The PLAIN Janes

The PLAIN Janes by Cecil Castellucci

Illustrated by Jim Rugg
Original ISBN 978-1-428-74678-7
Minx; 2007
176 pages

Plot Summary: When Jane is hurt in a terrorist attack in Metro City, her parents immediately move the family to the suburbs in order to be safe. At a new high school, Jane cuts and dyes her hair in an attempt to reinvent herself. She purposely stays away from the popular kids and instead gravitates toward the social outcasts of the school: Jayne, Jane, and Polly Jane. The four girls team up to form P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods) and carry out “art attacks” all over the city. Once, they put bubbles in the city’s fountain; another time they fill the lawn of the police station with garden gnomes. The authorities are less than thrilled with P.L.A.I.N.’s antics and will stop at nothing to stop the “attacks.” But do they?

Critical Evaluation: Minx, an imprint from DC Comics, came up with the idea of a comic line aimed at girls. The four Janes in the novel are brainy, street smart, athletic, and assertive. The illustrations are not overly cutesy and are a perfect accompaniment to the text. And the message is thought-provoking: when do the “art attacks” become vandalism?

Reader’s Annotation: Sometimes the plain people at school are the ones that do the coolest things.

Author Information: Castellucci (born in 1969) is French-Canadian and went to an arts high school in New York. She was an accomplished YA novelist when DC Comics approached her to write a comic aimed for girls – The PLAIN Janes. 

Her website can be found at http://castellucci.wordpress.com/

Jim Rugg, born 1975, is an American cartoonist and illustrator.

Genre: Graphic novel; Comic

Curriculum Ties: Visual Arts.

Booktalking Ideas: I would share excerpts of the book with the students via http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10694829
I would also show pictures of various types of city art (murals, graffiti, etc) and lead a discussion on vandalism versus artistry.

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grades 6-10

Lexile: Not applicable

Challenge Issues: Some may see the “art attacks” as vandalism.

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: I had heard of a few of Castellucci’s other books: Boy Proof, The Queen of Cool, and The Year of the Beasts. When I came across this graphic novel, I thought it would be interesting.

References:

Cecil Castellucci. (2012, November 16). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Castellucci

Jim Rugg. (2012, November 20). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rugg