The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming by J. Anderson Coats

The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming by J. Anderson Coats. Atheneum, 2017.  288 pages.

• Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12
• Recommended For: Historical Fiction lovers, ages 10 and up

Eleven-year-old Miss Jane Deming is eagerly anticipating the fulfillment of Mr. Mercer’s promises to her step-mother and a bevy of other young women of “sturdy constitution.” Jane’s father died in the recent Civil War, and she had to drop out of school to care for her half-brother while “Mrs. D” tried to support the small family. Mr. Mercer has promised them transportation to far away Washington Territory by boat from Massachusetts, jobs aplenty once they arrive, and–perhaps most important to Jane’s step-mother–myriad eligible bachelors most eager to meet these beauties from the civilized East. Even better:

the Washington Territory in Mr. Mercer’s pamphlet has no landlords. It has no looms. It has neatly turned-out gentleman bachelors and a climate to rival Rio and schoolhouses on every corner.

Mr. Mercer’s promises sound too good to be true! And they are. Miss Jane Deming must bring all the strength of her sturdy constitution to bear en route as they realize Mr. Mercer hasn’t been completely honest with them. She rises to the occasion upon arrival in Washington Territory, bravely making the best of the sodden, soggy, ramshackle, and very frontier-esque Seattle that awaits them.

Jane is a lovely, likable character in the same vein as other plucky, astute heroines like Anne of Green Gables. Her “many reflections” include everything from recognizing that “nothing about Washington Territory is the way Mr. Mercer said it would be” to determining how important school is. All’s well that ends well as a new family is formed on the frontier. Jane and her brother gain a dad, her step-mother gains a husband and a home, and Jane’s new dad gains a family. Together, their halting steps towards one another illustrate how important family is and the impact a good father’s leadership has on those under his care. Jane’s determination to attend school is fitting for this back-to-school season. When your children balk at the alarm clock this month, remind them it could be a canoe… in the rain…. Readers who enjoy learning about obscure historical events and like to read character-driven novels will thoroughly appreciate young Jane.

Overall Rating: 4

• Worldview Rating: 4
• Artistic Rating: 4

For another lesser known slice of Washington state history, check out Douglas Bond’s The Battle of Seattle. Other historical fiction novels about thoughtful heroines include Hattie, Big Sky and May B.