The History of Jane Doe by Michael Bolanger - OPTIONAL

The History of Jane Doe by Michael Bolanger, 280 pages.  Dial (Penguin), 2018.  $18  

Language: R (2 swears, 12 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13 (Suicide)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Ray is a social outcast in a small New York town nicknamed, Burgerville. He and his best friend Simon are content with their outsider nerd status until the new girl, Jane moves in. Jane becomes a third in their group and they begin to take her on quests to all of the odd and weird historical sites of their town trying to help her escape her every growing depression. She and Ray fall in love and they help Simon find a girl of his own -  an adorable teenage love story, until the fateful night she ends her life. 

The History of Jane Doe is written from Ray’s perspective, jumping back and forth from the days before Jane killed herself to days after. Ray heartbreakingly from shares how their love grew to how his psyche broke trying to figure out why she died and how he could have stopped it. The writing is honest, accessible, and he characters are real and not over embellished. The swearing happens all in one burst at the end and seems fitting, so the book reads as wholesome, until Ray breaks. I think the realness of this book is good for middle and high school readers who have been exposed or struggle with depression. 

Dina W. - ELA teacher