Book Review: Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz

This was book #1/20 I read for my 20 for 2020 Challenge. I'll start my discussion with a spoiler-free review, and then I'll warn you when it's time for the spoiler section.

I really liked this book! I couldn't put it down for the entire second half. I liked that it mostly focused on the mystery aspect of why she was taken and by who. That was what kept me so intrigued.

The story goes back forth between the present and the past, before and while she was in captivity. In the present we get these subtle hints of things that trigger her from her captivity phase. Things like honeycomb candles and brownies. It was done in a very subtle way that you would only pick up on if you were paying attention to those relatively small events. It was really interesting seeing how no one understood why she was acting the way she was or why she was attached to certain things. But through the backstory we are able to understand why she's thinking those things in the moment. It was really cool!

I teared up multiple times reading this. It was so sad and powerful.

A lot of people in the GoodReads reviews were saying they didn't like that it didn't focus enough on the mental health aspect. It did focus a lot on the mystery, but I thought it did a great job on the mental health aspect. It was subtle, but we got to see ways that she was having a kind of "Stockholm Syndrome" even after she was free. In captivity she would earn star points for doing chores. She would be able to get a treat or reward for cashing in the star points. Even once free she would still use the star point system to reward herself, even though there was no one holding her back from doing those things. She had attachments to things that were in her cell, like tissues and a table. It was so twisted and sad to read, but I thought it was a really realistic way of telling the story. She's not going to get over it immediately, it's going to take time.

One negative I have, is I felt like I still had so many unanswered questions after finishing the book. See below discussion for elaboration on that. But sometimes it's better to end with unanswered questions though instead of overexplaining every point.

SPOILERS

Mason was so cute! I loved him (when he was her friend, not as the kidnapper). I saw it coming really early on that he was the kidnapper. But I loved their friendship and how he was there for her as a friend, since she had no one to talk to. Yes, he is the guy that stole her, but his moments where he was acting as her friend, made me love him for making her feel less alone. A lot of people don't like it when stories do this, where they make us sympathize with the bad guy. But I think it makes it more complex. Not all bad guys are one-note villains. They are conflicted just like everyone else and have their good moments, or their reasoning as to why they did such evil acts. I like it when stories do this kind of thing. I want to be confused as to my feelings towards the character. It makes it more complex and real to me.

I have so many unanswered questions. What was Mason's plan? Just kidnap her and earn her trust by being Mason? And then escape with her as Mason? Why did he do what he did? Why was he in her prom picture? Did she know him? I don't know, I just feel like we still don't know enough about him.

**END OF SPOILERS**

I would give this a rating of 7/10. Have you read this book? I'd love to discuss it with you down below!