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Janes #1
The Plain Janes
When transfer student Jane is forced to move from the big city to suburbia, she thinks that her life is over until she meets three other girls named Jane who decide to form a secret art gang and turn the town and high school upside down.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2007
26 people are currently reading
8925 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Castellucci
221 books723 followersCecil Castellucci is an author of young adult novels and comic books. Titles include Boy Proof, The Year of the Beasts (illustrated by Nate Powell), First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool The Plain Janes and Janes in Love (illustrated by Jim Rugg), Tin Star Stone in the Sky, Odd Duck (illustrated by Sara Varon) and Star Wars: Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 785 reviews
July 18, 2017
graphic novel binge read, part 2: This Is Already Going Badly
this book is so strange??? all the characters are so flat and everything just happens really fast and without explanation. it is not believable at all (like, LMK where 4 high school girls got hundreds of garden gnomes). we follow a sporty girl, a rebel, an actress and the smart one - so literally just operating off of the characterization granted by tropes. later they're joined by the token gay friend (i luv me some fetishized homosexuality) and the reformed, apologetic cheerleader (who just pages earlier was saying totally realistic stuff like "i don't care about art!!! i want to shop!!!). tropes on tropes on tropes.
and then it just ENDS. weird occurrences like Main Jane's pen-pal-ship with a comatose John Doe and her will-they-won't-they with a guy who says he just sees her as a friend get NO RESOLUTION. neither does their weird unrealistic group.
deeply strange.
also all the characters are crazy skinny, often with disproportionately large heads & it reminded me of reading an artsy graphic novel take of the lives of Bratz dolls.
anyway.
bottom line: this was not for me.
this book is so strange??? all the characters are so flat and everything just happens really fast and without explanation. it is not believable at all (like, LMK where 4 high school girls got hundreds of garden gnomes). we follow a sporty girl, a rebel, an actress and the smart one - so literally just operating off of the characterization granted by tropes. later they're joined by the token gay friend (i luv me some fetishized homosexuality) and the reformed, apologetic cheerleader (who just pages earlier was saying totally realistic stuff like "i don't care about art!!! i want to shop!!!). tropes on tropes on tropes.
and then it just ENDS. weird occurrences like Main Jane's pen-pal-ship with a comatose John Doe and her will-they-won't-they with a guy who says he just sees her as a friend get NO RESOLUTION. neither does their weird unrealistic group.
deeply strange.
also all the characters are crazy skinny, often with disproportionately large heads & it reminded me of reading an artsy graphic novel take of the lives of Bratz dolls.
anyway.
bottom line: this was not for me.
December 15, 2007
Take back your world! Jane survives a bomb attack, and her freaked out parents move the family to the "safer" suburbs. But Jane takes the spirit of the city with her - she has a plan, she just needs to put together a team to carry it out. Then she spots the other Janes in the lunchroom, and soon convinces them to join her in her guerilla art projects. I love the active role these girls take, and the humor and positiveness of what they do. And I love that these are real girls portrayed with realistic looks and personalities. Very appealing - I want more Jane stories!
August 9, 2007
When I first read this book, it was a preview galley, and I thought that pages must be missing from the end. But this was not the case. While the book has an interesting premise and very nice art by Jim Rugg (his Street Angel work is far more dynamic and full of detail, however--I say that as the editor of SA, mind you), it falls flat in execution. Characters are not fleshed out sufficiently; believability is a problem (where do 16-year-old girls get hundreds of garden gnomes?); and, the worst of the problems, it ends abruptly without any kind of resolution, or even satisfactory movement toward such.
August 13, 2018
Jane survives a bomb attack in NYC and her parents freak out and move far away to a small town. As Jane struggles to come to terms with the terrorist attack, she befriends 3 girls in the lunch room of her new school. She talks them into committing harmless guerrilla art projects around town. However, the local police don't see it that way are are trying to hunt them down.
I was surprised I liked this given that I'm not a teenage girl but it was well-written and entertaining, with some good art from Jim Rugg.
I was surprised I liked this given that I'm not a teenage girl but it was well-written and entertaining, with some good art from Jim Rugg.
April 23, 2016
I thought it would be gayer :(
September 7, 2016
2.5 stars
This book wanted to have heart. The premise started off really good. Jane is at a coffee shop when a bomb goes off. She is traumatized by the event but the only thing that keeps her hanging on is a stranger she helped keep safe during the attack. The stranger has been in a coma and no one knows who he is. Jane however visits him everyday and reads to him. Her mother is so terrified of losing Jane after the event that the whole family moves to a small town, hoping to hide and stay safe from the chaos of the world.
