Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore -NO

Cashore, Kristin Jane Unlimited, 464 pgs. Kathy Dawson Books, 2017.  $18. 

Language: PG13 (5 swears; lots of halfy swears); Mature Content: PG13 (talk of sex); Violence: G

Jane is rocked by the loss of her Aunt, who was her whole family. Still in mourning she goes with Kiran, a slightly older girl who used to tutor her, to Kiran’s family house. This family house is huge, private and stuffed with strange family members and guests. Quickly Jane realizes there are many mysteries and she starts to take a critical look at all the people. She discovers her aunt wasn’t who she thought she was. And that our world might be not be the only.

I did not enjoy reading this book. It was shallow, overly long, and claustrophobic –with almost the entirety of the book taking place in one house. It reminded me of a game of clue, with a host of strange characters, all possibilities for a crime, being monitored for placement in the house and analyzed for motives –then worst of all –the commentary occurring for hundreds of pages. The main character is just plain boring and one dimensional –so its challenging to care about what might happen to. The sub plot, art theft, spying -just seemed so contrived. I found myself going to bed without reading just to avoid reading this book.

HS -NO.  Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author