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Looking for Jane is a gripping and emotional novel that explores the choices and struggles women faced with unwanted pregnancies during the period from 1960 to the time abortion was legalized in Canada. The story follows the lives of several women whose experiences highlight the challenges women faced during a time when reproductive rights were limited.
The author, Heather Marshall, takes readers on a journey through time, examining the experiences of various women whose lives were impacted by the laws, societal norms, and stigmas surrounding pregnancy and motherhood.
To read my book club questions for Looking for Jane, click here.
The story opens in 2017, with Angela, a gay woman who is managing her Aunt Jo’s antiques store. After Angela is fired from her job because of her pregnancy, she discovers a seven-year-old letter meant for the apartment upstairs.
The letter, sent by Frances to Nancy Mitchell, reveals that Nancy was adopted and encloses a note from Nancy’s birth mother. Angela starts looking for Nancy and eventually searches for Nancy’s birth mother, Margaret.
Evelyn’s story
In 1960, Evelyn’s fiancé died of a heart attack when she was already pregnant with their child. Her parents gave her no choice but to be whisked off to St. Agnes’ Home for Unwed Mothers, where she was disowned. When Evelyn’s daughter was born, she too was taken away to be adopted.
Evelyn secreted a note to the adoptive parents and a pair of yellow booties in Jane’s blanket, and Evelyn always mourned this loss and made unsuccessful efforts to find Jane.
Years later, Evelyn, now a doctor, gets involved in providing women with illegal abortions that are carried out in a medically safe and very private way. Nancy has helped a cousin get a “back alley” abortion, and she requires emergency room care due to bleeding. The male doctor is hostile and tells them that when Evelyn comes on for the next shift, she will likely call the police.
Instead, Evelyn tells Nancy that if she ever learns of anyone else needing an abortion, the woman should call any gynecology office and ask for Jane. Evelyn has joined the “Jane” network, a group that is based on a similar network that existed in Chicago before abortion was legalized via Roe v. Wade.
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Nancy’s story
Nancy is one of the main characters in Looking for Jane. She accompanies her cousin Clara to get a back alley abortion, and Clara almost dies in one of the scenes in this emotionally wrought, and well thought out novel.
The novel takes place in Canada but has never been more relevant than now in the United States, where after June 25, 2022, abortion has become illegal again when Roe v. Wade has been overturned in most states by the Supreme Court.
The novel features a fictional accounting of well-developed plotting and character development of what also is a disgrace to some young girls who had the state, the church, and their parents decide whether or not they could keep their babies.
These young mothers were stripped of their choices during the post-war years by putting those babies up for adoption by sending these women off to live in Maternity homes. They would be abused and underfed and, suffered by having to work doing chores in these homes, and they were shunned by society, and had no say in the matter of keeping their babies.
Themes
Looking for Jane explores a range of themes, including motherhood, bodily autonomy, and the lengths women will go to in order to become pregnant or end a pregnancy. Marshall’s writing is both compelling and entertaining, drawing readers into the past and present of the characters in a nonlinear fashion. However, the ending is a bit much, and spoilers cannot be shared without revealing it.
The book also touches on the horrific experiences young pregnant unmarried women faced in maternity homes during the post-war years, where they were abused, underfed, shunned by society, and had no say in the matter of keeping their babies. Marshall’s well-developed plot and character development make the indignities these women suffered feel very real and relatable.
One of the strengths of this novel is the way it explores the complex emotional terrain surrounding motherhood and pregnancy. Marshall is adept at capturing the hopes, fears, and anxieties that come with trying to conceive and raise a child, as well as the difficult decisions that women must make when facing an unwanted pregnancy. The novel does not shy away from portraying the challenges of motherhood, from the pain of miscarriage to the difficult choices faced by women who are not ready or able to become mothers.
Another theme that runs throughout the novel is the power of women supporting each other. We see this in the friendship between Nancy and Clara, as well as in the “Jane” network, where women come together to provide safe and compassionate care to those seeking abortions. The novel shows how women have historically been forced to rely on each other for support and survival, and how this solidarity can help to overcome even the most difficult challenges.
Writing style
Marshall’s writing style is emotive and engaging, and she manages to capture the characters’ voices and experiences in a powerful way. The nonlinear structure of the novel adds to the suspense and keeps readers engaged throughout. The story’s setting in Canada adds to its relevance, given the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in most states in the United States.
Marshall does an excellent job of weaving together the stories of these women from different time periods, showing how their experiences intersect and overlap in unexpected ways. We see how Evelyn’s decision to become involved in the “Jane” network has far-reaching consequences, and how her actions impact the lives of Nancy, Jane, and others.
The characters in the novel are vividly portrayed, with their stories capturing the essence of the historical period in which they lived. The author skillfully blends fact with fiction, creating a seamless narrative that educates and entertains.
Final thoughts
Looking for Jane is an insightful and poignant novel that highlights the struggles women have faced with unwanted pregnancies and the lengths they have gone to in order to assert their bodily autonomy. The novel is both entertaining and emotional, and Marshall’s writing style makes it a compelling read.
However, the ending may not be to everyone’s liking. Without giving away any spoilers, it can be said that the conclusion is surprising and unexpected, and may not be to everyone’s taste. However, it is a testament to Marshall’s skill as a writer that she is able to create such a memorable and thought-provoking ending that stays with the reader long after the book is finished.
Overall, Heather Marshall’s debut novel, “Looking for Jane,” is an impressive work of historical fiction that sheds light on the struggles of Canadian women’s reproductive rights. Marshall’s writing style is engaging and powerful, transporting the reader to the era of illegal abortions and the fight for reproductive rights.
The book is particularly timely, given that it was released during International Women’s Month, and its themes of maternal love, adoption, abortion, and the right to choose are as relevant today as they were during the period in which the novel is set.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction, stories about women’s experiences, and those interested in exploring the themes of motherhood and bodily autonomy.
I hope you enjoyed my book review for Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall! And as always, I wish you happy reading! ❤️