“In the shadow of loss, a wallflower blossoms…”
Description: Jane’s big sister, Lizzie, has always been the center of attention. No one ever pays attention to boring, plain Jane. But when Jane’s twelfth birthday marks the beginning of Lizzie’s final descent into a fatal eating disorder, Jane discovers that the only thing harder than living in her big sister’s shadow is living without her.
In the wake of tragedy, Jane learns to look through her camera lens and frame life differently, embracing her broken family and understanding that every girl has her season to blossom. Spare and vulnerable prose marks this beautiful debut that is at once heartbreaking and uplifting.
It seems as if 2009 has been the year of YA books dealing with eating disorders (Wintergirls, Purge, Purge: Rehab Diaries). Yet, out of this collection, Jane in Bloom blossoms. Lytton’s debut novel is told by Jane, a twelve-year-old narrator, who gives an account of her sister’s anorexia, and how it affects her family. Through Jane’s eyes, the reader feels her frustration and love for her sister throughout the novel.
My favorite thing about this story is its simplicity. I sympathized with Jane, especially when she was too embarrassed to tell her best friend what she was going through. Lytton does an excellent job of showing, instead of telling.
Example: “I can feel my temples start to sweat. My hair is so heavy; I want to shave it off right now. Be bald.”
What girl hasn’t experienced a Brittany Spears moment like this? When even her hair feels like pressure? Or in Jane’s words, “When one sibling sucks all the energy out of the family, it is the remaining sibling who suffers the most.”
Overall, Jane in Bloom is a story of love, loss, and discovery. Though it deals with heartbreaking issues, it’s also optimistic. Through all the sadness, Jane finds a way to move forward as a stronger individual. I would recommend this book to teens 10 and up, teachers, counselors, and mother-daughter book clubs. It’s a profound story that could lead to deep discussions about what’s important in life.
On a personal note, I met Deborah Lytton at a book signing on May 31st at Laguna Beach Books and she’s delightful. Be sure to visit her Web site www.deborahlytton.com to tell her what you think of her novel.
Click here to buy this book: Jane in Bloom
Question: Has anyone else read this book? What did you think?
Currently reading: Evermore (The Immortals) by Alyson Noel
If you liked Jane in Bloom, I would recommend Willow by Julia Hoban and The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler.