Jane goes from becoming the beautiful, blond girl next door to chopping off her hair and dying it black. She is invited to join the popular girls' lunch table the first day of school but something in Jane has changed and she rejects them, choosing instead to join a table of three misfit girls, all named Theater Jane, Brainy Jayne, and Polly Jane. So far so good.
Jane decides to create a secret club, P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods). The girls sneak out at night and create art that not everyone is happy about. The police is trying to nab the vandals who are destroying the neighborhood, while the Janes think they are saving lives with their art form. This is where the book fell flat for me. I wasn't buying this whole Art Saves concept and I wasn't impressed enough to believe their art was having some magical effect on the town. In fact, you never really see how the town is affected by this, other than the chief of police who has made finding the culprits his personal agenda.
What was working for me--Jane trying to overcome her personal trauma, Jane adjusting to a new town, school and friends, and the relationship Jane formed with this stranger in a coma--sadly wasn't explored long enough in favor of this save the world with art plot.
Artwork: Loved it.
Maybe volume 2 will redeem the series as a whole.
This book wanted to have heart. The premise started off really good. Jane is at a coffee shop when a bomb goes off. She is traumatized by the event but the only thing that keeps her hanging on is a stranger she helped keep safe during the attack. The stranger has been in a coma and no one knows who he is. Jane however visits him everyday and reads to him. Her mother is so terrified of losing Jane after the event that the whole family moves to a small town, hoping to hide and stay safe from the chaos of the world.
Jane goes from becoming the beautiful, blond girl next door to chopping off her hair and dying it black. She is invited to join the popular girls' lunch table the first day of school but something in Jane has changed and she rejects them, choosing instead to join a table of three misfit girls, all named Theater Jane, Brainy Jayne, and Polly Jane. So far so good.
Jane decides to create a secret club, P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods). The girls sneak out at night and create art that not everyone is happy about. The police is trying to nab the vandals who are destroying the neighborhood, while the Janes think they are saving lives with their art form. This is where the book fell flat for me. I wasn't buying this whole Art Saves concept and I wasn't impressed enough to believe their art was having some magical effect on the town. In fact, you never really see how the town is affected by this, other than the chief of police who has made finding the culprits his personal agenda.
What was working for me--Jane trying to overcome her personal trauma, Jane adjusting to a new town, school and friends, and the relationship Jane formed with this stranger in a coma--sadly wasn't explored long enough in favor of this save the world with art plot.
Artwork: Loved it.
Maybe volume 2 will redeem the series as a whole.
July 8, 2012
I'm a little undecided as to what I feel about this book.
On one hand, this definitely achieved its goal of being a quirky and offbeat book. On the other hand, it isn't perfect. The book tends to jump between scenes too quickly and doesn't flesh out the characters as much as I'd have liked them to be. I also had problems imagining that the town would get that angry and freaked out over the town being art bombed. I've lived in my fair share of ultra-conservative areas where groups would art bomb highly visible objects, yet it was never treated like it was practically a terrorist act. I can't help but think that if the characters and environments had been developed just a teensy bit more, this could have been more believable.
The overall story is rather good, however, and I absolutely loved the artwork and character designs. Our main Jane is nice but it's her fellow Jane sidekicks that really deserved more focus and attention. They're blissfully, wonderfully imperfect in both their personalities and appearances- a nice change from the beautiful, talented, and more stereotypical "alternative" main character of Jane. (She's likable, but come on- she's pretty much your typical alternative stereotype, not that this is necessarily an avoidable or even a bad thing in this book.)
I have to say that if you have the ability to read this, I'd recommend it. I'm just not sure that it will be a "must buy" for all readers. It certainly will be something that some readers will need to own, but for the rest of us this will be something we'll read at the library and check out again as desired.
On one hand, this definitely achieved its goal of being a quirky and offbeat book. On the other hand, it isn't perfect. The book tends to jump between scenes too quickly and doesn't flesh out the characters as much as I'd have liked them to be. I also had problems imagining that the town would get that angry and freaked out over the town being art bombed. I've lived in my fair share of ultra-conservative areas where groups would art bomb highly visible objects, yet it was never treated like it was practically a terrorist act. I can't help but think that if the characters and environments had been developed just a teensy bit more, this could have been more believable.
The overall story is rather good, however, and I absolutely loved the artwork and character designs. Our main Jane is nice but it's her fellow Jane sidekicks that really deserved more focus and attention. They're blissfully, wonderfully imperfect in both their personalities and appearances- a nice change from the beautiful, talented, and more stereotypical "alternative" main character of Jane. (She's likable, but come on- she's pretty much your typical alternative stereotype, not that this is necessarily an avoidable or even a bad thing in this book.)
