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If you’re looking for a cozy, generally unserious read that leaves you with warm, fuzzy feelings, then you might like Mary Jane.
What’s Mary Jane about?
In 1975 Baltimore, 14-year-old sheltered Mary Jane takes a summer nannying job in a home where the psychologist father is treating a drug-addicted rock star and his movie star wife.
This book is a great de-stressor.
Mary Jane is, first and foremost, a coming-of-age story. But it’s unique on that front. Rather than a focus on school and peer groups, Mary Jane’s story takes place at home and at the home of her nannying job. It’s about the time she spends with the adults in her life and with the 5-year-old Izzy, whom she looks after.
This is a character-driven story. Plot-wise, very little happens. There are a lot of scenes of Mary Jane just looking after Izzy and doing chores together. They go to the grocery store, cook meals, alphabetize the bookshelf, clean out the fridge, reorganize, sing a lot of songs….etc. I thought I would get sick of it, but honestly, I found it delightful. But it is true that I felt there was a bit too much of it by the end.
What really kept my attention was the dichotomy of the two homes. At her parents’ house, there is organization, tidiness, and homemaking – but there is also racism and repression. At the Cones’ house, where she nannies, there is freedom, acceptance, and open-mindedness – but there is also chaos and irresponsibility.
There was a lot of great imagery to compare the two homes. In one, sex and the body were taboo topics. In the other, a 5-year-old had an anatomy coloring book – complete with genitalia. One home is clean, the other is a disaster zone. Heck, in one home, there was a hanging picture of President Ford. In the other? A poster that said, “IMPEACHMENT NOW MORE THAN EVER.”
Mary Jane is exposed to so much about the world (think sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll) and so many new ideas that she must decide for herself what kind of person she wants to be, compared to how she was raised.
Should you read Mary Jane?
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories, young adult historical fiction, or cozy reading. Enjoy!
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One response to “Mary Jane: A delightful, cozy read”
The part about “she must decide for herself what kind of person she wants to be, compared to how she was raised” is a great conversation for all young adults to have. Mary Jane’s journey of self-discovery will shape her into the person she wants to become. By evaluating her childhood, exploring new ideas, and aligning her values with her authentic self, she can make informed choices about the kind of person she wishes to be. 😉