The Rebellion of Jane Clarke: A Novel

Written by Sally Cabot Gunning

Narrated by Piper Goodeve

From the author of The Widow’s War and Bound comes a compelling new novel about a young woman’s struggle to decide where her loyalties lie—with family or wiht forbidden love; with roaylist tradition or upstart independence—on the eve of the Revolutionary War.

It’s 1769. The Winslow and Clarke families have been feuding over mill stream rights for generations, but Jane Clarke has managed to stay comfortably aloof, neither doubting her father’s claims nor getting overly involved. But when someone hacks the ears off Mr. Winslow’s horse, everyone in town believes that Mr. Clarke is the culprit, and Jane’s world view and trust in her father are turned upside down. So when Phineas Pain asks for her hand in marriage after securing her father’s blessing, Jane says no, and is sent to Boston as punishment to care for her spinster aunt.

But when Jane arrives in Boston the only thing she can think about is the conflict in her life—father vs. daughter, loyalist vs. rebel, Winslow vs. Clarke—that is now complicated further by her seemingly unbalanced aunt, the kind British soldiers and the local townspeople who taunt them, and her beloved brother who is fervently channeling his own frustrations into rebel activity.

As political tensions mount, Jane finds herself deeply embroiled in the impending war, and as a witness to the Boston Massacre, and she comes to question the seeming truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9780063036437

Sally Cabot Gunning

Sally Cabot Gunning lives in Brewster, Massachusetts, with her husband, Tom. A lifelong resident of New England, she is active in local historical organizations and creates tours that showcase the three-hundred-year history of her village. She is the author of three “Satucket novels” (The Widow’s War, Bound, and The Rebellion of Jane Clarke), as well as the historical novels Benjamin Franklin’s Bastard and Monticello.

Reviews for The Rebellion of Jane Clarke

[ankhet_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When she refuses to marry the man her father wants her to marry, Jane is exiled to Boston to care for her elderly and ailing Aunt Gill. There she is witness to the growing unrest and sometimes explosive encounters between the residents of Boston and the soldiers who have been sent to pacify them, during the winter of 1769-70 and the year that follows.I thought it was a good historical YA novel. I liked that Jane, whose experiences and thoughts we as readers follow, saw all sides (not just the Tory or Patriot sides) and made up her own mind on matters - and let us readers do the same.

[mlanzotti_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thoughtful and well written exploration of what it was like to live in America on the eve of the revolutionary war. Told from the point of view of a young woman who has herself rebelled against her father,Jane Clarke is a wholly believable character.

[julie10reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After she refuses to marry the suitor her father picked for her, Jane Clarke is sent to live with her aunt in Boston, where she witnesses the Boston Massacre, an incident that causes her to reevaluate the conflicts in her own life. Summary LibraryThing The third of Ms Gunning's Satucket novels--admired by Geraldine Brooks no less!--The Rebellion of Jane Clarke continues the unfolding of American history as mirrored by women's history. On the surface this can be read as a well-researched tale of American rebellion against British governance as seen through the eyes of a young, unmarried woman. The title points the reader to another rebellion: a daughter refuses to marry the man chosen by her father, a dangerous, foolhardy act in 18th century America. Jane is disowned and forced to leave the family home to care for an ailing aunt in Boston. I've made it seem like two stories but it's actually one. At the same time men fought for independence they refused it to their women. Ms Gunning is subtle and deft; I had to read all three novels before I realized what she was doing, so well does she chronicle early American history.The way the author writes in the mind of the time transports the reader to that town, that house, that person's life with all its particular concerns and chores and cuisine and customs. The novel's larger picture depicts the historical evolution of human rights.I've succeeded in making The Rebellion of Jane Clarke sound like a dull history lesson, something Ms Gunning successfully avoids! The pace of the novel reflects the time (which might be slow for some readers) and as the author properly "shows" rather than "tells", we walk each step with Jane Clarke as she moves towards independence.8 out of 10 Recommended to readers who prefer literary fiction and to fans of Colonial American history.

[vhartpowers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like Sally Gunning's writing style. She has a way of describing the area and making Satucket a likeable character.