I have to say that if you have the ability to read this, I'd recommend it. I'm just not sure that it will be a "must buy" for all readers. It certainly will be something that some readers will need to own, but for the rest of us this will be something we'll read at the library and check out again as desired.
August 9, 2014
I’m a sucker for this shit. Fiesty girls taking on the world, trying to make it a better place, and trying to better themselves in the process. I even cried twice. (Thanks, PMS.)
April 4, 2021
"We are shaped and fashioned by what we love." - Goethe
If this graphic novel didn't end abruptly, I would give it 4 stars.
If this graphic novel didn't end abruptly, I would give it 4 stars.
February 25, 2016
Fantastic YA comic/graphic novel!
Jane is a young survivor of a terrorist attack on her city...After picking up an art notebook at the scene ("ART SAVES"), Jane becomes a guerilla artist in her new community/suburbs. She's such an earnest and creative character, who yearns to make the world a more beautiful place.
As Jane struggles to make new friends, she comes up with the most creative public art-works, makes them happen, and becomes the leader of a "Jane army". Super empowering & friggin awesome!
Jane is a young survivor of a terrorist attack on her city...After picking up an art notebook at the scene ("ART SAVES"), Jane becomes a guerilla artist in her new community/suburbs. She's such an earnest and creative character, who yearns to make the world a more beautiful place.
As Jane struggles to make new friends, she comes up with the most creative public art-works, makes them happen, and becomes the leader of a "Jane army". Super empowering & friggin awesome!
January 13, 2010
This was a clever little comic about a group of outcast girls who shock and terrify their small town by creating innocent, yet cladestine, works of art in their community.
Although set in the modern day, the storyline itself is rather retro, hearkening back to a tale that may have come out of the beatnik or hippie era. That said, the characters' friendship seemed a little fake and forced to me for the sake of the story.
Although set in the modern day, the storyline itself is rather retro, hearkening back to a tale that may have come out of the beatnik or hippie era. That said, the characters' friendship seemed a little fake and forced to me for the sake of the story.
September 15, 2018
The Plain Janes was an interesting sort of story but it seemed to be all over the place at times. Maybe something to do with the transitions between panels and how it felt like I was skipping bits, which I wasn't.
I wasn't a fan of the art... I like cleaner, prettier lines but I can't deny this one was appropriate for the type of storty. It was definitely unique and in tune with the main character. Who, by the way, was also a bit all over the place - but which teenagers aren't?
I really liked the plot and where it was going. I felt a bit confused in the beginning because, again, some things just aren't made obvious straight away. You just have to keep going and hope for some light to be shed on it. I liked the characters, who were all a bit different and all a bit quirky. I especially liked the "villain/mean girl" archetype and what Castellucci did with her. So refreshing.
Which also brings me to praise the friendship element in this story. This is a graphic novel about girls and that in itself could potentially lead to a lot of bitching, back-stabbing, and envy-related drama. Fortunately, that didn't happen here at all and I was grateful for it. It didn't happen right away, and it wouldn't have been realistic otherwise, but once the Janes are comfortable with each other, they become a tight-knit group.
Unfortunately, we are never really given that much information about them and I still don't know them very well. Even Jane, the main character, feels a bit distant and unrelatable. Nothing truly pops out about any of them, and I can't decide whether I like it or not.
Even though this wasn't my favourite read of the week it certainly wasn't bad. I just think I need to read a couple more issues until I can be convinced. I really want to know what happens next, which wouldn't happen if this had been a total flop. Maybe I'll get used to the art and transitions too.
* This was book #6 in the O.W.L.s Readathon * Defense Against the Dark Arts Completed! *
I wasn't a fan of the art... I like cleaner, prettier lines but I can't deny this one was appropriate for the type of storty. It was definitely unique and in tune with the main character. Who, by the way, was also a bit all over the place - but which teenagers aren't?
I really liked the plot and where it was going. I felt a bit confused in the beginning because, again, some things just aren't made obvious straight away. You just have to keep going and hope for some light to be shed on it. I liked the characters, who were all a bit different and all a bit quirky. I especially liked the "villain/mean girl" archetype and what Castellucci did with her. So refreshing.
Which also brings me to praise the friendship element in this story. This is a graphic novel about girls and that in itself could potentially lead to a lot of bitching, back-stabbing, and envy-related drama. Fortunately, that didn't happen here at all and I was grateful for it. It didn't happen right away, and it wouldn't have been realistic otherwise, but once the Janes are comfortable with each other, they become a tight-knit group.
