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When Smithereens wrote about a graphic novel called Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, I immediately requested it from the library. There were others who wanted it too so I had to wait. But the wait was worth it.
A graphic novel for younger readers, it is the story of a girl named Hélène who is being tormented by some mean girls at school. The girls leave graffiti in the bathrooms and talk and laugh about her where large groups of her classmates can hear. They say things like Hélène is fat or Hélène has BO. None of it is true but under the onslaught of meanness and due to a lack of friends, Hélène begins to believe what they say about her.
When her entire class is set to go to camp for a week, she doesn’t want to go. She can’t get out of it though. Her mother takes her shopping for a swimsuit and Hélène decides that she looks like a sausage. Once at camp she gets sorted into the “outcast” cabin with a few other girls who have no friends and lots of awkward quirks.
Throughout all of this the thing that sustains her is the book she is reading: Jane Eyre. Jane is plain but smart. Jane has troubles but she overcomes them. In spite of everything, she is loved.
One evening when she is sitting alone and depressed outside her cabin, a red fox appears and Hélène feels as though a miracle has occurred. Not long after that a new girl moves into the outcast cabin. She has been kicked out of the cabin she was in by the girls because she refused to play along with some mean thing they said or were planning. She is a breath of fresh air and charms them all. Soon Hélène finds she has a real friend and everything is transformed.
Not only is the story wonderful and real, the art is fantastic. Hélène’s world is gray pencil on white and light tan. It is dreary and sad like Hélène. But when she reads Jane Eyre, Jane’s story is in bold color, a sharp contrast between the two. When the fox appears, it is red, the only color amidst the gray. And eventually, as the book ends and Hélène escapes from the oppression of the mean girls, her world becomes colorful.
It is a simple but effective story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can imagine it might really resonate with girls in that pre-teen/tween age range who love books and feel like they don’t quite fit in with their peers. And it is pretty good for grown-ups too.
Agree, this is a brilliant book (for kids and adults!).
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Kate, so glad you have enjoyed the book too!
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I gotta get my library to finally order this. It’s been sounding amazing for ages, and I am fed up with not having access to it.
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Jenny, yeah, light a fire under your library acquisition peeps! I think you will really like this one.
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I really enjoyed this book, too. And on top of everything else it’s so gorgeous as a physical object.
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Ana, it is really special when a book comes together as a story and a beautiful physical object. Such a pleasure!
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Ohhhh, this sounds so good and so sad at the same time! What a lovely book to make.
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Sounds good and what a fine tribute to the continuing power of Jane Eyre!
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Ian, most definitely, to Jane Eyre and reading in general I think 🙂
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Elle, oh it is heartbreaking but it ends on an up note.
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I’m offering it for christmas!
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smithereens, someone is going to be very lucky! 🙂
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I think Jane Eyre must be the most used classic on other novels–lately it seems to be popping up all over the place in other books! Smithereens told me about this, too, and it sounds lovely! The illustrations look gorgeous so I will be checking it out myself!
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Danielle, seems like it! We’ve moved from Jane Austen everything to Jane Eyre. I wonder what Jane will be next? 😉
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What Ian said! Plus, this sounds absolutely delightful. The cover is enough to get me in.
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whisperinggums, isn’t the cover great? It has been a long time since I last read Jane Eyre. I might just have to give it another read in 2016.
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You’d never waste your time, I reckon, rereading that.
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One of the few sure things in life 🙂
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This sounds lovely! I’ve just requested it from my library too. 🙂
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