My review of this book can be found on my Youtube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/xubC7ZniuKA

Enjoy! ( )

DNF at 42%. I dig the concept - art girl gang doing guerilla art - but the story just didn't grab me, and there's something about the illustrations that threw me off. Idk, everyone's face has an uncanny valley vibe. ( )

At first I thought this was just a re-release of the 2007 graphic novel, but it turns out it is an omnibus of that book, the 2008 sequel Janes in Love, and a previously unpublished third book called Janes Attack Back.

The Plain Janes Jan. 12, 2021 - two stars

I read this book back in 2007, and my recall is it was unmemorable teen junk. Indeed, I might as well have been reading it for the first time this time around, I remembered so little of it. The survivor of a bombing in the big city, Jane Beckles, is moved by her parents to what they consider safer suburbs. At her new high school she falls in with some unpopular girls who are little more than their stereotypes: Jayne the brainiac, Jane the drama geek, and Polly Jane the jock. Together they become guerrilla artists, and their projects divide the town between those who see vandalism and those who admire the rebellious spirit.

Janes in Love Jan. 13, 2021 - two stars

I also read this book shortly after its original release back in 2008. It too left very little impression with its bland teen drama. It's not bad, mind you, it just does not really stick. There is an attempt to flesh out the secondary Janes by giving each a little romance, but they don't really grow that much beyond their brainy, theater, and jock archetypes.

Janes Attack Back Jan. 14, 2021 - two stars

And finally the new material, which, alas, is as unremarkable as the first two books. It does what it intends to do, wrapping up the discussion of art begun in the first book thanks to a new character who wants the Janes to return to their guerrilla art roots and stop submitting to the town authorities' demands. Jane's trauma from the terrorist bombing is dealt with a bit more. It's all okay, but sure to fall out of my head in a matter of days. ( )

I was so prepared to call this quirky and tryhard, but it’s actually charming. I love the conversations about being afraid of how the world is going (look, we’re in a worldwide pandemic right now) but fighting to see the beauty in it. Of course, I also enjoyed the conversations about the different methods of art, controlled and poised and explosive and combative, etc. Payne is really rough around the edges, but she added a fun layer to the plainness.

I’m glad Jane’s PTSD and anxiety after the incident are treated realistically, and I liked her mom’s development. The “evil adults” who wanna ruin all artistic expressions trope felt a bit cliché here, but it works, I guess. The Janes are all flat archetypes, but that also works I suppose. The book feels like a conversation-piece to me more so than a character or plot-driven story, but I liked it.

3.5 ( )

I received an ARC of this book for free from The NOVL in exchange for an honest review.

Please note that since this is an ARC, it only includes the first 2 installments and a sneak peek at the third installment. Therefore, my review is based only on these parts.

I really liked this graphic novel and the story it told. The book deals with many relevant topics such as terrorism and PTSD. I was happy that the book didn’t shy away with showing the mental effects that terrorism has on people. Jane’s mother is the perfect example of that.

I liked how the girls came together to make a statement using art. Art is such an important tool in enacting societal change.

I loved the artwork and stylization of the text. Both the illustrations and the text were clear and easy to follow. If you find graphic novels to be a bit distracting, you might want to try this one.

I’m really glad that all the installments were put together in this book because they all come together nicely. For example, the first installment, “The PLAIN Janes,” sort of just ends abruptly. But the second installment, “Janes in Love,” really builds upon the first. I only got a sneak peek at the third one, “Janes Attack Back,” but from what I read, I think it will be a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel and am looking forward to seeing how it all ends. ( )