Jane Eyre: Abridged for Young Readers

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.”

As a young orphan, Jane Eyre is thrown upon the mercy of an aunt and cousins who are anything but merciful, and when they send her away to an austere boarding school for charity cases, it seems she will never be allowed to forget her humble beginnings. However, Jane has a quiet inner strength and resourcefulness, and when she take on a role as governess at Thornfield Hall, she quickly gains both the affection and respect not only of her young pupil, but also the child's guardian, the fierce and brooding Mr Rochester.

Perhaps Jane has finally found the love for which she has always longed? But Mr Rochester has a dark secret. A secret that will rock Thornfield Hall to its very foundations…

With great skill, Lawrence helps readers fall for Jane’s determination and Rochester’s dark, brooding presence, and although the story is abridged, all the passion and drama of Brontë’s original remains. A triumph. -- Charlotte Eyre The Bookseller
Patrice Lawrence’s abridgement for eight-to-12-year-olds manages to do justice to Brontë’s heroine – and the so-called ‘troubling’ passages...if this highly readable version can whet their young appetites for the Victorian classics, then its purpose will have been well served. -- Emily Bearn The Daily Telegraph
One of the highlights of my reading year! I absolutely adored this retelling of Jane Eyre and would urge readers of all ages to buy it. I was initially a little skeptical about how such a classic could be rewritten whilst retaining the atmosphere of the original but oh my goodness Patrice Lawrence has nailed this. The way in which she cleverly explains aspects of Victorian living to young modern readers whilst maintaining the pace and tension of the story is perfect. The atmosphere of the cold, harsh settings created are as close to the original as they can be and many times I forgot that this was a retelling. Magnificent! NetGalley Reviewer
This wonderful abridged version is a perfect introduction to classics for younger readers and it is so accessible and understandable whilst skillfully keeping the main points from the original novel… The atmosphere of the original text is still visible in this shortened version… This abridged version of Jane Eyre will make a wonderful addition to any upper primary school library/classroom and be a great class read. Little Blog of Library Treasures
Patrice Lawrence’s retelling of Jane Eyre is beautifully crafted, resulting in an accessible page-turner which largely stays true to the original narrative, with adept handling of the more troubling aspects of Bronte’s novel... This version with its fresh, clean prose and a focus on plot will open up Jane Eyre’s world to the reluctant and struggling readers I work with, and it would also be ideal for EAL students. Highly recommended! NetGalley Reviewer

Patrice Lawrence worked in the charity sector for 20 years before becoming a full-time writer for both children and adults. She is best known for her gritty, hard-hitting novels for young adult readers, the first of which, Orangeboy, won the Waterstones Book Prize for Older Children and the YA Book Prize, was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award and nominated for the Carnegie Medal; her second, Indigo Donut, was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and won the the Crimefest YA Prize. In 2021 Patrice was awarded an MBE for Services to Literature in the Queen's Birthday Honours and won the Jhalak Prize's inaugural children's and young adult category for her book Eight Pieces of Silva. This is Patrice's first book for Walker.

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