Unfortunately, we are never really given that much information about them and I still don't know them very well. Even Jane, the main character, feels a bit distant and unrelatable. Nothing truly pops out about any of them, and I can't decide whether I like it or not.
Even though this wasn't my favourite read of the week it certainly wasn't bad. I just think I need to read a couple more issues until I can be convinced. I really want to know what happens next, which wouldn't happen if this had been a total flop. Maybe I'll get used to the art and transitions too.
* This was book #6 in the O.W.L.s Readathon * Defense Against the Dark Arts Completed! *
August 15, 2015
I liked the art, but I'm not sure I loved the main Jane. Seemed like she chose her friends based on who she thought was worthy of her. The worthy outsiders were likable, but rather stereotypical.
March 5, 2020
A bit jumbled, but enjoyable. Relateable characters, impactful themes, great art.
September 10, 2022
cute concept but this was alright
September 27, 2015
The concept was neat, but it wasn't realistic. The town Jane moves to overreacts to such simple "attacks" in a way that is completely unbelievable. For example, after an "art attack," the school closes all after school clubs and activities (not realistic) and sets a curfew and orders the kids to go straight home, no mall time, no friend time (not realistic). See what I mean? They can't enforce any of this. It just can't be done. There was so much more I could say, but I'll limit it to this last point: when given the opportunity to take this graphic novel to another level and really speak to those who have gone through major tragedies and have PTSD (among other things), Castellucci didn't take it. The deeper issues are more brushed over and I'm left, at the end of this graphic novel, with a sense of insincerity.
September 7, 2015
Writing Style Grade: C :: 3 stars
Art Style Grade: C :: 3 stars
Character Grade: C- :: 2.5 stars
Story Rating: 2.5 stars = C-
I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. The characters weren't fleshed out like I had hoped they would be. Some of the events that happened weren't very realistic, and I had a hard time liking this graphic novel.
Art Style Grade: C :: 3 stars
Character Grade: C- :: 2.5 stars
Story Rating: 2.5 stars = C-
I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. The characters weren't fleshed out like I had hoped they would be. Some of the events that happened weren't very realistic, and I had a hard time liking this graphic novel.
January 19, 2020
I really enjoyed the story in PLAIN Janes. It's starts off with a bombing that Jane is in the vicinity of in a major city. This really freaks out her parents out and they are concerned because of some drastic decisions Jane makes after the ordeal. They decide to move to another town. This means Jane needs to start another highschool. Jane decides she doesn't want to be popular when befriended by the "in crowd". Jane wants to do something and become her own. She meets a group, who are all called Jane. As a group they grow and discover themselves through art. Through all this Jane isn't the only one suffering her mother has also been quite affected, and that in turn makes Jane more not ok.
It was really interesting to see Jane evolve and overcome obstacles, but never give up on her main dream. I would definitely suggest this book to any preteens struggling to find themselves in this crazy world. The artwork was phenomenal, the extra snippets of the evolution of the artwork was so interesting.
Thank you to @littlebrown @hbgcanada for providing me the opportunity to read the PLAIN Janes by Cecil Castellucci and illustrated by Jim Rugg
It was really interesting to see Jane evolve and overcome obstacles, but never give up on her main dream. I would definitely suggest this book to any preteens struggling to find themselves in this crazy world. The artwork was phenomenal, the extra snippets of the evolution of the artwork was so interesting.
Thank you to @littlebrown @hbgcanada for providing me the opportunity to read the PLAIN Janes by Cecil Castellucci and illustrated by Jim Rugg
February 20, 2024
It's an amusing, creative, impressive read. In this thoughtful book, The Plain Janes explores the themes of difference, creativity, and the importance of art in adolescent development. This graphic novel starts with a bombing at a café where the main Jane used to live. Unfortunately, this is a very traumatic part of her life and Jane struggles to come to terms with the attack when she has to move away. At her new school, she befriends three girls and they all have the same name. Jane. The main Jane convinces the others to join her in making harmless art projects around the town. But, the police don’t see the projects as harmless. As the “Plain Janes” continue their project, the police try to catch them in the act. Will the Janes be successful in their plan of making attacks beautiful? I love this plot! Every one of the characters had their own personality and stories. Even though this book was too fast-paced for me, it’s a great book to read! I’m glad that I read this book because the plot was carefully crafted, with twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout. I appreciated the character development and found myself relating to the characters. Overall, the book was an enjoyable and relatable read that left me feeling fulfilled and satisfied.