While she was in Boston during the "bloody massacre" Gunning describes it in such a way that it brings the reader right along for a walk, seeing the little brats harass the soldier(s) and then....

I'd recommend the book. It's a quick, good read. But if you read this one, you need to read Bound and The Widow's War as well. =)

[exlibrisbitsy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This historical novel takes place on the eve of the American Revolution. Jane is a young woman who lives in a world that is more in flux than she realizes. Families are facing off against families, revolutionaries against loyalists and even father against daughter as Jane questions her father’s beliefs and actions and ultimately decides to not marry the man he has picked out for her.This results in her being sent to Boston to care for a sick aunt. While there she realizes things are not quite how they appear in the papers. The story unfolds as Jane rejects how other people tell her how she should think about and feel about the political climate at the time and determines that she will come to her own conclusions.Because Jane is not falling along party lines in a traditional manner it allows the reader to see things as they truly were in the Colonial era and that includes some of the hypocrisy and imperfect deeds on both sides of the coming war. A lot of the stereotypes and generalizations are discarded for true historical accuracy. The revolution was not perfect. Neither were our fore fathers. It's a little ridiculous to think that it all was perfect. This book embraces that and yet still gives a great deal of respect and weight to the reasons we went forward with the revolution anyway, warts and all. I appreciated this honesty.I also loved how the author wrote the book so that the story arc of this one young woman and her personal rebellion and search for truth in the midst of the much greater rebellion going on around her worked so well as an analogy to everything that was happening in the country at that time. Jane was a wonderful, strong character to read about and I was impressed by her determination and fortitude as she stood up for what she believed in throughout even when her number of supporters started to dwindle by the end.I did find it a little hard to get into the story at first, but by the half way point I was hooked and pulled right through to the end. Fans of historical novels will enjoy this book immensely.I received this book for free to review.

[elbakerone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like many other 8th grade students in the USA, I read Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes when I was twelve years old. It's the story of a young boy living during colonial times and it developed my interest in early US history and historical fiction set in that time period. Sally Gunning rekindled my love of this setting - taking an in depth and mature perspective on colonial life - with her new novel The Rebellion of Jane Clarke. Jane Clarke is a young woman from a small town whose father sends her to Boston to care for her feeble aunt. Thrust into the building conflicts between the rowdy Sons of Liberty and the hated British soldiers, Jane's eyes reveal the human aspects of both groups. Famous historical figures enter her life and she sees John Adams as a fair minded lawyer and family man, and Henry Knox to her is a bookshop clerk and potential suitor. The action in the novel leads to a climax in which Jane is a witness to the Boston Massacre, and the account told from a personal perspective takes on a much different flair that what history books typically describe. I really enjoyed The Rebellion of Jane Clarke. Sally Gunning took the events of the USA's history and added a human perspective - effectively bridging a two hundred and forty year gap to make distant occurrences interesting and relevant. At times, Jane came across as a little too modern for her time period, but I appreciated that she was a headstrong and engaging protagonist. Fans of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy a colonial American setting, will definitely want to read this book.

[fionaanne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Starts out really slow, picked up briefly, and then surprised me completely and got genuinely interesting. For the first three-quarters of the book, I was sure it barely merited 3 stars.

[brainella · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jane Clarke is a young woman with a mind of her own. Living outside Boston before the Revolutionary War, she sees and hears many things. She is devoted to her family, loves her home and is planning on getting married. Jane suddenly turns down the man she is to marry because she does not feel she knows him well-enough to marry him. This angers her father, who in-turn sends her to Boston to care for an elderly aunt.Boston is home to the Sons of Liberty and many a revolutionary. Jane meets Henry Knox, a bookseller, and becomes aware of the different loyalties those who inhabit Boston carry. Her brother Nate, an ardent revolutionary, tries distinctly to convince Jane of the righteousness of the cause. Jane wants to make the decision for herself. She sees British soldiers abused by people, and abuse people, but still she wants to know her own mind before following anyone. After the Boston Massacre and the beating of James Otis, Jane begins to support the Glorious Cause.Throughout her political journey, Jane also takes a personal journey; one that lets her grows and matures, no longer being a girl but a woman. She returns to her home outside Boston and resumes her life independent of her father and a beau but definitely more aware of whom she is and what she wants.I see this book as the coming-of-age of a woman set in a time when women had few rights. Jane wants to make her father happy with her actions, but realizes she is the one who needs to be happy with her own choices. She witness betrayal, happiness, love, horror and violence -- through it all, Jane does her best to do what she feels is right. The research and background of Boston prior to the Revolution is quite good. The characters are developed well, and the story follows the history timeline wonderfully. I enjoyed the personal observations of Jane as a character – how John Adams loved children, how Henry Knox befriended British soldiers though they disagreed politically – she saw the whole picture not just one side. That leads the reader to do the same. I enjoyed this book quite a lot, though I would have liked a different ending.

