The Mary Jane novel by Jessica Anya Blau is a coming-of-age story placed in the year 1975. The protagonist is a 14-year-old girl named Mary Jane, who takes a summer job as a nanny for the Cone family. Her life is drastically different from the Cones, opening her eyes to a completely new perspective and lifestyle.
The novel beautifully illustrates her growth as she navigates through this challenging yet exciting summer.
The Cones Household
Mary Jane hails from a conservative family where her parents uphold the image of propriety. They’d have her believe that maintaining the image of the perfect home was paramount. However, the Cone’s household, which she starts caring for, introduces her to a world where emotional openness is preferred over regimented living. Her charges, the eccentric Cones, are intriguing, liberal, and live life on their terms.
Celebrity Encounter
The dynamics intensify when a rock star named Jimmy Bendinger and his TV star wife, Sheba also join the house for two months. Scheduled to overcome his drug addiction under the Cone family patriarch, a psychiatrist, their lives intertwine with Mary Jane’s. They are as emotionally open and frank as the Cones, discussing sex and drugs and thus broadening Mary Jane’s world-view.
Mary Jane’s Transformation
The plot explores the unfolding of Mary Jane’s talents as she cooks for the household during her stay, nourishing her love for singing and cooking. She contrasts the Cone and Jimmy’s colourful world with her parents’ strait-laced lifestyle. The story of the novel is as much about Mary Jane’s transformative summer as it is about Jimmy’s sobering journey.
Conflict and Resolution
- Mary Jane’s parents are appalled when they discover their daughter’s association with “drug addicts and TV stars.” They want to break her connection with the Cones.
- Resistant to her parents’ decision, Mary Jane continues her association with the Cones. Consequently, Jimmy composes a rock song about her, which becomes a hit.
- Eventually, her mother listens to the song and recognizes her daughter’s individuality. This leads to a gradual change in her perception of the Cones.
- By the story’s end, Mary Jane reconciles her conservative upbringing with the newfound liberal outlook. She appreciates her abilities and musters the courage to make decisions about her future.
Conclusion
The end of the Mary Jane novel takes readers through the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery amidst unexpected companions and circumstances. Mary Jane learns to traverse unfamiliar terrains, bonds with unconventional families, and gets introduced to fame and its complexities. Finally, she musters the courage to make her own choices, reconcile the different ideas she’s been exposed to, and craft her life story.
The end of the novel Mary Jane affirms the universal themes of self-discovery and finding courage amidst chaos.