I have so many good things to say about “Mary Jane” by Jessica Anya Blau. This book was my introduction to the author, and I’ve already ordered some of her other work based on how much I enjoyed this story.
This is the story of Mary Jane, a young teenager who has lived a sheltered, fairly simple life. She is hired as the summer nanny for a neighboring family, and finds her life stretched and changed in many ways as she gets to know new and different types of people.
While I loved everything about the story, my absolute favorite was the way the characters were written. All the major ones were portrayed with such depth and sincerity that I felt like I was actually meeting them. I don’t mean that they were realistically written….they were, but I say that about lots of books. I mean that they felt real to me in a personal way. As I was introduced to Jimmy and Sheba, I really felt like I had been introduced to these famous people in real life. I felt like I spent the summer with them, and really knew them, and looked forward to keeping in touch. I had to remind myself that they were fictional characters. To me, that’s the sign of a truly phenomenal character writer!
The story was also excellent, and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next to my new book friends as the summer progressed. I loved seeing the ups and downs, the highlights and low points, and the day-to-day life of 1970s Baltimore (and Dewey Beach). I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but I appreciated the ending, both the parts that were wrapped up, and the parts that were left for the reader to imagine. It left me feeling the perfect amount of closure and hope for the characters’ futures.
One important lesson I took away from this book: People need to feel appreciated and valued. If someone in your life matters to you, please take a moment to make sure they know it.
I received a review copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program, and am thankful to have been selected.
Five out of five slices of perfect Provolone!