[dknoch_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Primarily set in pre-Revolution Boston, The Rebellion of Jane Clark does a fine job expressing the tension that existed at the time. Through the protagonist, a wilful young woman from a rural background thrust into the events of the day rather unwillingly, we observe the political and revolutionary furor that had gripped the city in the months leading to the Boston Massacre. Author Sally Gunning skillfully uses notable historical figures such as John Adams, Henry Knox, and James Otis to involve her protagonist in not only the town gossip, but the monumentous events themselves.While Boston's civil disobedience occupies much of Jane Clarke's thoughts, there are a couple of subplots woven throughout the story which work to humanize Jane as more than just a witness to events and reveals her to be a woman that would be considered quite progressive for her time. Romance, familial tension, sense of purpose - all affect Jane as much as the part she plays on the world stage.Sally Gunning's novel is an enjoyable read, with equal parts action, intrigue, and romance working together to create a work that will appeal to a wide-ranging audience.

[bardsfingertips · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was fooled by this book; deeply fooled. But I shan't say what the tomfoolery was nor shall I divulge as to how I came about as to becoming this book's tar & feathered fool. But, I will make the statement that I did enjoy being Sally Gunning's fool.This book is lovely, and if you allow me a few more extra words, I will tell you why.The Rebellion of Jane Clarke is is about the eponymous young woman who is coming of age to become married. The book's events take place in a small town called Satucket and the forthcoming establishment Boston, which both share the colony of Massachusetts. The time period is one I am unfamiliar with in literature: the pre-dawn of the American Revolutionary War. At this particular time period, soldiers from England begin to occupy Boston at the request of the king to keep a presence among the growing rebellion.So, that is the backdrop, but we also have this young woman by the name of Jane Clarke, who starts out in the novel as her father's favorite among her siblings. Her father is a bot of a swindler who has become wealthy within the small town and has also established as hot-headed enemy with the head of another wealthy family. A lawsuit brings about a man who works in Boston who the father feels is proper enough for Jane to marry, and thus demands she does as such. At this time, Jane has started questioning things...especially events that seem contrary to the opinion of he whom she loves: her father.Because of this questioning, because of the bubble of anxiety growing within her chest, because of her father's intentions as to why this man should be wed to Jane, she refuses the proposal. Of this action, Jane's father is humiliated and banishes her to live with an elderly aunt in Boston.In Boston, Jane becomes swept into the whirlwind that is the upcoming rebellion of the locals against the British. However, Jane, being a level-headed girl who does not give into the fancies of men embroiled by rage, simply observes and dictates back to her companions what is unfair – much to their aghast, of course.On and on it goes, until Jane is smack in the middle of a massacre in which soldiers fire upon a revolting crowd. I do not want to give away what happens, but let us just say that Jane remains level-headed.A very charming aspect about this book is that the author has written it as if it were a product of its time. She uses both language and slang to describe things that are actually rather unfamiliar to me. But, she has somehow made it a smooth read where the prose is both descriptive and poetic if not equally so.With that said, an immensely enjoyable read from a history buff such as Sally Gunning is encouraging me to go out and purchase her two other novels. Another thing, though there is fiction here, much of what happens within the book is true to history; and many famous people within our American history show up and adds weight. John Adams, for instance, plays a crucial part in both the plot and Jane's own growth.

