On Sale: 01/16/2024
ISBN: 9780062986269
385 Pages, Ages 14-18
A YA reimagining of Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel that asks: what if the real villain of Jane Eyre was actually Mr. Rochester? In this queer romance, Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason—Mr. Rochester’s wife, whom he’s imprisoned within the house for years—must save each other from the horrifying machinations of Mr. Rochester.
Escaping Mr. Rochester
'In the immersive world of McKinney’s Thornfield Hall, Jane and Bertha are thoroughly vivid and compelling. A deeply satisfying companion and a highly accessible entry point for a contemporary audience [...] L. L. McKinney breathes new life into a well-worn tale, and the novel's originality shines brightly, yielding surprises for those familiar with Brontë’s version or not.' — Booklist (starred review)
'Thrilling, compulsively readable novel.' — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
'A sinister gothic romance revamped.' — Kirkus Reviews
'A swoonworthy sapphic-tinged YA romance highlighting the beauty of women working together.' — School Library Journal
'Shared narration between Jane and Bertha separates this from its inspiration, allowing Bertha to be a richly developed character, and her growing romantic relationship with Jane provides a lovely ray of light in an otherwise (appropriately) dark story. McKinney successfully deploys Gothic tropes to make Thornfield Hall utterly menacing while maximizing the tension of its oppressive atmosphere.' — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books