Mary Jane

This coming of age novel is a pleasant, unexpected surprise. Set in the 70s, it tells the story of 14 year old Mary Jane's summer nanny job that introduces her to people different from any she has ever known and opens her eyes to the flaws of the society in which she lives. Through her experiences of that summer, she discovers a lot about who she is and who she wants to be.

Mary Jane has led a sheltered life with rigid, non-affectionate parents. She expects adults to behave a certain way. Her experience with the Cone household shows her that there are different kinds of people with different life experiences, and she learns to accept those differences as being okay and maybe even preferable to the life she has been raised expect. She meets a rock star heroin addict and his TV star wife who show her that just because people have made mistakes they aren't necessarily bad people. Life in the Cone house is messy and sometimes chaotic, but there is so much love and joy there that doesn't exist in Mary Jane's household.

There is clear contradiction between the two main families in this book. The Cones are a lovable bunch with all their unique personalities and eccentricities. Their celebrity houseguests are flawed but so beautiful and full of life. In contrast, Mary Jane's parents are stiff and formal and do not let Mary Jane see their personalities. There is no affection in the Dillard household. Mary Jane comes to realize the flaws in her parents' beliefs about people of other races and backgrounds. As a reader, I much prefer the Cones, which of course is what the writer wants.

This book does a great job showing the messiness of real life. There are drugs, sex, alcohol, infidelity, and other indiscretions in the plot of this story. The topics are all handled maturely. These issues are balanced with acceptance, love, family affection, and many other positive experiences.

This book succeeds as a coming of age story that captures the reader's heart while teaching acceptance and love. I definitely recommend this book.