2020 EDIT: Just as fun as I remember reading it as a child. 'Jane Blonde' is about spy girl power, and it's British! I relate to mousy, clumsy and friendless Janey Brown quite a lot, from when I was in school. What a glorious taste of wish fulfilment to find out that there is indeed something special and awesome about this girl: a spy and a superhero!
It's a shame that Uncle James, Janey's maternal uncle, who plays a big role in the first book, is never mentioned again in the sequels. It's like the author forgot about him. Yet another character gets named after him in a much later instalment; even then it's like he never existed.
Read my original review for more thoughts on the 'Jane Blonde' children's book series. Nothing much has changed there. They come recommended for a good, silly, funny, cartoony girl power romp. It really should be made into an animated series.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
A fun children's book about a sort-of-parody female James Bond (with superhero genre elements often getting confused in the spy genre). It's packed full of funny and memorable characters (like the rapping godmother), creative gadgets, and genuinely exciting action sequences. Really, why hasn't this been made into a cartoon series yet?
It's pink and somewhat girly, but it has Janey Brown, a shy protagonist who grows stronger in the course of her story and mission. She can kick arse as Jane Blonde, but inwardly she has anxieties. She questions what it really means to be a spylet: she has to keep huge secrets from her mum (a former spy who's been "brain-wiped" and forgot everything), she curses herself for not picking up on clues earlier, and she thinks about the possibility that she might end up killing someone one day.
That's a lot of pressure to put on a twelve-year-old girl, even one who's apparently "born" to be a spy. This book may not be as light or simple as it appears; it's kind of disturbing, now that I think about it.
Though overall 'Jane Blonde: Sensational Spylet' is silly and over-the-top, and contains the almost-obligatory obvious villain. However, it also contains high stakes, twists that aren't so obvious, and drama involving middle school bullying and family life. However the story presents a lighter version of these themes, since it is still for kids.
The 'Jane Blone' books are likeable and cute: even though it has been years and years since I've read books 1-5, I remember them quite fondly for their girl power vibe. A guilty pleasure? Maybe.
It even has a spy kitty!
Final Score: 4/5
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