March 17, 2018
After finishing it I was going between two and three stars. Maybe my biggest problem was that I had too high expectation. This graphic novel seemed so different and interesting and somehow I felt cheated. Don't get me wrong, it was quirky and at the times funny but I felt like something was missing. I really didn't care for any of the Janes and stereotypes like evil cheerleader and token gay friend made me like it even less. The reason I gave it three stars is probably because I really liked the beginning and whole plot line about bombing and Jane writing to John Doe was really well done and I hope that in the next volume there is continuation of their story
March 21, 2019
To be honest I did not really enjoy reading this book. When I read a graphic novel I like to see the art that the illustrator draws, in this book there must of been five artist. Although there was not, it definitely seemed like it. Sometimes there would be art were the main character had big round eyes, and other times she would have sideways commas for eyes.
I would like this book more if it wasn't a graphic novel. This book had an amazing plot and good characters, i would of have gotten more attached if they spent more time introducing them instead of just telling me their names. Some of these characters really did have potential and it was for or less a shame to see them not get any attention or build up.
I would like this book more if it wasn't a graphic novel. This book had an amazing plot and good characters, i would of have gotten more attached if they spent more time introducing them instead of just telling me their names. Some of these characters really did have potential and it was for or less a shame to see them not get any attention or build up.
February 1, 2020
Okay, cool art style and all... Kinda... But nothing happened? There was no connection from the characters to the reader, no real connect or draw between the characters themselves, and a really bland plot.
I hyped this graphic novel up so much in the months before I finally got my hands on a copy and all I am left with is bitter disappointment and a faint memory of events.
To put it plainly (no pun intended, but I just made myself chortle) The Plain Janes is forgettable.
Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge: a book that passes the Bechdel test
Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge: a book that can be read in a day
I hyped this graphic novel up so much in the months before I finally got my hands on a copy and all I am left with is bitter disappointment and a faint memory of events.
To put it plainly (no pun intended, but I just made myself chortle) The Plain Janes is forgettable.
Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge: a book that passes the Bechdel test
Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge: a book that can be read in a day
June 16, 2017
I would have to say this book was not one of my favorites. If your interested in books that are quick reads; I recommend this book. I thought this book was all over the place and kind of jumped to one subject to another really quickly, which I guess that's why they call it "quick reads." I also recommend this book to anyone who likes a dramatic story where everything takes place in a high school and the books perspective is a girls. There are common teenage things throughout this book. For example, boys, drama, popular girls, etc.
October 4, 2017
As others have said, this graphic novel has a lot of great ideas but fails to weave them together in a satisfying way--plot events seem disconnected and many subplots are left entirely unresolved at the end. For a more cohesive book a similar concept (teenage girl moves to a new high school and gets accepted into a friend group that makes it their mission to spread art around their environment), I'd recommend "Page by Paige" by Laura Lee Gulledge.
Read
January 13, 2019Although the book The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci is only a comic book it still tells the story of typical high school cliques. I like how the new girl meets her true friends, and how they all work so well with one another because they are all so different. They all have one thing in common they all have the same name which is Jane. I would recommend this to someone who enjoys good drama filled situations. Its also a quick and easy read!
September 20, 2018
The story feels very disjointed, only explaining the background history of the characters in small bits. I liked the main premise, but too many of the characters are purely one-dimensional stereotypes.
I struggled with this book, often setting it down in favor of others. But in the end, I enjoyed the overall concept and hope that the next book will fill in some of the holes in the plot.
I struggled with this book, often setting it down in favor of others. But in the end, I enjoyed the overall concept and hope that the next book will fill in some of the holes in the plot.
Read
January 22, 2019In The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci there is this high school student that gets in a accident and then ends up going to a new school and as a whole new person. She tries to make friends but it is very hard because of her looks. I recommend this book because many people go though this and you should see what its like.
April 11, 2019
I liked the story behind this book, but it was a little scattered. I found myself rereading a couple pages because it jumped from scene to scene. I do like the concept of the strong friendship the Janes got at the end though.
February 10, 2021
Przepiękne rysunki i świetna, nietuzinkowa opowieść, gdzie wszystko ma sens, rodzice nie są tłem, ich obawy są słuszne i wytłumaczone. Główna bohaterka fajna i mądra. Żałuję, że nie miałam szansy przeczytać tego jako nastolatka, na pewno ten komiks miałby na mnie ogromny wpływ. Pamiętam czas, gdy poszukiwałam czegoś takiego, aż skończyłam na beverly hills 902010 :(
September 4, 2022
Enjoyed this clever story, characters that are likeable without being over the top, and the art style and ease of reading this graphic novel. Especially brilliant as a debut graphic novel. What would have made it 5 stars? A bit of color. It's set up to be a continuing story and I would read more in this series.
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