A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice

Written by Jasmine A. Stirling

Illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Bloomsbury Children’s Books (March 30, 2021)

Suggested Ages 5-9  Grade Level 1-2

Children’s Literary  Biographies/ Children’s Women Biographies

 

For fans of I Dissent and She Persisted — and Jane Austen fans of all ages — a picture book biography about the beloved and enduring writer and how she found her unique voice.

Witty and mischievous Jane Austen grew up in a house overflowing with words. As a young girl, she delighted in making her family laugh with tales that poked fun at the popular novels of her time, stories that featured fragile ladies and ridiculous plots. Before long, Jane was writing her own stories-uproariously funny ones, using all the details of her life in a country village as inspiration.

In times of joy, Jane’s words burst from her pen. But after facing sorrow and loss, she wondered if she’d ever write again. Jane realized her writing would not be truly her own until she found her unique voice. She didn’t know it then, but that voice would go on to capture readers’ hearts and minds for generations to come.

 

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REVIEW

 A story about the childhood of iconic author Jane Austen.  I enjoyed learning about her childhood, her joys and her struggles, the reasons she created complicated women characters, and her quest to find her own unique voice. Woven throughout the story are italicized quotes from her books.  The stunning illustrations capture Jane and the scenery perfectly. Her playful, joyful youth shown in vibrant pinks, moves to a grayer hue as her life darkens, and then lush greens as she matures. A great picture book for young and old fans of Jane Austen. I am truly delighted to own this treasure of a book.

Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel

ARC of Hardcover Picture Book provided by The Children’s Book Review & Jasmine Stirling

 

About the Author and Illustrator

 

Jasmine A. Stirling grew up in a town without a movie theater and a house without a television. From a young age, she loved to write poems and stories, and she worked her way through nearly every children’s book (and quite a few for grown-ups, too) in her local library. Jasmine now lives in San Francisco with her husband, two young daughters, and their dog. Her favorite Jane Austen book is Persuasion. A Most Clever Girl is her first book.

https://jasmineastirling.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stirling.jasmine

Twitter: @jasminestirling
Instagram: @jasmine.a.stirling

Vesper Stamper is an award-winning author-illustrator of picture books and historical fiction for young adults, including What the Night Sings, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and longlisted for the National Book Award, and A Cloud of Outrageous Blue. She lives with her husband, filmmaker Ben Stamper, and her two teenagers, in the northeastern United States, but England is Vesper’s happy place. Her favorite Jane Austen novel is Emma.

vesperillustration.com
Instagram: @vesperillustration

 

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a glorious Jane Austen-themed picnic basket, including a hardcover copy of A Most Clever Girl autographed by Jasmine A. Stirling!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A picnic basket filled with:
  • A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling
  • A vintage teacup
  • 1 oz of tea From Adagio Teas
  • Truffles from Moonstruck Chocolates
  • Gardenia hand cream
  • A set of Jane Austen playing cards
  • A $15 gift certificate to Jasmine A. Stirling’s Austenite Etsy Shop, Box Hill Goods

Two (2) winners receive:

• A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling

The giveaway begins March 16, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT, and ends April 16, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

 

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Comfy Chair Books partnered with The Children’s Book Review and Jasmine A. Stirling for the Virtual Book Tour

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