Girls looking for adventure, romance, and a strong heroine will love the second book in this action-packed historical trilogy by two-time Newbery H...
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Oct 06, 2010
Carolynne
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Aug 09, 2011
Lisa
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I am always on the lookout for stronge female characters in books for my daughter. I was delighted to find out that the author of the Newbery Honor winning book, Our Only May Amelia, had written a whole series also set in the Pacific Northwest. Well-researched, using notebooks from early settlers and her own grandmother's diary, Holm's books feature feisty girls who refuse to be held back because of their gender or social class.
Jane Peck, the heroine of this series, is a wild child g More...
Jane Peck, the heroine of this series, is a wild child g More...
Jul 17, 2009
Libby
rated it:
I was skeptical about this one, but was pleasantly surprised. It was one of those cases where I came home from the library with twelve books, because I couldn't decide what I really wanted to read. I continued to dither at home and Michael suggested I read them in alphabetical order. Boston Jane was the winner and, because I am dealing with a bad case of insomnia, I was up reading it for a good portion of the night. A four star book is one I can spend a sleepless night reading and not have ad
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Nov 25, 2009
Melissa T
rated it: 
Fun, delightful book. Not one that was life-changing or inspiring, but a quick, amusing read.
I read a few reviews saying it was racist. Ridiculous! Obviously those readers didn't get a chance to finish. The main character starts out top the frontier with decided views on the "savages" were like, but in the end realizes that all of that was wrong.
At the beginning of the novel, she has decided to go to finishing school to become a lady. This conversation More...
I read a few reviews saying it was racist. Ridiculous! Obviously those readers didn't get a chance to finish. The main character starts out top the frontier with decided views on the "savages" were like, but in the end realizes that all of that was wrong.
At the beginning of the novel, she has decided to go to finishing school to become a lady. This conversation More...
Aug 25, 2009
Megan
rated it:
I decided to read this book because Jennifer Holm is going to be the guest speaker at a conference I will be attending soon. I'll be honest--I wasn't exactly thrilled when I picked up this book. But to my surprise, I found myself engrossed in the story
Set in America in the early 1800s, 16-year-old Jane is a freespirit raised by her doctor father to be a be an independent thinker. She suddenly becomes aware that she is not like the other girls thanks to her father's apprentice, Wil More...
Set in America in the early 1800s, 16-year-old Jane is a freespirit raised by her doctor father to be a be an independent thinker. She suddenly becomes aware that she is not like the other girls thanks to her father's apprentice, Wil More...
Jan 18, 2012
Sara E.
rated it:
A lovely historical YA fiction. Jane lives with her widowed doctor father in Philadelphia during the Western Expansion. She is a tomboy and a wild child. When she is bullied by other girls, she seeks to become a true "lady," taking classes at Mrs. Hepplewhite's Young Lady's Academy.
Jane soon becomes a sparkling example of modest femininity. She learns to be a good listener, make sure she always looks lovely and soon finds herself in love with William, the young doctor who More...
Jane soon becomes a sparkling example of modest femininity. She learns to be a good listener, make sure she always looks lovely and soon finds herself in love with William, the young doctor who More...
Nov 14, 2010
Carol
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Published: 2001
Age Level: grades 5-8
This book is written about the frontier of Washington state during the mid 1850s. Jane Peck goes west from Philadelphia to marry her betrothed, Williams. After her treacherous voyage on the boat to get there she is in for a great surprise. This book chronicles the differences between life in a busy populated city in the east and the busy, but surprising life of frontier people in the west. Jane was clearly not prepared for what she would enc More...
Age Level: grades 5-8
This book is written about the frontier of Washington state during the mid 1850s. Jane Peck goes west from Philadelphia to marry her betrothed, Williams. After her treacherous voyage on the boat to get there she is in for a great surprise. This book chronicles the differences between life in a busy populated city in the east and the busy, but surprising life of frontier people in the west. Jane was clearly not prepared for what she would enc More...
Jan 18, 2011
Renae
rated it:
I really, really liked this book. It's amusing in all the right places, serious and historicaly informative in others, and romantic in the least obvious sense of the word. Holm made a delightful product in this book.
Jane, though a spoiled and prim society girl, quickly grows on the reader through her impertinent tongue and red-haired temper. She proves herself to be loyal and kind, yet is in equal measure stubborn and rash. Her character is perfectly rounded, as her good and bad qual More...
Jane, though a spoiled and prim society girl, quickly grows on the reader through her impertinent tongue and red-haired temper. She proves herself to be loyal and kind, yet is in equal measure stubborn and rash. Her character is perfectly rounded, as her good and bad qual More...
