the lovely dovey couples in the hallway and you want to gag at how sickly sweet it is. The plotline of the novel is also confusing because the author put in so many characters that had seperate problems. While reading this I was thinking that if he had written to seperate books on the devestation on her life from the Revolution and the marraige proposals it would have been better. I really just think that this book is meant for those people that are not at a higher reading or analysis level in literature. If I had read this is middle school or as a freshman I think that I would have reviewed it differently.
October 29, 2015
Jane, the orphan daughter of a penniless Earl, is sent to America to live with her Uncle Robert and Aunt Clarissa. She arrives in Charlestown, South Carolina, to discover tensions brewing--between the Colonies and England, and also between members of her family.
Jane struggles to figure out where she stands on all these issues, and as she does so, she finds inner reserves of strength.
This was a good story, and Jane was a good choice for a heroine that could appreciate the claims of both sides of the Revolutionary War. However, it could have used another thorough editing or two. It was quite rough.
There were several words misspelled in my Kindle version. Also, in many places the historical background was put in as exposition, rather than being integrated into the story at all. The point of view skipped around a bit without any consistency. So, it would be from Jane's POV, then for a couple of paragraphs it would skip over to some other character, then back to Jane, then to the history, back to Jane, etc. The overall effect was a choppy, disjointed narrative.
Jane struggles to figure out where she stands on all these issues, and as she does so, she finds inner reserves of strength.
This was a good story, and Jane was a good choice for a heroine that could appreciate the claims of both sides of the Revolutionary War. However, it could have used another thorough editing or two. It was quite rough.
There were several words misspelled in my Kindle version. Also, in many places the historical background was put in as exposition, rather than being integrated into the story at all. The point of view skipped around a bit without any consistency. So, it would be from Jane's POV, then for a couple of paragraphs it would skip over to some other character, then back to Jane, then to the history, back to Jane, etc. The overall effect was a choppy, disjointed narrative.
August 24, 2014
Even though I was able to get through this book pretty easily, I didn't enjoy it that much. First, I don't think the author is that good. I come across this sometimes when reading children's literature. It's like, because the author is writing for children, they don't have to put as much effort in. Which I think is a load of bull. Regardless, this isn't even a children's book, it's a young adults if I'm not mistaken. I thought there were a lot of things that were unrealistic. I did like how the author captured the language and culture of this time period well. And I also enjoyed how the author showed that everyone has different sides to them. No one is just a villain or a hero.
December 6, 2015
IN all honesty, I thought this book was completely horrible. The main character was really stupid and couldn't take a hint at all,or just refused to listen to reason. It was also annoying how every guy she met wanted to marry her, and it was so predictable! She was always like, "Hi! I'm Jane, just Jane, and every guy that sees me wants to marry me. Everyone flirts with me, including my cousin, schoolmaster, and dying soldiers!"
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January 24, 2016I realized reading this that I have a pet peeve: when an author chooses to write in the third person, then goes on to ascribe dialog to the characters that is clearly written for the sole purpose of informing the reader. I just don't understand why writers do that.
If anyone can recommend a good historical novel on the Revolutionary War that'd be nice...
If anyone can recommend a good historical novel on the Revolutionary War that'd be nice...
July 7, 2008
This is a great historical fiction novel with a strong female character and some romance. I found myself swept into the American Revolution, a very interesting time period. It was recommended by several of my female students.
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November 10, 2009This is about a 14 year old orphan girl who is from England and is learning about the politics that are separating her uncle from her father's cousin.
(This is taking place during the American Revolution)
(This is taking place during the American Revolution)
December 6, 2010
Every once in a while when reading YA historical fiction, you get lucky and find a book that's both well written and historically accurate... this is NOT one of those times.
