The House That Jane Built: A Story about Jane Addams

Reviewed by: Shannon Schinagl - Maine State Library, Augusta, Central Maine Library District

Review Date: December 8, 2015

Review

This biography of Jane Addams particularly focuses on her work in Chicago creating the Hull House. It touches briefly on her childhood, anti-war work, and Nobel Peace Prize, but these are merely presented as facts leading to the Hull House.

The writing is clear and precise, and written at an age level appropriate to the audience. While the topics are necessarily simplified, the author does not shy away from difficult issues such as poverty and war.

The end of the book includes "Author's Note: A Little Bit More." As "A Little Bit More" suggests, this note adds a tad more information, but, most interesting to me, provides photographs of Jane Addams and some children she worked with.

The illustrations in the book are lovely and compliment the text well. They are detailed enough that children will enjoy staring at the illustrations, and noting the expressions and activities of the many people shown.

To a small extent, I wish the destitute people were more obviously in need. When one studies the illustrations, one notices the frayed sleeves and hems. However, if a teacher read this book to a group, the children might have a hard time distinguishing the needy from the non-needy. In some cases, the clothes are not frayed, and the people are wearing hats and shoes. Even the homes look to be in fine condition. Without the text, a reader would not know the people are poor at all. However, a balance between representation of the poor and caricature would be very difficult to strike.

However, this is a wonderful book to introduce the concept of poverty, Jane Addams, women's history, community centers, and other topics. Teachers will find the most use for it, though librarians may find it an excellent read during Women's History Month.

In addition, children may choose the book because it is exciting and a good story, and the illustrations, as noted, are very engaging, and there are many details to notice that a child wouldn't see in a group read.

Overall Book Score: very good