Sep 23, 2011
Rachel
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I first read this series when I was in 8th grade, so it's interesting for me to reread it 7 years later as a junior in college. I defintely enjoyed this book more as an 8th grader because the plot is aimed at a younger audience. As I read it now, I am struck by the implausibility of some of the happenings. However, I still like this book-it is well-written and historically accurate. I also like the way the author uses different chapter titles from an etiqutte book that is discussed in the no
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Jul 08, 2011
Beth
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Feb 06, 2011
KidsFiction
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Teton County Library Call Number: J Holm J
No rating
This book takes place in the late 1800's in Philadelphia.
Jane does not act like a lady. She spits with the boys, eats Mrs. Parker's cherry pies, and ends up with cherries all over herself. When William arrives to live with Jane and her father, he encourages her to attend a school that will teach her better manners-to mold her into a quiet lady who is proper. When William sets sail from Philadelphia to explort eh new More...
No rating
This book takes place in the late 1800's in Philadelphia.
Jane does not act like a lady. She spits with the boys, eats Mrs. Parker's cherry pies, and ends up with cherries all over herself. When William arrives to live with Jane and her father, he encourages her to attend a school that will teach her better manners-to mold her into a quiet lady who is proper. When William sets sail from Philadelphia to explort eh new More...
Feb 11, 2009
Angie
rated it: 
I loved this series! I read Boston Jane to my students and the girls just absolutely loved it, the jury is still out on what the boys thought. It's a GREAT historical fiction piece with such a great LOVE STORY! I have been obsessed with the series and have stayed up late this week to finish all three books. It's a story of Jane who lives in Philadelphia and travels to the wild frontier of the Oregon Territory in search of a man. I loved the adventure and it really was a good page turner. T
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Jul 04, 2011
Amy
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My 10 year old daughter was reading this book for one of her summer reads (a mother induced assignment). I figured if we were to have an intelligent discussion of the book, I should read along with her. It was really fun reading about the young woman's journey from the east coast to the 1850's settling on the west coast frontier. I truly enjoyed reading about her personal struggles of a young woman trying to figure out how to adjust her teachings of being a proper woman on the east coast to b
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Aug 17, 2011
Sandra
rated it:
This novel is an entertaining adventure of 19th C America: Jane, a motherless girl who has assisted her surgeon father and pretty much run wild as a tomboy, falls for her father's apprentice, who expects her to look and act like a high class Bostonian lady--so she goes to school to learn to live up to his expectations. He leaves for the west, and her adventure begins only when he writes asking her to come out to be his bride. Her adventure sailing to her love, and what happens when she arrive
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Mar 08, 2009
Cpld
rated it:
This is a great historical fiction young adult novel. The protagonist is a strong female character, called Boston Jane. Jane is a sixteen year old who sets out for Washington territory from Boston in the mid-nineteenth century to meet up with her fiance. In this book, Jane has many new experiences and adventures including, seasickness, death of a friend, a plague, wild animals, and befriending indians. She also befriends a handsome sailor, named Jehu. This book has it all: romance, adventur
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May 04, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Pretty good. I will read the other two in the hopes that she ends up with Jehu. I have to admit the ghost sighting scenes were a little spookier than I like, but since it ended well I could sleep. I had a hard time understanding why Mary's ghost was so angry, though. Jane had nothing to do with her death. Likewise, I didn't understand how the burial of the Indians soothed the ghost so that she left.
I know her father is in trouble and it makes me a little sad to continue. The end More...
I know her father is in trouble and it makes me a little sad to continue. The end More...
Mar 20, 2008
Kellyn
rated it:
Boston Jane: An Adventure
Holm, Jennifer (2001)
Grades 6-8
Miss Jane Peck of Philadelphia convinces her father, a doctor, to let her attend Miss Hepplewhite’s school for fine girls; this, in spite of being a tomboy and always disheveled in appearance. At first the young man apprenticed to her father, William, offers the only support Jane receives in her attempts to become a “fine lady.”
William eventually completes his training and leaves Philadelphia More...
Holm, Jennifer (2001)
Grades 6-8
Miss Jane Peck of Philadelphia convinces her father, a doctor, to let her attend Miss Hepplewhite’s school for fine girls; this, in spite of being a tomboy and always disheveled in appearance. At first the young man apprenticed to her father, William, offers the only support Jane receives in her attempts to become a “fine lady.”
William eventually completes his training and leaves Philadelphia More...
Sep 15, 2007
Bonnie Gayle
rated it:
This was a good read. It certainly fits the genre I've been reading lately.
It's about a girl in the 1850's named Jane, who is raised by a Widower father who pretty much lets her run wild, and of course she does. This continues until she meets a young man named William, who has feelings for her too, but wishes that she were more ladylike. To this end she attends Miss Hepplewhite's classes on how to become a lady, and then follows William to Washington Territory, where he has moved. When he More...
It's about a girl in the 1850's named Jane, who is raised by a Widower father who pretty much lets her run wild, and of course she does. This continues until she meets a young man named William, who has feelings for her too, but wishes that she were more ladylike. To this end she attends Miss Hepplewhite's classes on how to become a lady, and then follows William to Washington Territory, where he has moved. When he More...