If what you're looking for is a book that drives home to students the fact that there were a lot of colonialists who were adamantly against breaking with England and that the conflict between them and the 'Americas' continued even after the war and that things got nasty between them, this is a good book for that. If you're looking for one that gives them a rich historically accurate sense of the period with a lot of sugar coated history... not so much
The central story line is of a girl who falls in love with her teacher who then waits for her to grow up before making his move, set in the context of the Revolutionary war, while making the point that not everyone supported independence ... If you are an avid reader of YA historical fiction, this should sound disturbingly familiar... and I think Ann Rinaldi's version in Time Enough for Drums (1986) worked better -- Just Jane was written in 2005. But, to be honest its a toss up, Lavender is a much better writer than Rinadli and goes into much greater depth in terms of creating well developed Royalists and focusing on their experience of the war; Rinaldi was much more careful about historical accuracy and her book is much more of a sugar coated history lesson.
Let me give you an example from Just Jane that amuses me no end: it is right near the beginning of the book, and involves the Teacher telling Jane that an hour ago the first shots of the war had been fired in Massachusetts (keeping in mind that the two characters are supposedly in Charleston, South Carolina, which according to Google maps, is a distance of just over 1,000 miles from Lexington a distance that today by car on a highway would require a 17 hour drive).
Now lets think about this for a second and boggle at the inaccuracy so blatant that any middle schooler with sense of geography would have caught it. This was still in a world where information at BEST traveled by horse and rider, and those can only do 40 miles a day without hurting the horse. If you had a system like the pony express set up to relay the information, it traveled at best at maybe 240 miles a day... so we're talking at least 4 days minimum.
There are others ... That said, I could see giving this to a student on condition that I warned them ahead of time that the author at best would get a B for historical accuracy.
If what you're looking for is a book that drives home to students the fact that there were a lot of colonialists who were adamantly against breaking with England and that the conflict between them and the 'Americas' continued even after the war and that things got nasty between them, this is a good book for that. If you're looking for one that gives them a rich historically accurate sense of the period with a lot of sugar coated history... not so much
The central story line is of a girl who falls in love with her teacher who then waits for her to grow up before making his move, set in the context of the Revolutionary war, while making the point that not everyone supported independence ... If you are an avid reader of YA historical fiction, this should sound disturbingly familiar... and I think Ann Rinaldi's version in Time Enough for Drums (1986) worked better -- Just Jane was written in 2005. But, to be honest its a toss up, Lavender is a much better writer than Rinadli and goes into much greater depth in terms of creating well developed Royalists and focusing on their experience of the war; Rinaldi was much more careful about historical accuracy and her book is much more of a sugar coated history lesson.
Let me give you an example from Just Jane that amuses me no end: it is right near the beginning of the book, and involves the Teacher telling Jane that an hour ago the first shots of the war had been fired in Massachusetts (keeping in mind that the two characters are supposedly in Charleston, South Carolina, which according to Google maps, is a distance of just over 1,000 miles from Lexington a distance that today by car on a highway would require a 17 hour drive).
Now lets think about this for a second and boggle at the inaccuracy so blatant that any middle schooler with sense of geography would have caught it. This was still in a world where information at BEST traveled by horse and rider, and those can only do 40 miles a day without hurting the horse. If you had a system like the pony express set up to relay the information, it traveled at best at maybe 240 miles a day... so we're talking at least 4 days minimum.
There are others ... That said, I could see giving this to a student on condition that I warned them ahead of time that the author at best would get a B for historical accuracy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2016
I am unsure what to rate this book. I loved it enough to stay up late reading it, but at the same time, I have read others books that I enjoyed better. I suppose since I feel 5 stars it too much, and 4 stars isn’t enough, I will have to settle with 4.5 stars.
I love historical fiction, and I love historical fiction that focuses on a girl, and has romance mixed in with the historical events. This is just what I loved about this story. There is a good deal of historical information, and the story was very exciting at the same time. I also love that the author chose the revolutionary war for this story. At first I didn’t necessary care for the writing style, but I got used. I also found the story a little dull at first, but soon I was turning pages rapidly.
