Reviews

Joanna by Jane Claypool Miner

eupomene's review

3.0

One of the earlier titles in this out of print mid-80s series of historical romance fiction for teens. I had never read this one, and for your typical romantic historical written on a formula it is not half bad. If you can get past the ever present dilemma the heroine is always in -- choosing between two men -- you can actually enjoy the history, which (at least in this one) is told well. Joanna Adams becomes a Lowell mill girl, hoping to "improve herself", but discovers that the women are mistreated and overworked. Not only does this Sunfire heroine need to choose between her two men (ha) she must also decide whether or not it is right to strike against her mill's overbearing management and also learn how to make her voice heard. There is more here than in the usual -- so, not bad. There are a few standouts in this series; I remember reading them when I was barely a teen.