[selkins_12 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A nuanced exploration of a young woman's encounters with the world around her, and her thought, feelings, and changing relationships with family, men courting her, and town and country folk -- the country being her home, and the town being Boston, 1770. Jane, the apple of her Loyalist father's eye, is sent away by him to Boston after rejecting his plans for her future. She's been doing some local medical care back home, and tends her aunt in Boston. But the town is in turmoil over taxation without representation and the Redcoat soldiers sent to "keep the peace" (also seen as "stifle dissent"). Jane's reflections about the people she meets and gets to know, and attempts to make sense of the incidents and violent events (and newspaper coverage and discussion of these events), reveal a great deal about her times -- her assumptions, her awakening realisations, those principles to which she holds. But the book doesn't feel like a history lecture or play; her story is immediate to the reader, and she feels like a whole, real person. The pregnancy-avoiding safety-calculations she runs in her head when left unchaperoned with suitors are at the same time realistic, amusing, and endearing. Her appreciation of the loving relationship between her grandmother and grandfather, and of other family members previously overshadowed by her father; her distress over the anger and hatred on both sides of the political conflict; and her attempts to figure out what to believe and to do; are moving. This book is probably going to feel a bit slow-moving to some, as time IS spent while Jane waits and wonders, tending her aunt, reading and analyzing literature (she's a book-lover), going about town, and otherwise engaging in day-to-day life. There is action and intrigue in the book, and readers may also be interested in her encounters with actual historical figures, but Jane is not a very confrontational person (despite her defiance of her father), which will make some readers unhappy. I will happily lend this book to people whom I think will appreciate it. But I will want it back, as I plan to re-read it.

[stefferoo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love historical fiction -- in fact, it is my second favorite genre behind fantasy. Even so, I could be quite particular about the kind of books I like to read. In historical fiction, for example, there are themes and specific time periods that I prefer.Admittedly, American history in the 1700s and the American Revolution wouldn't have been on the top of my list. That said, I didn't think I was going to get into this book, but it surprised me.The Rebellion of Jane Clarke begins with a conflict common in historical fiction: a young woman defies her father when she refuses the man he wishes her to marry. She is sent away from her idyllic home of Satucket on Cape Cod, to care for her ailing aunt in Boston. Once there, Jane experiences the tensions of the city firsthand. It is 1796, a precarious time -- the beginnings of the revolution can be felt in the air, as hostilities between the colonists and the king's soldiers continue to escalate.At first, the title made me think I knew where Jane stood, but I soon found out I was wrong. The political ideologies of the era are at the forefront of this novel, but I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that it was much more than that. The Rebellion of Jane Clarke read more like a coming-of-age story, a tale of seeking independence and of self-discovery.I enjoyed how the author handled the character development, mirroring the turmoil of the times to the protagonist's internal conflicts. While resentment ran between patriots and loyalists in the city, Jane struggles to come to terms with her own loyalties -- to her father, her brother, her family and friends...and most of all, to herself.Like I said before, I didn't think I was going to get into a novel set in this time period, but I did. I find that my favorite historical fiction novels are the ones that inspire me to read more into the background of the setting and of the real people involved after I finish reading, and this book was no exception. In this case, this book motivated me to do further reading into the lives of John Adams and Henry Knox (both play major roles in the novel) as well as the Boston Massacre and the trials that came after. The Rebellion of Jane Clarke reminded me of the reasons why I love the genre -- gaining new historical perspectives and broadening my horizons.

[amerigous · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was good, but the characters and their situations failed to touch me very deeply.

[brigitte64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke isn`t a book which is extemely exciting. It has no real ups and downs which makes it a little bland. But I loved the character Jane. Not like the women in J. Austen books who are full of mushy feelings and nothing really happens. Jane has feelings and uses her brain !-even when it`s agains the common thinking, says NO and takes the consequences, reads newspaper critically, talks in front of court what was really going on douring the Boston Massacre, and even lives in a house on her own. And this all 1776 ! This book gives a good impression what was going on in Boston during this time. A lot of things and people really existed but I doubt with a lot of women like J. Clarke. I enjoyed reading it.

[redwood5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found The Rebellion of Jane Clark to be a nice, light, and informative read. I cannot speak for the historical accuracy of this novel as it has been years since I last studied the American Revolutionary War, but I appreciated that the reader is allowed to form their own opinions of the conflict. When Jane first arrives in Boston, she is fairly naive concerning the rebellion breaking out around her, and I found it refreshing that Jane didn't hate the British and wasn't out gallivanting around Boston throwing tea into the harbor or some such (as I almost expected to see in a novel about the revolutionary war written by an American author). One thing that bothered me slightly was the feud between the Clarkes and the Winslows, which in the description on the back cover of the book is made to seem a central part of the story, but is hardly mentioned once Jane arrives in Boston. I suppose the feud is supposed to parallel the relations between the Americans and the British, but all in all I felt the book wouldn't have lacked anything without it.

[corglacier7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A nice, somewhat light historical novel, "The Rebellion of Jane Clarke" deals with the tumultuous period leading up to the American Revolution. Historical figures such as Henry Knox cross paths with strong-willed Jane as events unfold, and they're given a rich sense of life and personality beyond the dry facts of the roles they would soon play.The parallel between the Winslow/Clarke feud and the American War of Independence seems a little heavy-handed, and considering that little is heard of the grudge after the action moves to Boston and focuses more on the revolution, it feels a bit like an unresolved thread. It's as if "Jane Clarke" can't quite decide whether it wants to be a narrative of the more quieter, intimate details of ordinary colonial life, or story of the war and rebellion, and it somewhat shorts both in the matter which it was done.Still, given an engaging, intelligent heroine and a lack of authorial "guidance" in the narrative , letting Jane discover her own opinions and thoughts, it makes for an engaging read nonetheless.

[theflamingoreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

By contemporary standards Jane Clarke isn't really much of a rebel. Taken in context, however, her bold decisions to turn her back on her father and stand up to the anti-British townsfolk of Boston during the end of the 18th century enable her to rise above the typical 'cooking, cleaning, and having babies' Revolutionary-era woman. That's what makes her interesting and more of a heroine than merely a character in this book. She is educated in a time when women were treated as little more than unpaid help with no opinions or convictions that mattered. When the story begins Jane lives at home with her father, his third wife, and her brother and sisters. Her relationship with her father is complicated - she adores him and knows that, in spite of his inability to show it, that he loves her as well. When she defies his wish that she marry a man that she knows she does not really know or love, she is sent from her small village of Satucket to be a caretaker for her seemingly eccentric aunt in Boston. While in Boston she meets a man that she thinks she may want to marry, but the politics of the times and her desire to follow her morals prevent her from following her heart. Jane sees the injustices done to both the citizens of Boston and the British soldiers sent to keep the resistance at bay. Through it all she remains confident, resolute, and defiant and that's refreshing given that most of the ladies of this era are written as love-struck airheads or meddling spinsters.The book is chock full of real people - you will recognize the names of Sam Adams, John Adams, and, perhaps, Henry Knox, as well as the bona fide case of "Winslow v. Clarke qui tam" and the Boston Massacre conflict. The historical aspects of the novel ring true and provide an intriguing look at the birth of a new nation and how our forefathers fought in the streets (and not just the battlefields) for liberty, justice, and equality. Each character is much more than a caricature set against real history situations. This book may be considered as part of the YA genre, but with the caveat that there is just one 'bad' word and a gratuitous bed scene. As historical fiction, it is informative and genuine good read from start to finish. The twist near the end was unexpected, yet believable.Follow Jane's journey toward finding her place in her family and society and how even the smallest act of rebellion can make a big difference.

[unreachableshelf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A reasonably pleasant book that does a good job of portraying the confusion of the years before the American Revolution, with neither side innocent of violence or of provoking the other. However, Jane's distinguishing characteristics are limited to a tendency to be reflective, which leaves her a rather bland heroine. The book gets high points for its depictions of historical figures, especially that of John Adams, but ultimately it is nothing more than a nice passtime for a few hours.

[susiebookworm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought that this was a very historically accurate novel. I liked how it took place before the American Revolution began, instead of being about a particular battle like most historical novels set in the Revolution seem to be. It was also nice that the author incorporated literature into the novel, as the protagonist is introduced to some of the popular novels of the 18th century. While the book was fairly slow-paced, it was an enjoyable read that accurately depicted the political and social issues of the American Colonies shortly before the Revolution.

[rwilliab · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I probably would have given this four stars except for the following: the book has a distressing lack of closure when it really needed some (as opposed to certain books, movies, etc. that actually benefit from an open ending), and the main character never really came to a conclusion about her own feelings vis-a-vis the conflict between the American colonies and England.

That being said, the characters were mostly engaging and well drawn (other than Jane's suitor, Phinnie Paine, who's more an enigma than an actual person), and the dilemma Jane faces is a real one--how does she reconcile political rhetoric and philosophy with conflicting or contradictory events she witnesses? I find this especially relevant in our current political atmosphere, where too many people are casting the situations in black and white when they are really in varying shades of gray.

[froxgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Who knew? We have barely been taught anything about Crispus Attucks, a black man slain in the Boston Massacre, and now there's the hero Jane Whitehouse, herein known as Jane Clarke. Gunning is a genius at combining historical themes with modern sensibilities, and this is a suspenseful tale of the events leading up to the American Revolution. Jane is a native of Satucket (Brewster) on Cape Cod, the prized daughter of a mill owner who lives to please her father. And then, as a consequence of spurning a suitor her father favors for his potential role in his financial schemes, Jane is banished to Boston at the height of the redcoat occupation. Jane meets such towering colonials as Sam, Abigail, and John Adams, Henry Knox, and the tragic figure of James Otis, beaten so badly by British soldiers that he loses his mind. As she tries to find her place in the world without her family, Jane makes many difficult decisions and plays a critical role in the Boston Massacre trial. Such a stirring historical novel, with distinct feminist overtones.Quotes: "She made her way over the gunwale with the assistance of a few well-placed and misplaced hands.""Was this what gave her such an unfettered voice in that marriage? Perhaps part must come from a husband strong enough in himself to greet such life without attempting to beat it down, to silence it."

[jenzbaker · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jane Clarke saves herself from a bad marriage and her father sends her to Boston where she's expected to nurse and wait on her aunt. She is miserable and ends up with Grandparents who have the best kind of marriage and the right politics. Good atmosphere of unease in the city (Boston Tea Party), good portrait of a woman with brains and what it was like for women at that time. No one is either all good nor fully bad.

[satansparakeet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At the beginning of this book I was afraid for a few pages that I had picked up a sappy historical romance. It did not take me long to figure out that this was a much more complex story than that and the romance bits would be playing a fairly minor role. In fact, if you're looking for a romance you're likely to be disappointed by this novel. The ending is much less nicely tied up than those sorts of books tend to be.The book does present a believably accurate picture of the life of a young woman in America during the period that preceded the Revolutionary War. She is simultaneously conflicted about her choices for a husband and about which side to take in the upcoming rebellion. The novel walks us through her life as she seeks to come to terms with both of those situations. Overall, this is a very engaging and thought provoking novel that works on many levels.

[bonpetitepoodle · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke started out well but flickered out in the second chapter. What history was there was accurate but you could not get close to Jane's inner turmoil. A good book for time killing, but not a seat gripper.

[misfit_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book begins in 1769 as the Winslows and Clarkes battle over water rights and a horse – was it Jane’s father who whacked off the ears of the Winslow horse? Jane defies her father and despite the heated political sentiments decides to ship her off to tend to Aunt Gill in Boston. Jane settles in and cares for her elderly aunt, but her world is soon torn asunder when she witnesses British troops shoot down five civilians (the Boston massacre), inflaming the rest of the town to a heated frenzy. Jane’s brother was shot, but he survived and the two have different recollections of what really happened.Will Jane’s relationship with her brother survive their disparate testimony at the subsequent trials? Will Jane find more than she bargained for living with Aunt Gill? Will she marry the man her father choses or find love with another in Boston?I’m not sure if it was me or my current mood (life was a bit odd the last week or so), but I never warmed to Jane nor cared much what happened to her or anyone else for that matter. I really had a hard time keeping track of some of the lesser characters, as well as events as related by the author. Perhaps I’m a bit dense but I couldn’t always tell exactly what was going on – the writing was too obtuse for my tastes – and in the end the author just did not suck me into her world. A shame the massacre and ensuing aftermath should make for gripping reading, but it just didn’t work for this reader. A good book, just not a great one.

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sally Gunning is a new-to-me author, but one I quickly became a fan of. She's got a talent for making her story, full of rich, historical detail, complex characters and mystery, come to life. Each of her characters spoke volumes amongst the pages and held my attention until the end of the story.Jane Clark. She is an absolutely fiercely independent woman. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I would like her story, but the more I read, the more I liked her. Refusing to marry the man her father had chosen for her, she is forced to move to Boston and live with her aunt. Once there, her life greatly changes when she befriends the British, and jeopardizes her brother life, who works for John Adams. All this happens right before the Boston Massacre.When the Boston Massacre occurs, Jane rethinks her life. She's unsure of herself and her place in society, and wants to find her place. Questions arise and twists and turns accompany Jane's thoughts on finding her true self. She is young, and confused, and through finding the answers she'll find her way.This is a novel that is stunningly full of rich historical stateside detail, unforgettable characters, and a time period that changed the world. While this was a superbly fast 4 star read, it was not always a "light" read. if you love history-filled stories that ring true, then I highly recommend the talented Sally Gunning's The Rebellion of Jane Clark. Like me, you're sure to become a full part of the story, and before you know it, you'll be on the last page and ready for more of her novels!

[mdlady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable read. Events leading up to the Boston Massacre as seen by Jane, a young woman with her own thoughts and feelings, regardless of what her father wants.

[lyzadanger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 In this quiet and personal historical coming of age tale, Sally Gunning shows us New England on the brink of revolution through the eyes of a young and slightly rebellious woman. Protagonist Jane Clarke's domestic issues of justice and truth mirror those making a loud entrance onto the international stage. Jane, a teenager bred of the bubbling-brook, sea-breeze, sedge-and-sand Massachusetts village of Sawtucket, has a sudden epiphany that her approved betrothed, Phinnie Paine, is not her soulmate. Rejecting his offer of marriage sends Jane's father into a sputtering rage--Jane is dispatched to mind a crotchety and elderly aunt in Boston, and endures this and the silent treatment from Dad as punishment for her eponymous Rebellion.Once in the Big City, Jane has all sorts of learning moments and daily encounters with an increasingly incredible number of Real-Life Patriots (John Adams, Henry Knox, et cetera), and unsurprisingly stumbles into witnessing the Boston Massacre. Granted, the Boston population in the early 1770s was not immense, making such coincidences possible if not plausible. Though the shocking double-cross Jane suffers about two-thirds through the story is a bit hard to swallow, and Jane's placid femininity borders on the milquetoast at times, there is something to be nice to be had in the details: the informal realities of coupling and marriage; the specifics of domestic routine; the brow-beating and seemingly unlovable father figure. The book feels as if it is told in a hushed tone, and we never exactly see Jane's face in full. Instead, we see her sidelit profile as she is dazzled by the immensity of the impending American Revolution.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This past year I've read a few historical books dealing with early American history. I've read some good ones and some.. not so good ones and I was hopeful that The Rebellion of Jane Clarke would fall into the former category. While this story wasn't necessarily all that bad, it was lacking in something, but it's hard to pin down exactly what it is. I was going to originally say it was lacking in passion, but that's not really it. It was just that.. I didn't care about Jane. I found her to be one of those annoying women that just couldn't pick a side, couldn't decide what she wanted, and just flip-flopped all the time between what daddy wanted and what suitor she should have.What I did appreciate about the story was how the perspective was different than what I've read and seen about the Boston Massacre. It was interesting seeing it from another point of view, seeing how the British Redcoats could have very well been treated - but still the story didn't have enough life of its own to keep me interested for long periods at a time.So overall, I'd say it wasn't a read I regret, but one that lacked the story that the potential was there for.

[joles_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If you enjoy Jane Austen books you will enjoy the writing of this novel. While I found the first half of the book on the droll side, I highly enjoyed the second half of the book. There wasn't quite enough dialogue in the beginning for my taste. Personally, I would rather read The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins. It gives the same idea, although not set in Massachusetts. By the end I was dying to know what happened to the characters, but I felt some of the decisions made were rash and out of character for a number of reasons. It seemed like the author felt the need to just end the book and threw some things together that didn't make perfect sense for characters to be doing. Not a bad book, but I wouldn't reread it.