Calamity Before Jane

Gr 5 Up–This aims to reveal the woman behind the famous Wild West legend of Calamity Jane, Martha Jane Canary, by highlighting the impact of storytelling on her life. The book skillfully interweaves Calamity Jane’s own exaggerated tales of adventure as a Pony Express rider or a scout for General Custer with glimpses into her struggling childhood as a destitute orphan and early life experiences as a bullwhacker. Van Sciver’s artwork, drawn in India ink and colored digitally, is well illustrated and brings the narrative to life visually, reflecting the “comics even teachers can love” approach of TOON Graphics. However, while attempting to debunk the legend and present the harsher truth, the graphic novel shifts its focus. Extensive detailing of political history, rather than solely focusing on Jane’s biography, means that Calamity Jane’s individual historical journey can sometimes feel overshadowed by the larger sociopolitical narrative in this short book. Dr. Susana Geliga’s postscript delves deeply into broader political issues and historical context, such as the illegal encroachment on Lakota Sioux lands in the Black Hills and the violation of the 1868 Fort Laramie treaty.