When Nicole asked me to write a guest review for Harrowing Historicals, I immediately put a call out on Twitter for suggestions of YA or Middle Grade books that fit the description (horror stories that take place before 1960). I got quite a variety of responses and added quite a few books to my TBR pile. One suggestion was Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp and when I spotted it on a bargain table at Barnes & Noble, it became my choice.
Jane-Emily feels like a classic ghost story in many ways. It tells the story of Louisa, who accompanies her niece Jane to Jane’s grandmother’s house. Jane’s parents have passed away and Mrs. Canfield wants to spend some time with Jane. Jane and Mrs. Canfield have both lost of a lot of their family in this way. The Canfield estate is a nice one and Louisa and Jane start to enjoy their time there. Jane takes a special interest in stories about Emily, Mrs. Canfield’s daughter who died before her thirteenth birthday. Emily was clever and beautiful but also strong-willed and very selfish. Her legacy is not a pleasant one. At first Jane is merely curious about her, but Louisa starts to notice her interest grow. In fact, Louisa begins to suspect that Jane actually believes Emily is still around and making her will known.
Jane-Emily is appropriately spooky. There isn’t a rush of terrible things that happen but a growing sense of foreboding. The creepiness increases as summer comes to a close and fall approaches and the events escalate. There’s also the doubt/belief element of all good ghost stories. Is this really happening or not? There’s even a doctor who plays a significant role as a man of science!
What added to the creepiness was the fact that Emily’s things are all still in the house, her clothes and toys. I love that feeling that there’s always some history to be discovered in what is already there.
I thought Jane-Emily was a great creepy read for this time of year without being spectacularly terrifying. There’s even a love story. Have you read this classic ghost story?
About the Blogger
AMY RILEY blogs at My Friend Amy, a space devoted to talking about books, pop culture arts and their influence on our lives. Amy also writes for The Friendly Book Nook, and is the founder of Book Blogger Appreciation Week. She also co-hosts a weekly podcast, The Underground Literary Society. She believes that the power of the written word can change lives and that literacy is a right for all. Amy makes her home in Southern California and is still mourning the loss of LOST. She is co-founder of the online publicity company Winsome Media Communications and a devotee of Diet Mountain Dew.
JANE-EMILY does sound like a slightly creepy read. Slightly creepy is about all I can handle. The YA market has such a wealth of good fiction with more coming out all the time. Thanks for letting us know about this book.
JANE-EMILY is not usually the kind of book I would go for, but now I am completely intrigued!
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