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Calamity Jane and the stories surrounding her are famous, but this graphic novel for young readers 8 and up is here to tell the story of Martha Jane Canary--the real-life survivor, orphan, and storyteller behind the legend.
In 1901, the Pan-American Exposition World's Fair was held in Buffalo, New York. Amongst spectacles like advancements in electricity and new inventions like the X-ray machine is a woman with a story--but not the one you've heard. Calamity Jane's life is shrouded in exaggerations and lies told to sell a more marketable version of reality, but cartoonist Noah Van Sciver is here to tell the truth: Martha Jane Cannary struggled throughout her life, from her childhood as a destitute orphan to her bitter adulthood as she watched the West she loved disappear before her eyes.
Gr 5 Up--This aims to reveal the woman behind the famous Wild West legend of Calamity Jane, Martha Jane Canary, by highlighting the impact of storytelling on her life. The book skillfully interweaves Calamity Jane's own exaggerated tales of adventure as a Pony Express rider or a scout for General Custer with glimpses into her struggling childhood as a destitute orphan and early life experiences as a bullwhacker. Van Sciver's artwork, drawn in India ink and colored digitally, is well illustrated and brings the narrative to life visually, reflecting the "comics even teachers can love" approach of TOON Graphics. However, while attempting to debunk the legend and present the harsher truth, the graphic novel shifts its focus. Extensive detailing of political history, rather than solely focusing on Jane's biography, means that Calamity Jane's individual historical journey can sometimes feel overshadowed by the larger sociopolitical narrative in this short book. Dr. Susana Geliga's postscript delves deeply into broader political issues and historical context, such as the illegal encroachment on Lakota Sioux lands in the Black Hills and the violation of the 1868 Fort Laramie treaty. VERDICT While well illustrated, the graphic novel struggles with narrative balance, often diverting from Calamity Jane's personal history to focus on the political issues of the historical period, making this ultimately not a great biography of the person; nor a needed addition to the library.--Richard Winters
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Photographs add authenticity to the lore, while Jane’s unreliability as a narrator and figure is brought into question and deliciously muddies the truth. Engaging and eye-opening
Van Sciver's full-color, expressive artwork folds in plenty of period detail, from clothing to gun use to routine smoking and drinking. This smooth introduction to one component of the U.S. government's betrayal of Native Americans will also remind readers that a myth's entertainment value is by no means an indication of its validity.