Overview
Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?
An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Jane Moore's parents die in a tragic accident, and she is left with only two unfeeling, absentee siblings to call family. Poor and alone, Jane quits college, interviews to become a full-time nanny, and--because of her unassuming personality and total lack of celebrity awareness--quickly lands a job caring for the daughter of an aging, world-famous rock star who's about to make his comeback. Lindner, a poet, makes her YA debut with this update of the gothic classic Jane Eyre. Well-written and faithful to the original, Lindner's story imbues Jane with the requisite innocence, stubbornness, and darkness of Brontë's protagonist. Perhaps not surprisingly, this modern, Sarah Lawrence–educated version of Jane feels rather morose by today's standards, buttoned up in her manners and social attitudes, though she also shows a good dose of sexual liberation. Additionally, this new Jane can be frustrating in her moralizing, and it is far easier to find the age difference between 19-year-old Jane and her employer, Nico Rathburn--Lindner's answer to Mr. Rochester--off-putting in contemporary context. A fresh and addictive adaptation, regardless. Ages 15–up. (Oct.)From the Publisher
Praise for Jane:"A fascinating, fantastical story line of secrets and star-crossed love...Set against a vivid, well-drawn, contemporary world, this is a compelling adaptation of an ageless romance."
- Booklist
"I couldn't put Jane down! Whether you love literature, romance, thrillers, or anything in between, you'll get swept up in Jane all the way to its scrumptious, satisfying end."
-Sara Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series
"Well-written and faithful to the original, Lindner's story imbues Jane with the requisite innocence, stubbornness, and darkness of Brontë's protagonist...A fresh and addictive adaptation."
-Publishers Weekly
"There's nothing plain about Jane. April Lindner executes the cool trick of being stubbornly loyal to the well-loved original while creating something totally new and captivating."
-Cecily von Ziegesar, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl series
"Jane is a captivating modern love story of a young woman who refuses to compromise her values, and fans of Bronte's Jane Eyre are sure to praise this rousing retelling with its rock 'n' roll twist."
-Associated Press
"Lindner's love story delivers an entrancing star-crossed relationship, and it is not necessary to be familiar with the original to enjoy it."
-School Library Journal
"A sparkling new novel of impossible love, tragic deceit, and a wicked fine guitar solo."
-Anne Osterlund, author of Aurelia
"A remarkable, rocking good love story."
-Justina Chen, author of North of Beautiful
School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up—In this modern take on Charlotte Brontë's classic romance, Jane Moore has just withdrawn from Sarah Lawrence as her parents have passed on without leaving any money. She accepts a job as a nanny, working for Nico Rathburn, a famous rock star, at his home, Thornfield Park. She plans on earning enough money to finish her schooling. Despite being incredibly practical and emotionally reserved, Jane falls for the bad-boy celebrity, and he for her. After she accepts his marriage proposal, the little oddities at Thornfield Park are pieced together to form a big problem for their new love. Jane flees from her fiancé and must decide for herself whether she can accept the problem or live without Mr. Rathburn's love. The relationship builds almost out of nowhere but emerges as a passionate romance. Lindner's love story delivers an entrancing star-crossed relationship, and it is not necessary to be familiar with the original to enjoy it. A few plot elements seem a little unnecessary to readers not familiar with Jane Eyre, but exist to satisfy those who expect them. In any event, this is a great "gateway read" to interest teens in the original novel and other classics by the Brontë sisters or Jane Austen.—Emily Chornomaz, West Orange Public Library, NJKirkus Reviews
Retelling a classic as contemporary fiction is a tricky business, as demonstrated in this uneven rendering of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre as chick lit. Forced to leave college by the death of her parents, Jane finds employment at Thornfield Hall as nanny to the daughter of former rock megastar Nico Rathburn, who's now making a comeback. Both quickly fall in love with Jane, although she's a distinctly odd duck, primly thinking of and addressing her employer as "Mr. Rathburn" and disconnected from her peers. Jane's passivity and naïve acceptance of strange doings at Thornfield feel anachronistic. They're superficially faithful to the original, but readers will miss Brontë's Gothic intensity. Mr. Rochester, the archetypal Brontë hero—mysterious and dangerous, irresistible to Jane and generations of readers—doesn't survive translation into a YouTube-era celebrity. Jane Eyre's harsh world was perilous for single, penniless women; ours—even for an impecunious Sarah Lawrence dropout—can't compete. Flashes of originality, wit and vivid imagery bring the story to life intermittently, but the distracting improbabilities pull readers out of the story again and again. (author's note) (Fiction. 15 & up)