The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming

Starred review from December 15, 2016
A hardscrabble frontier girl finds happiness in hard work and compromise. Jane Deming, age 11, has been single-handedly caring for her brother, Jer, since just after his birth two years ago. Papa died in the battle of Vicksburg; destitute, Jane's 22-year-old stepmother has been working 14-hour days in a mill to keep them. Asa Mercer's plan to take 700 single girls and widows from New England to a new town in Washington territory, Seattle, seems like a godsend. Mrs. D. wants to regain her lost girlhood and marry a banker. Jane hopes for school, playtime, and friends. After a four-month voyage, they're astonished to discover that Seattle is a foggy, rough-hewn frontier town--hardly a tropical paradise. With no money and no hope of employment, Jane's stepmother marries a frontiersman, Mr. Wright, who, while far from rich or handsome, does his best to listen to what his new family needs. While the main characters are all white, several characters in Seattle are either full or half Native American, specifically Duwamish, and they are portrayed with honesty and sympathy. Pragmatic, adaptable Jane learns to skin otters, build a canoe, and look for ways in which everyone can get a part of what they want. There's plenty of action, but the strength of the novel comes from its characterization, especially Jane's, whose point of view becomes more reliable as she matures. Ignore the lackluster title and cover. This one's a keeper. (Historical fiction. 8-14)

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January 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-Jane is a girl determined to escape the life she and her family are leading in Lowell, MA, after her father is killed in the Civil War. Unable to attend school, she is forced to take care of her younger brother while her stepmother works in a factory to support the family. When an opportunity is presented to travel to Washington Territory, Jane is convinced that she will be able to continue her education there. The journey turns out to be an adventure in itself, and Washington Territory is not all that has been promised. Still, Jane is able to make the best of many difficult situations. Readers will enjoy the twists and turns of the young protagonist's life in this fast-paced novel. VERDICT Fans of Avi's historical fiction and graduates of Little House on the Prairie will find this a satisfying read. Recommended for school and public libraries looking for engaging historical fiction.-Kaela Cochran, Lincoln Township Public Library, Stevensville, MI

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