A review by erikars
The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming by J. Anderson Coats
3.0
I really enjoyed the second half of this book, once the main character, Janey, and her family reached Seattle. As someone who grew up in the Northwest and now lives near Seattle, I enjoyed the glimpse of Seattle of the past. Janey's character arc throughout the book was good, and the emotional arc of the story was compelling.
What bumps me down to 3 stars though is that the first half of the book, covering the family's voyage to Seattle, was interesting but too long. I feel like if it had been closer to a third of the total, the book would have been stronger overall.
Still, given that it's historical children's fiction about the area I live in, I'll save it for my daughter's collection. The unique angle makes up for the limitations.
What bumps me down to 3 stars though is that the first half of the book, covering the family's voyage to Seattle, was interesting but too long. I feel like if it had been closer to a third of the total, the book would have been stronger overall.
Still, given that it's historical children's fiction about the area I live in, I'll save it for my daughter's collection. The unique angle makes up for the limitations.