Jane In Bloom (edition 2009)

Jane is the plain, quiet younger sister, always overshadowed by her beautiful, perfect older sister Lizzie. Jane only sees the good parts of Lizzie's life though, and she has no clue that Lizzie's thinness is a sign that something is seriously wrong. When the story begins on Jane's 12th birthday, Lizzie loses her battle with anorexia, first mentally, and then a few days later, physically. Jane must come to grips with what Lizzie's death means to her family -- and hope that her family survives this tragic loss. Over the summer, Jane's mother leaves to go visit her parents, and Jane and her father stay home with the new puppy, Kona. Together and separately, they begin to rebuild their shattered family. One of Jane's birthday gifts is a digital camera, and she discovers that she is a gifted photographer. She's finally found something that sets her apart, and allows her to feel like a valuable part of her family and community. This is a well-written story that shows you the hidden side of eating disorders -- how they affect others in the family. It's hopeful and honest, and I highly recommend it. 6th grade and up. ( )

anorexia, sisters ( )

In the novel, Jane in Bloom by Deborah Lytton emcompasses the theme of you never really lose someone who is in your heart. in the beginning, Jane struggles with being overshadowed by her "perfect" older sister , Lizzy. Throughout the middle, Lizzy has passed away due to her anorexia and an overdose of pain meds. Jane has to perservere through the falling apart of her family and the greif of her sister. Until she meets Ethel who shows Jane a healty way to heal over her sister's death. In the end, Jane's famil comes back together and jane has even made a little memorial for her sister to remind her that she is always there in her heart. ( )

This is a moving and elegant depiction of an ordinary family crippled by the loss of a child, and their struggle to recover their equilibrium and get on with their lives. The book focuses on twelve-year-old Jane, the protagonist and narrator, but Jane's parents and her older sister (who dies, perhaps intentionally, in the throes of an eating disorder) are fully drawn characters as well. The book is quite short and the voice definitely sounds like that of a normal preteen, but there is great depth and many layers to this story, and adults can appreciate it as well as teenagers.

I would recommend this in particular to young people grieving the loss of a sibling. I would definitely read this author again. ( )

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

JANE IN BLOOM is a beautiful story of love, loss, and discovery. Ms. Lytton, a member of the Class of 2K9, comes out hitting with a winner.

The story starts out on an emotional high for Jane. It's the morning of her twelfth birthday and she is finally going to get her ears pierced. She is literally the last girl in her class to get them done. But the day soon turns bleak for Jane. Not only doesn't she get her ears pierced, nor get to open her presents (she's been secretly wishing for a digital camera), but her older sister, Lizzy (perfect and popular Lizzy) is found unconscious on the bathroom floor.

Three months later, Lizzy comes home, along with her eating disorder. No one talks about it, but it's always lurking in the background. And then, Lizzy is gone. The autopsy reveals she died from taking too many laxatives and diuretics. Jane's family is in slow motion and feels like it's falling apart.

Jane was always in the background, and after the funeral, her mother runs off to Arizona to Jane's grandparents. She's left her husband and Jane alone in the empty house. Slowly, Jane and her father begin to bond again until he has to go away on business.

Her dad brings in his old secretary to stay with Jane while he is gone. It's during Jane's time with Ethel that she finally starts to come to terms with her life. She's got a natural talent behind the lens, capturing life as it unfolds. While photographing Ethel's prized roses one day, she discovers that Hunter, the cute boy that came to her school halfway through the school year, lives next door. Hunter and Jane form a strong bond when they realize they each have lost loved ones.

The summer after Lizzy's death is a tough time for everyone in Jane's family. They all struggle with their grief in their own private ways. And it's through Jane's tragic summer that she can even emphasize with the girl that bullies her at school. Jane reaches out to someone else in trouble and proves that even though she's had loss, she's grown into a different and stronger person.

The story is told by Jane, the 12-year-old narrator. However, the surprising thing about JANE IN BLOOM is that Jane could be anyone. Ms. Lytton writes the novel in such a way that Jane could literally be ageless. The narration does not sound childish or overly exaggerated. It's a straightforward, heartfelt novel that will be sure to touch all who read it. ( )