Just Jane: A Daughter of England Caught in the Struggle of the American Revolution

by William Lavender

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152025871
• ISBN13: 9780152025878
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Gulliver Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.7" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Always enjoy American Revolution literature.

Unfortunately, I didn't read where this is a Youth category. It reads easy and has good historical information but it's more geared for the youth reader.

Just Jane Just OK

This was a reasonably pleasant read but rather elementary. Perhaps better for the adolescent/teen crowd, but interesting reading about the American Revolution and looking at both sides of it.

Just Jane

Just Jane is a fantastic read! Not only do you learn a lot about the revolution, but you have a wonderful story to get caught up in. This book lets the reader see both sides of the war,loyalist and patriot. You end up falling in love with the patriot characters and the loyalist characters. You feel everything that Jane is feeling,the confusion,the frustration,the longing for something that may never come to be. William Lavender has given us the chance to take a tiny glimpse into the struggle that the revolution caused in a divided family. Five stars for William Lavender!

Good Historical Fiction

I am a middle school American history teacher and have just finished reading Just Jane. I was so enthralled by the story line, that I was unable to put the book down and finished it in one day. I plan on having my class read this book as a group. It will easily reinforce some of the topics we have covered thus far this year. I highly recommend Just Jane to any middle schooler, and many adults may enjoy it as well.

Fantastic book!

Since my name is Jane, I could not resist buying this book when I saw it. It lived up to my expectations and Jane Prentice is very worthy of the name Jane. When Lady Jane Prentice at 14 arrives in America from England, she is already able to take care of herself, because she had been w/o a mother since the age of 3 and her father (a penniless earl) never paid her much attention. She is met by her Uncle Robert's brother-in-law, Arthur Ainsley, and his family. Jane immediately becomes attached to "Uncle Arthur" and "Aunt Harriet". The Ainsley's son, Brandon, is romantically interested in Jane. Jane stumbles upon the schoolmaster, Simon Cordwyn, and he invites her to join his school, because he sees in her an intelligent and inquisitve mind. People question Simon's political standing, but he maintains his neutral position in the rising rebellion. Jane is annoyed at how everyone treats her like a child. She believes she is capable of understanding the upcoming conflict between England and America. Finally, Simon Cordwyn explains the situation in full to her. She slowly begins to sympathize with the Patriots but is still loyal to England. Meanwhile, there is strife in Jane's family. Uncle Robert is a staunch Loyalist but Cousin Hugh is a dedicated Patriot. Jane is not allowed to even visit her cousin Hugh because of his Patriot leanings. However, she manages to meet him with the help of Simon Cordwyn. As war breaks out, Jane finds herself torn between her family; half of which are Patriots, and the other half Loyalists. Jane tries to remain neutral, but finds it harder and harder to do so. Jane is pursued not only by Brandon Ainsley, but the British officer Captain Flemming. While receiving their advances, she wonders about the whereabouts and her strange feelings concerning Simon Cordwyn. Telling all to refer to her as "Just Jane" istead of her formal title, Lady Jane, Jane Prentice is an endearing heroine with courage, intelligence, kindness, and the presence of mind to decide for herself where her sentiments stand: with loyalty to England, or liberty for America.

The best Revolutionary War book!

"Just Jane: A Daughter of England Caught in the Struggle of the American Revolution" holds the status as best Revolutionary War book, in my eyes. Finally, an author who wrote a female character as not rebelling against her female roles in society. Finally, an author who did not sugar coat what happened to torn families or captured men. Finally, an author who didn't need to end everything on a happy note. The beginning may seem slow, but once Jane matures and the war progresses, the story picks up speed, it will make you never want to put the book down. I recommend.

Just Jane makes "the Revolution" real

I really enjoyed Just Jane because it told me not only about what happened to an American soldier during the Revolution (Brandon), but about what happened to people in his family who were only trying to say alive and not get involved (Jane, Simon, and many others). Both English people living in the colonies, as well as Americans, who had at one time gotten along and been family and friends, were forced to take sides. Because of that it was really more like a civil war. It makes the story very exciting and suspenseful, since people never knew which side their friends or family would wind up choosing (or being forced to choose), and they never knew what their enemies would do to them if the enemies wound up getting into power. I really recommend it for anyone 12 or over, girls or boys.