I loved Jane. She was the perfect heroine. I suppose I really loved her quietness, and how she always kept her feelings to herself. And how she had a heart of gold. She was learning to figure out who she was, and what she believed, but she also endeavored, at all cost, to preserve life. Jane's character was very slow to develop, but this didn't bug me too much.
Overall this was a great read, and is perfect for anyone who loves history, and doesn’t mind a little bit of romance. I guarantee you will learn something as you read this book.
I love historical fiction, and I love historical fiction that focuses on a girl, and has romance mixed in with the historical events. This is just what I loved about this story. There is a good deal of historical information, and the story was very exciting at the same time. I also love that the author chose the revolutionary war for this story. At first I didn’t necessary care for the writing style, but I got used. I also found the story a little dull at first, but soon I was turning pages rapidly.
I loved Jane. She was the perfect heroine. I suppose I really loved her quietness, and how she always kept her feelings to herself. And how she had a heart of gold. She was learning to figure out who she was, and what she believed, but she also endeavored, at all cost, to preserve life. Jane's character was very slow to develop, but this didn't bug me too much.
Overall this was a great read, and is perfect for anyone who loves history, and doesn’t mind a little bit of romance. I guarantee you will learn something as you read this book.
February 4, 2012
For the most part, this book was pretty good. I thought a lot of historical information was correct while also keeping a realistic storyline for the times. There were a few- okay, several- things that I had wished were different.
All-in-all, okay book. I guess I sort of liked it. Won't be reading this again but hey, I paid ten cents for it so not exactly a waste of my time. I guess I even did learn a couple extra things about the way people thought back in this time period.
All-in-all, okay book. I guess I sort of liked it. Won't be reading this again but hey, I paid ten cents for it so not exactly a waste of my time. I guess I even did learn a couple extra things about the way people thought back in this time period.
Want to read
February 4, 2013By reading this book, students will gain a much better understanding of what the American Revolution was like for loyalists, particularly individuals who had just moved from England. Jane (a former English citizen) has to deal with the events of the war between her former country and this new country. This story brings another aspect to the Revolutionary War that students probably have not learned about in school. It illustrates the effects the American Revolution had on Britain. Since history is usually told from the perspective of the winner, which in this case is the U.S., students do not normally get to hear about how the British were treated or how the war affected them.
This book is written at a 6.8 grade level, but the interest level is for grades 9-12. An eighth grade history teacher could use this book to supplement lessons on the Revolutionary War, or an eighth grade literature/English teacher could use this book in conjunction with the history teacher so that students would be exposed to the concept of the Revolutionary War in two classes. It would be a good book to use for a perspective assignment because students will read about the Revolutionary War from a different perspective than is usually shown in school.
This book is written at a 6.8 grade level, but the interest level is for grades 9-12. An eighth grade history teacher could use this book to supplement lessons on the Revolutionary War, or an eighth grade literature/English teacher could use this book in conjunction with the history teacher so that students would be exposed to the concept of the Revolutionary War in two classes. It would be a good book to use for a perspective assignment because students will read about the Revolutionary War from a different perspective than is usually shown in school.
July 1, 2012
Jane's journey as an English girl through the American Revolution is more political than anything. I admit I'd have liked to see more about what it meant to become a woman during that era. I allow for this omission because Lavender is a William and not a Wilhelmina. He followed, broadly, the stories of three families and their various friends. If he intended for this to be Jane's coming-of-age, he might have done better to focus on her inner life as well as the events around her.
There are also no real surprises here. Anyone who has read this genre will know when the actual love interest is introduced, and what changes of heart Jane will experience. I regret mostly that the promise of a love story is never fulfilled; Ann Rinaldi told a similar story in Time Enough for Drums, and she delivered. So why, on recollection, do I find Just Jane flat? I think the characters in question needed more time to mean something to each other. We just don't see enough of their emotions. Again: Lavender is a William. Perhaps to him, this was enough. Now I'd like to read his Aftershocks to see how well he did the second time he tried for historical woman-centered YA.
There are also no real surprises here. Anyone who has read this genre will know when the actual love interest is introduced, and what changes of heart Jane will experience. I regret mostly that the promise of a love story is never fulfilled; Ann Rinaldi told a similar story in Time Enough for Drums, and she delivered. So why, on recollection, do I find Just Jane flat? I think the characters in question needed more time to mean something to each other. We just don't see enough of their emotions. Again: Lavender is a William. Perhaps to him, this was enough. Now I'd like to read his Aftershocks to see how well he did the second time he tried for historical woman-centered YA.
January 9, 2010
Good portrayal of how the war affected a British family who had moved to America, and the determination of each person to stand for what they believe in. Well-written characters. Bit romantic at times, but not overly mushy. Jane, not sure what side she should support, tries to understand the issues of both sides, only knowing, as others do, that she wants her family safe and the issues to be solved quickly to save lives. Fair accounts for each side, though more details about the motives of each would have been nice. Lavender (thankfully) includes major people from the era such as Washington and Cornwallis, what the characters think of them, and how their actions affect the characters. Also, major battles are included as well as how each influences the characters of the story. The author also helps the reader see how the war affected all states, even briefly mentioning the issue of slavery. Better than an earlier reviewed Revolutionary War book. Much more historical information included and good portrayal of the devastation of war and the determined hope the people had to be free.
March 24, 2011
After reading the first few chapters, I was very into the book, but after awhile, it seemed to quickly frustrate me. The main character, Jane, had no development except for a few things. It seemed like the book had more of a development of the other characters which caused Jane to developme some what. This would be a good book for the younger viewers, not so much for High School students. You lose interest in the main character, and she quickly becomes very annoying. I would recommend it to younger readers, but not for the more advanced reader. The book also focused a lot on the Revolution that was going on, and not so much on the storyline of the character. Jane came over to America from England and was the daughter of an unfortunate Earl. It first seems that you will get more of the story of Jane's life, but instead it does the opposite and does her uncle and cousins life. If we knew a little more of Jane, I feel like she would not get on your nerves as quickly as she does. Overall, Just Jane was an interesting book, but would not be in my top 10 must reads.
August 7, 2012
Just Jane by William Lavender, I personally thought, was great. Set in the 1770's during and before the American Revolution, Jane, the daughter of an earl, moves to America, after her father dies and she is left with no real family in England. Without Jane knowing, tensions are growing between the British and the Americans. Jane is thrown into a war that she can not grasp and is torn between which side she is on.
Just Jane is not just about her struggle between which side she is on, also there is a love story in the book. Now some people would have hated it for being a love story, but for me, it made it more interesting and if there wasn't one, she would not have to face the conflict on which side she is really on. I recommended it to any historical fiction reader, who doesn't mind romance.
Just Jane is not just about her struggle between which side she is on, also there is a love story in the book. Now some people would have hated it for being a love story, but for me, it made it more interesting and if there wasn't one, she would not have to face the conflict on which side she is really on. I recommended it to any historical fiction reader, who doesn't mind romance.
February 11, 2016
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. However, I have issues with it that kept me from giving it a 5 star rating. Jane felt a little too perfect and the dialogue seemed often sanguine, an ill fit with the action. I especially take exception to the flippant way Simon and Clarissa brush off their affair and how Jane also seems to easily dismiss it. Simon's proposal to Jane at the end of the story seems out of place with the traumatic events Jane has just experienced. It just felt a bit contrived.
The historical aspect of the book is quite interesting. Much has been written about the patriots and loyalists in the north but little in the south. The author treats motives and realities of the war in a forthright manner, making it easy for the reader to sympathize with those on both sides of the fight.
