Boston Jane: An Adventure is the first book in an excellent three-part series. Teenage Jane longs to be prim and proper, but she doesn’t know the slightest thing about being a lady. After some humorous lessons at one of the finest finishing schools in Philadelphia, Jane excitedly sets out to prove she’s grown-up. Along her journey she finds much more than she bargained for, including adventure, mystery and romance.
Newbery Honor-winning author Holm once again delivers fantastic historical fiction. Boston Jane: An Adventure includes beautiful and well-written descriptions of Jane’s wilderness home. Holm frequently includes interesting tidbits about the wild Northwest and Chinook way of life. Jane’s character is honest and real; she’s stubborn, ornery and doesn’t immediately learn from her mistakes! Despite her flaws, Jane is one endearing protagonist and the story’s ending had me rushing to get the next book. With a message encouraging readers to “be yourself”, this is a series to share and enjoy!
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Random House Children’s Books
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: A character falls off a cliff, sustains mild injuries and loses consciousness; a boy is hit by a ship’s mast and dies; a young woman falls from her bunk and dies; several characters die from smallpox.
Sexual Content: Two characters share a brief kiss; a character acknowledges losing so much weight that her “bosoms…had shrunk”.
Mature Subject Matter:
Racial conflict; death
Alcohol / Drug Use:
The soldiers and Chinooks drink on several occasions.
