11/20/2017
The life of Jane Austen, from her childhood to her death at age 41, unfolds in this cozy, pastoral story. Pliscou describes Austen’s upbringing as loving, though affected by poverty and illness. Austen, who sought refuge in reading, subverted gender expectations even in her early writing efforts: “Were the girls in her stories sweet and obedient? Not at all!” Austen’s refusal to marry a man who would have offered her comfort and stability—but not love—pivots into her publication of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. In Corace’s mixed-media artwork, Jane and other figures resemble rosy-cheeked ragdolls; botanical details, creeping vines, and feather motifs are repeated in outdoor and indoor scenes. A tender portrayal of an author whose ordinary circumstances led to an extraordinary legacy. Ages 7–10. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Jan.)
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"This thoughtful book would surely have pleased Austen, and readers enchanted by the way she graciously forged a way for women writers will appreciate the back matter. A beautifully crafted package to add to the growing list of biographies about women pioneers in art."—Booklist, starred review
"An appealing, lively portrait."—Kirkus Reviews
"This story of quiet courage is emphasized by Corace’s watercolor illustrations. . . . An eye-catching primer for appreciating literature and a remarkable woman."—School Library Journal
"In Corace’s mixed-media artwork, Jane and other figures resemble rosy-cheeked ragdolls; A tender portrayal of an author whose ordinary circumstances led to an extraordinary legacy."—Publishers Weekly
A neatly balanced biography that skillfully contextualizes just how remarkable Austen’s hard-won status as a published author was for her time. . . .Fuid and engaging, and aptly selected quotes from Austen and her admirers succinctly capture her enduring appeal."—The Bulletin
01/01/2018
K-Gr 4—In this engaging picture book biography, Pliscou emphasizes young Jane Austen's power through a refrain: she "watched, listened, thought." Page by page, the author's sharply observed girlhood stories evolve into "funny, thoughtful" novels. Pliscou pays careful attention to the young woman's artistic development within her family's literary culture. If Austen is a brave rebel as the title suggests, her artistic vision is one that is always supported by her relatives. As Pliscou notes, a "girl who didn't marry was odd. A failure. Maybe both," yet she was able to remain unmarried and craft stories with complex female characters. Austen's successful single life, her clear-eyed attention to social interactions, and talent for storytelling are presented as an act of rebellion. This story of quiet courage is emphasized by Corace's watercolor illustrations. Blocks of solid color set off details of books in a shelf or a quilt. In one remarkable spread, delicate silhouettes of her ladylike routine are juxtaposed by snippets of text that note how, "in between all this," she continued to write. Supplementary material includes historical context, favorite Austen quotes, and further reading. For older Janeites, Pliscou has also written a YA biography, Young Jane Austen: Becoming a Writer. VERDICT An eye-catching primer for appreciating literature and a remarkable woman.—Katherine Magyarody, Texas A&M University, College Station
2017-10-16
This brief biography of Jane Austen describes her life and notes the hardships and expectations she overcame to become a published author.Pliscou paints a vivid picture of the world Jane was born into, from the physical environment of home and village to the strictures on women's accomplishments and experiences. The relatively lengthy text flows smoothly. It details the hardships that Jane and her family faced, from financial difficulties both before and after her father's death to Jane's survival of (and long, book-filled recuperation from) a serious illness, and emphasizes that despite these challenges Jane was dedicated to perfecting her craft. Corace's illustrations, created using gouache, ink, acrylic, and pencil, have a stylized look and a relatively limited, somewhat subdued palette. They effectively evoke the historic period and include a nod to a popular decorative style of the day in an attractive double-page spread of silhouettes that conveys Jane's determination as she "read, sewed, planned menus…went to parties, helped to take care of her parents, and…kept on writing her funny, thoughtful stories." As Deborah Hopkinson and Qin Leng do in Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen (2018), Pliscou introduces a revered author for adults to an audience who has likely never heard of her; as recorded here, Austen's quiet life doesn't give children much to latch onto.An appealing, lively portrait that may nonetheless fail to pique the interest of many in the intended audience. (author's note, quotations, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 7-9)
