Janes in Love (2008)

It's a very charming series. The Janes are great! ( )

In this sequel to The Plain Janes, which follows almost immediately on the action from the first graphic novel, Valentine's Day is approaching leading the Janes to focus on their relationships - or lack thereof. Main Jane's sort-of crush Damon is doing community service since he got caught at the New Year's art attack. Then, after all the Janes but Theater Jane get caught performing their next art attack, main Jane begins to question whether what they're doing is right if it gets everyone in trouble. Miroslaw, the Polish boy Jane helped save during the Metro City bomb incident, inspires Jane to try legitimizing her street art by getting grant support, but convincing others that the art attacks constitute real art is an uphill battle. In the meantime, thanks to an anthrax scare, main Jane's mom won't leave the house. What's a Jane to do?

Definitely not a stand-alone episode, Janes in Love will be most appreciated by those who have read the first graphic novel recently. The characters remain nicely rounded with realistic strengths and weaknesses for teenagers. This feels like there's plans for another following story (maybe with main Jane in Poland for the summer?), but with publisher Minx folding, I'm not sure how that would work.

Previously read January 21, 2009. Just noticed upon re-reading that the flyers advertising the dance were for an Ides of March dance, but the banner at the dance claims it's a Leap Day Dance - a minor, but odd, inconsistancy. ( )

Summary: In Janes in Love, the Janes have mostly given up their guerilla art campaign after the New Year's Eve incident, and have turned their attention to matters more personal. But Jane is finding out that neither art nor love is particularly easy, and that in order to find one, she'll have to pursue the other.

Review: In this volume we do see some more from the other Janes, but I still felt like the story was not as well rounded as it could have been. While there was an interesting story and a good message, it all primarily focuses around Jane, and I think that it would have been a deeper and more compelling story if we'd gotten the bigger picture. Art Saves Jane, and maybe Art Saves Jane's town, but what saves Jayne? Or Polly Jane? The other Janes don't really have the depth of characterization as Main Jane, and even in this volume are occasionally treated as little more than comic relief. Developing them more as characters, and focusing more on their relationships, both with each other and with the wider world, would have helped. However, I still appreciate the themes behind the story, about the power of creativity and expression, and I especially liked the message that if a crush doesn't like you back, it's not the end of the world, or of your worth as a person. Overall, these were a quick, cute read, with an interesting take on fear and art and community and fitting in and expressing oneself. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: While I think this would appeal most strongly to aspiring artists, it should be enjoyable for anyone who felt like their high school just didn't get it. ( )

Janes in Love carries on the story of one young girl, Jane that we were introduced to in Plain Janes. Jane is still hanging out with her friends, most of which are also called Jane. The story takes a light-hearted look at teen romance from different angles, but underneath tells the far more serious tale of how a family copes with fear. Jane and her family moved to this small town because of a terrorist attack in the big city. Now something happens to remind them of this event, and Jane’s mother reacts by going into seclusion. Somehow, Jane and her father must find a way to reach her and bring her back into the world.

Jane and her group still indulge in their art attacks, with the idea of making the world a more beautiful place, but these efforts are still vastly misunderstood by the police and town council. It takes winning an art grant and showing the community how beauty can enhance their community that eventually wins the day.

I thought this was a worthy sequel to the original, but perhaps a little less magical and awe inspiring. I was glad though to see a lot of the story wrapped up and an apparent bright future for the Janes. This graphic novel series about a group of misfits discovering art, life and love was an enjoyable read. ( )

Again, this is a cute top story with some seriousness underneath. All the Janes are secretly pining after someone, and a girls-ask-the-guys dance prompts them to act on their feelings. Main Jane is crushing on Damon, but afraid to talk to him after his arrest for her art attack. Miroslaw (formerly John Doe) is awake, and he and Jane exchange letters and care packages. He inspires Jane to apply for an art grant to make the P.L.A.I.N. Janes legit. Meanwhile another attack in Metro City scares Jane's mom into never leaving the house. In an effort to get her to come out, Jane's dad refuses to go in. Neither seems to notice that Jane isn't fairing well. And then Jane hears back from the grant people and has to sneak into Metro City to present her portfolio. Da da dum.

In this installment, the Janes are joined by James, the lone gay guy who was a walking stereotype in the last book. He gets to be a much more complete character here with interests beyond being uber-gay. Still, he bemoans the lack of gay guys in Kent Waters as the rest of the Janes set their sights on their dream guys. He doesn't get the happily ever after that some of the Janes do, but he does get to ogle the whole (hot) guys' basketball team. And no one thinks it's gross! James also plays a very important role when Main Jane starts to receive letters from a Secret Admirer. SPOILER: When it turns out that these letters might be from a girl, James has a little talk with Jane about how to let Secret Admirer down easy, emphasizing that Jane should do everything in her power to not make Secret Admirer feel weird for crushing on another girl. This little tidbit is added in without making any kind of a big deal or turning into too much of a "teaching moment." James' concern is genuine and natural. End Spoiler.

The Janes all deal with a little heartbreak, being in love will do that, and it brings them closer. Example:

"The thing about having a good true friend is that it's ok if you cry so hard that snot runs down your face. Because their arms are strong and their heartbeat is loud ... and you can be your smallest and ugliest in front of them."
p.53

Initially they were friends because they had no one else, then because they shared their passion for the P.L.A.I.N. Janes. Now they're just friends, who still sit together for lunch and sometimes dress in all black to put in a midnight art installation.

Book 1: The Plain Janes
Book source: Philly Free Library