Jane, the Fox, & Me.

This little book really stole my heart.

I'd been eyeing it on Amazon for quite a while. I was drawn in by the fox, the Jane Eyre aspect (it is one of my favorite books, after all), and the peek at the illustrations that I'd seen online. I hadn't bought it until recently because I have a hard time spending that much money on a book I'm not sure I'll like, especially when it's basically a glorified picture book. (Don't get me wrong, I love picture books...I just wish they weren't so expensive.)

Thankfully, it was even more wonderful than I imagined. I'd hoped that I would like it, but I never expected it to impact me like it did.

The illustrations are gorgeous. This is a graphic novel, so the illustrations are as important as the story, and they are perfect. There's a certain style in artwork that I gravitate towards (particularly in children's books), and this is it. I love the way that black and white and color are used, and there's a wonderful sense of movement to many of the pictures. And it's hard to explain, but the illustrations add so much emotion and atmosphere to the story. You don't even have to read what's going on in Helene's head...you can see it all in her slumped posture and ducked head.

Then there's the story itself. My heart broke for Helene...it's been a long time since I felt so sympathetic towards a character. I could see a lot of myself in her, which is probably the reason why this book hit me so hard. Helene is bullied by her former friends for most of the story. I was never bullied, but I saw plenty of it and I still remember vividly some of the taunts that kids threw at each other. (I was taller than most of my classmates and I got good grades, a combination that, strangely enough, seemed to protect me from even the meanest kids. I have no idea why.) But other things about Helene: the awkwardness of trying on swimsuits that don't fit, feeling overweight and insecure, hiding behind a book...it could have been written about me at that age. It could still be written about me at twenty-three. I needed to read this right now.

Anyway...I just had to gush about this lovely book. I always have a hard time recommending books, because you never really know how someone is going to connect to a story. Or even if they're going to connect to it. So I'm not telling you to go out and buy this book, because I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea. But if you ever have the opportunity to read it, give it a chance for the illustrations, if nothing else. Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised like I was. :)

{Besides a fox and Jane Eyre, the story even briefly includes sewing and vinyl records. Could anything be more perfect?}