The historical aspect of the book is quite interesting. Much has been written about the patriots and loyalists in the north but little in the south. The author treats motives and realities of the war in a forthright manner, making it easy for the reader to sympathize with those on both sides of the fight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2013
This book is meant for young readers but it had me drawn in by page 27! This is my first book by William Lavender & it won't be my last. The story is more about the mental insights of the main character, Jane, who comes to this country from England as a very young teen. Instantly she is introduced to both sides of the war that is to come by family & acquaintances. She has family who want to "think" for her. Remember this is a time where being female takes a back seat, especially in the South. However, she listens, observes & then makes her own decision. This story draws you in to the struggle & hardships of the time, without bogging you down in the details of the war. This should be made into a movie on the Hallmark Channel.
July 31, 2014
Just Jane, by William Lavender
$1.89 + tax at the Parkville Bookworm
Just Jane, by William Lavender, is an engaging historical fiction novel for teenagers.
Jane, the title character, is the orphaned teenage daughter of a British earl when she sails across the Atlantic to live with her aunt and uncle. Upon arriving in America, she finds herself in the middle of the Revolutionary War. The war has torn apart her extended family: her Loyalist uncle Robert, who she is to live with, is feuding with her cousin Hugh, a Patriot.
I liked Just Jane because it subtly wove the history facts and the war's effects on the colonies and individuals in, while still drawing the reader in. I didn't even notice I was learning about history.
$1.89 + tax at the Parkville Bookworm
Just Jane, by William Lavender, is an engaging historical fiction novel for teenagers.
Jane, the title character, is the orphaned teenage daughter of a British earl when she sails across the Atlantic to live with her aunt and uncle. Upon arriving in America, she finds herself in the middle of the Revolutionary War. The war has torn apart her extended family: her Loyalist uncle Robert, who she is to live with, is feuding with her cousin Hugh, a Patriot.
I liked Just Jane because it subtly wove the history facts and the war's effects on the colonies and individuals in, while still drawing the reader in. I didn't even notice I was learning about history.
August 17, 2011
I'll keep this short and sweet;
A timeless book with very interesting charictors that do not unroll all at once, and have many sides that will keep readers guessing. The plot is amazing, never a dull moment and full of surprising twists and turns. I loved the death's most of all, so unsuspected and tear-provoking. The one thing i disagree with, however, is when she says she is american at the end, for she really had no interest with the taxation without representation or her King, she just hated the fighting and is sympathetic with which ever side was losing. However, I loved it anyways, the language, plot and charictors are unforgettable, a good read for any teenage girl.
A timeless book with very interesting charictors that do not unroll all at once, and have many sides that will keep readers guessing. The plot is amazing, never a dull moment and full of surprising twists and turns. I loved the death's most of all, so unsuspected and tear-provoking. The one thing i disagree with, however, is when she says she is american at the end, for she really had no interest with the taxation without representation or her King, she just hated the fighting and is sympathetic with which ever side was losing. However, I loved it anyways, the language, plot and charictors are unforgettable, a good read for any teenage girl.
February 9, 2015
though this is a YA fiction book, it was well written and not dumbed down at all. i appreciated the "other" side of the american revolution. i'm sure i learned this in history class, but i forgot along the way how long the war for independence really took. i just think, oh 1776...but really it was much longer than that. i also didn't really consider the personal stories of WHY people may have been opposed to it, and that some people may have gone back to england because they were so opposed to being american and not british. i realize that's a simplified take on it, but this book was fascinating. i'd definitely read more of this author's work!
November 11, 2011
At the start of this novel, Jane steps off the boat from Britain into an America where tensions are escalating between the Colonists and Loyalists. She is young but logical in her feelings and remains so throughout the novel, which is its biggest flaw for not allowing her to become a dynamic protagonist. A large cast of (sometimes confusing) characters surround her and are interesting. The historical facts sometimes felt as if they had been dropped in for the sake of proving it had been well-researched. Still a fast and captivating read, even for those who may not like historical fiction.
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