The History of Jane Doe [S0012]

2018 HCDJ in nice clean condition. A poignant, deeply funny coming-of-age story about first love, first loss, and the power of history to give life meaning. Mixing humor with heartache, this is an unmissable coming-of-age story from an exciting new voice in YA. History buff Ray knows everything about the peculiar legends and lore of his rural Connecticut hometown. Burgerville's past is riddled with green cow sightings and human groundhogs, but the most interesting thing about the present is the new girl--we'll call her Jane Doe. Inscrutable, cool, and above all mysterious, Jane seems as determined to hide her past as Ray is to uncover it. As fascination turns to friendship and then to something more, Ray is certain he knows Jane's darkest, most painful secrets and Jane herself--from past to present. But when the unthinkable happens, Ray is forced to acknowledge that perhaps history can only tell us so much.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "There was a whole lot that I liked about this book. The characters were great and I found myself liking them almost instantly. I thought that the way the story was told in alternating chapters of before and after worked really well and I just had to know what happened to Jane. I thought that the book dealt with some very difficult topics very well."; "WOW! Humor is the pathway to depth, and Belanger's wit and relatable characters guide us to plunge the authentic feelings of high school anxiety, love and self worth with frequent laughs between the tears. Read this book."; "The History of Jane Doe resonated with me so much. Belanger perfectly captured what so many teens (and adults) struggle with each day. As someone with my own Jane Doe, I felt so connected with Ray-his strong desire to understand, help and care for Jane. I was so comforted by Ray's experience; his words brought tears to my eyes and filled me with hope. This book is such an important read for those who have in some way dealt with mental illness. Ray's sarcastic wit and quirks were some of my favorite parts of this book. Through his captivating storytelling, Ray brought his peculiar hometown of Burgerville (what I imagine as a cross between The Simpson's and a Tim Burton film) to life. From Earl Beddington and the green cows to Burgerville Bill, I absolutely LOVED Ray's stories. You must read this book!"