Nov 24, 2009
Josie
rated it:
Jane arrives in frontier Washington to find her fiance MIA and her skills as a young lady useless. With grit and courage, she manages to survive and come to a better understanding of herself.
Pass this one along to anyone who likes historical fiction (a rare breed in the YA set) and adventurous young ladies.
*Spoiler*
I would've preferred that she come to the conclusion that William was worthless on her own, as opposed to arriving there because she finds him previously wed.
Pass this one along to anyone who likes historical fiction (a rare breed in the YA set) and adventurous young ladies.
*Spoiler*
I would've preferred that she come to the conclusion that William was worthless on her own, as opposed to arriving there because she finds him previously wed.
Feb 28, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
Motherless Jane Peck ran wild until age eleven when, against her father's wishes, she decided to become a proper young lady at the urging of her father's apprentice, William. When William leaves for the wilds of the Northwest frontier, Jane is devastated. When, at age fifteen, Jane receives a letter from William proposing marriage, she is eager to accept, even though her father does not want her to. But Jane gets her way, and she sets sail from Philadelphia on a ship bound for Washington. But th
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Mar 27, 2008
Aimi
rated it:
This is my favourite book! Perhaps I'm a bit biased because the girl is about a red head like me. I found the book to be quite suspenseful. My eyes were literally glued to the book. What I learned from this book is that you make your own luck.
Jane, the main character, moves out to the Oregon Territory in the year of 1834. She went to marry her fiance, William, but found that he was not there. Will he every come to get her? She also learns that she is the only girl in the area besides the More...
Jane, the main character, moves out to the Oregon Territory in the year of 1834. She went to marry her fiance, William, but found that he was not there. Will he every come to get her? She also learns that she is the only girl in the area besides the More...
Feb 06, 2012
Anna
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Horrible! I thought it would be good, since it came from a reliable source. But it was very bad. It was about this girl that was a complete tomboy..... then she met this boy. He told her that his sisters did very well at school. That turned her completely around. Well when she is "grown up" (16) and she still writes the boy. Well he wants her to come out to the wilderness where he is and marry him. So she goes and the journey is horrible. It turns out that her fiance is gone on some ex
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Mar 30, 2009
Nancy
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This story was about a Philadelphia tomboy, who attended a "finishing" school for girls. She ended up traveling to the Pacific Northwest on a ship to meet her fiance. The book is called "Boston Jane" because the Indians called all the people who arrived by ship "Boston ____." I think I would give this book a 3.5. It was an "Anne of Green Gables" type of story, but was a little predictable. I think there are others in the series, which I'd like to read.
Oct 26, 2011
Tgirl
rated it:
Well, I've read better books, and I've read worse books. For one thing, the main character (Jane) was very likable and spunky and so were the other characters in the book; however, I felt like I was missing something about her personality that made the whole book seem fast paced. I didn't finish this book completely because the lack of depth annoyed me, but nevertheless, I gave the book a three star rating because it had a good storyline.
Apr 30, 2010
Dawn
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I read this aloud as part of our curriculum for two years to my class and they got hooked on the story... builds great background knowledge about life during the time of the novel both in the eastern US and out west. It works well with our study of early pioneers in the NW. The characters are interesting and there is plenty of adventure and even romance -- both girls and boys enjoy this read! I also like the audio book version.
Dec 11, 2011
Chelsea
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Another great little historical fiction book, but nothing supernatural. They caught my eye off the shelf because they were a) historical fiction b) young adult fiction and c) all 3 in the trilogy were already published, so I could grab them all at once. They are short books (around 250 pages at the most) so they are very fast reads...kind of like an abridged Bloody Jacky, but not QUITE as charming as Jacky. :)
Jan 23, 2011
Gillian
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This was a very good book. I enjoyed how it made fun of society back then -- although the sad thing is it kind of reminds me of society now. This is about a girl who at first was a tomboy, but was transformed from her child-like ways when a dashing William Bundt came along. Determind to become a young lady to please him (and stop bullies from picking on her) she begins to take classes at a school for young ladies.
Dec 27, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
This is a classic. I enjoyed the story of a spunky young girl going to the "frontier". We get to watch, through her eyes, as she finds and follows new dreams and that dreams and ideas can and do change as we grow and change.
Jane has a great personality and is full of he own ideas and spunk. Great example of being true to who you really are.
It reminds me a lot of "Hattie Big Sky", another great book for girls.
Jane has a great personality and is full of he own ideas and spunk. Great example of being true to who you really are.
It reminds me a lot of "Hattie Big Sky", another great book for girls.
Sep 30, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
A fun and quick read about a girl who wants to be a lady, but ends up in the Washington wilderness waiting for her fiance and where her "skills" and "training" are not helping. Loved the idea that we shouldn't let other decide who we will be. Also loved to mull around how the idea of womanhood has changed in many ways, but not in others - especially depending on who you talk to.
Jun 14, 2010
Phair
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