Parents' Guide to

Jane, Unlimited

Jane, Unlimited Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Carrie R. Wheadon By Carrie R. Wheadon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Five offbeat, inventive stories in one wild mansion.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Doctor Who</a> PJs. Mention of <a href=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/"/search/muppets">the Muppets</a> and <a href=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/"/search/winnie the pooh">Winnie the Pooh</a>.</p> ">

Any Positive Content?

Jane Eyre</em></a> by Charlotte Bronte, true-crime novels on art theft, books on ocean photography, and the writings of Arthur C. Clarke. Plus mentions and excerpts of <em>The House of Mirth </em>by Edith Wharton and <em>The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh</em> by A.A. Milne. Some details on smallpox being used as a biological weapon in the French and Indian War. Some thought on the idea of parallel universes and a whole lot of thought about, and a diagram of, an umbrella and its parts.</p> ">

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 14+

Quirky, imaginative, ok for older teens

The stories are interlocking different scenarios that all lead out from the same base. Characters are late teens and twenties so there was more drinking and mentions of sharing beds than I would want for my twelve year old. Entertaining, solid read, but not a breakout star for me.
age 17+

What a mess

This book was a headache. Poorly written and relied so heavily on strange and ridiculous to draw you into the story. No cohesion, I lost interest and forced myself to finish it hoping it would get better but it didn't. I don't see literary value in this at all.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Art stealers and dealers, spies, sentient houses, parallel universes, uber-smart dogs, and lots of umbrellas all occupy one of the more inventive young adult novels you'll ever read. Luckily they don't all occupy the book at the same time, or at least not the way the main character, Jane, experiences the story. The story restarts after breakfast five times, each time heading in a totally different direction. And here's some of the genius of this multistory: While Jane is in one scenario, following spies, the house is still groaning about its secrets and the dog is still begging Jane to follow him. The reader has an awareness that they're only getting a part of this very complex puzzle and they're waiting to hear more with every story layer author Kristin Cashore delivers.

Jane, Unlimited isn't for everyone. It's one of those books that will be adored or panned, depending on the reader's openness to the offbeat and whether they reward or shun their favorite authors for taking real risks. This is nothing like the adored Graceling Realm series, fans. Prepare yourself first, and you will be rewarded with mini-velociraptors and so much more.

Book Details

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