Kirkus Reviews’ Best Indie Books of 20192019 Maxy Awards “Best Young Adult”“With sophisticated prose, this gritty coming-of-age story blends the familiar and the unthinkable as the lead learns to use her voice.” –KIRKUS REVIEWSKit Kat was born in Athens, Greece. Her mother was a prostitute, and their protector was a pimp. After an early childhood marked by violence, homelessness, and time in an … a pimp. After an early childhood marked by violence, homelessness, and time in an orphanage, a Greek-American woman adopted her and moved her to New York. Kit Kat was eight years old, with a new name, a new country, and a new mother who tried to silence her memories and experiences. She sought refuge in books, and after a failed suicide attempt at the age of thirteen, she discovered Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. This book saved her life, and at fifteen, Kit Kat begins to write letters to Jane Eyre as a means of surviving a childhood she still remembers, the family she left behind, and the new mother that refuses to acknowledge her past.
Kit Kat’s letters to Jane Eyre demonstrate the resilience and power that she derives from Jane’s own dark narrative and the parallels between their lives that include being neglected, unloved, poor, orphaned, and almost destroyed by the madwoman in their lives. This coming of age and semi-autobiographical novel is about family, loss, forgiveness, and the power of a good book.
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So true and heartfelt this will tug at your heartstrings right from the very start. Compelling and gripping. A real page-turner from start to finish.
Overall Rating = 3.63
Storyline & Concept = 3.5
Writing & Delivery = 3.5
Cover Marketability = 3.5
Editorial = 4
In Dear Jane, a young woman forms a bond with the fictional Jane Eyre and, subsequently, processes her own life through letters penned to Jane—the tumult of her young years in Greece with an unstable mother, the loneliness of her adolescence with a cold, unfeeling adoptive mother in America. Her letters form the story, and though the epistolary form works well for a young girl writing in her diary, the actual voice of the letters and the ways in which they’re crafted impact the reader’s ability to believe and become immersed in the story. Phrases such as “I crept towards the bus stop along the congested boulevard” don’t ring true for a 15-year-old girl—even one who is well-read. Ultimately, the reader must fight past the style to believe the age and emotion of the main character enough to appreciate the wonderful story as a whole.
Sublime Line: “Through literature, a young girl finds the hope she needs to overcome a pained and isolated childhood.”
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Dear Jane
Author: Marina DelVecchio
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 21
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 21 readers:
21 would read another book by this author.
21 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
21 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘emotive writing’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge (Jane Eyre)’.
21 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
21 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘I love Jane Eyre too. This story made me cry. It was so sad, but it had high moments too. It’s a story of the horrors life can bring and even forgiveness. Amazing book!’ Girl, reader, aged 15
‘I read this book after my teenage daughter. Just like her, I thought it was a compelling read. I so felt for Kit Kat; so much so, I just wanted to hug her and protect her. Books of this nature are so good for UK teenagers. It’s a reminder of how good life often is in England and we must remember how lucky we are. We also thought the writing style was excellent; not overly descriptive with plenty of pace.’ Mother, aged 52
‘A superb book for teenagers reading and learning to understand the classics. As I often tell my students, many of the classics are still relevant today, as is shown in this superbly written and highly thought-provoking book.’ Secondary school teacher (English lit), aged 57
‘Powerfully written, honestly written and, above all, a captivating story. The sort of book you might physical put down but never emotionally put down.’ English teacher, aged 37
‘This book was ace. It was sad too, depressing even. But it was still ace. The author is very talented.’ Girl, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A powerful, often dark, coming-of-age story. A GOLD MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards