When it comes to bullying in schools, we’re failing. That’s the thought that crossed through my mind while reading Ruthie Davis’ book, The Secrets and Peculiar Adventures of Jillian Dangerous.
This is a very pessimistic viewpoint to have while reading middle grade fiction. Luckily, we have these stories to remind us that we’re not alone in our suffering. And while they’re at it, these stories throw in a fantasy element, such as time travel, to give our bullied heroes power over their worlds.
We might not be able to change people or the past in real life. But at least we can read about characters who can. Here’s my review of Ruthie Davis’ middle grade fantasy novel.
The Secrets and Peculiar Adventures of Jillian Dangerous plot summary
After her family moves to a new town, Jillian finds herself the victim of middle school bullying. The verbal and cyber abuse becomes intolerable. So, she is faced with the decision to change schools or try online home schooling.
The option inspires her to make a request of her own, to enroll in her adopted mother’s school in Vietnam. She has heard stories about this school her whole life, and it sounds like the perfect place for her. After much convincing, her parents decide to let her try it out.
There, Jillian meets three girls who immediately take her under their wing. She’s not settled for long, though, when Jillian and her new friends pass through a time warp. They end up in Vietnam in 1968. This just happens to be the time when her mother was a student there.
While stuck in the past, Jillian concocts a plan to warn her grandfather about an attack on his village later that year. He was never seen again after that day, and Jillian hopes to rewrite the past and save him. Living through one adventure after another as she maneuvers through this alternate timeline earns Jillian the nickname “Jillian Dangerous.”
The book’s strengths
This book sucked me in right away due to Jillian’s back story as a victim of bullying. The ruthlessness of her classmates mixed with her naïve persona really hit home for me. Also, Jillian’s adoption story and her mom’s family history made for an interesting back story to steer the plot into action.
The narration is fast-paced and energetic, which kept me reading on. When the time travel element kicked in, I was eager to see how the girls would adapt to this new time.
The major road blocks associated with time travel befall Jillian and her friends. They can’t let their classmates know what’s going on, and they don’t know how long they’ll be there. On top of that, Jillian is on a mission to change the future. But with her new friends for support, Jillian makes the most of her situation.
The book’s weaknesses
My biggest issue with this story was the dialogue. It was full of exposition, much of it not needed or full of information that would have been better served in the narration. The characters didn’t speak naturally as a result of this technique.
The story also moves at breakneck speed, covering a lot of ground in a small number of pages. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more of the girls discovering the differences between life in Vietnam in 1968 versus the life they came from in 2015.
There was also little interaction between Jillian and her mom and grandfather. I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship as Jillian gets to know her mom in a different time and the grandfather she never knew.
The story rarely slows down enough to check in with how Jillian is feeling about each and every event that occurs, some of them truly life-threatening. She takes things remarkably well for a sheltered girl who has never been away from home.
Her friends too, are a bit underdeveloped and play no major role in the story besides becoming the ideal group of friends that Jillian has craved and who validate her worthiness as a friend to them. In this way, the characterization was somewhat sacrificed for the pacing.
Since reading my copy, though, I’ve learned that the author has made improvements to the story. As a result, she has published an updated edition meant to tighten up the dialogue and further explore the characters. She even puts out a call for feedback in the final pages of the book and is open to constructive criticism.
My recommendation
Though Jillian is 12 years old, I would recommend this book to a younger audience of girl readers, closer to the 9-10 age range. Its education regarding bullying could help them before they reach their teen years, when it becomes super prevalent in school.
Jillian also has a bit of a younger mindset than today’s average 12-year-olds, which I attribute to her lack of previous friendships. I wouldn’t call this a weakness in Jillian or her story. Her immaturity is just part of her personality, and I feel like younger readers will better connect to her because of it.
I would also recommend this book to history buffs for its realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War from a child’s perspective. It’s a unique setting for a middle grade story, and that, mixed with the time travel aspect, adds a fantasy element that certain readers will enjoy.
Buy it!
You can purchase a copy of The Secrets and Peculiar Adventures of Jillian Dangerous here. And if you do, let me know what you think of the book in the comments below.
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You have shared a great review. It sounds really interesting. Thank you for sharing xx