Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strength of character triumphs in Bronte's masterpiece.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 38 kid reviews
Kids say that this book is a complex and emotional narrative featuring a strong, independent protagonist, often praising its romantic and gothic elements, though some find its pacing slow and certain themes troubling, especially regarding age gaps and dark subject matter. While many readers appreciate its timeless insights into social expectations and personal morality, others express frustration over its length and the challenging vintage language.
- complex themes
- strong protagonist
- slow pacing
- romantic elements
- gothic style
- challenging language
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When the novel begins, Jane Eyre is a 9-year-old orphan who is dependent on a heartless, widowed aunt, Mrs. Reed. Resentful of her late husband's affection for Jane, Mrs. Reed neglects her niece, then sends her to a \"charity school,\" Lowood, where students are raised on strict rules and a poor diet, ostensibly in preparation for a harsh life. In spite of these obstacles, Jane succeeds as a student and then as a teacher, and after nine years, leaves Lowood to serve as governess to Adele, the young ward of Edward Rochester, master of mysterious Thornfield Hall. At 18, Jane gets engaged to the stern and aloof Rochester, and on their wedding day, Jane learns his secret, which leads to her becoming an independent woman.
Is It Any Good?
Charlotte Bronte's classic romantic novel is simply one of the greatest works of English fiction. Jane's independence, fortitude, and intelligence render her one of literature's strongest female characters, and the passionate love between Jane and Rochester is a romance for the ages. Bronte's development of that relationship, set against the mysteries within Thornfield Hall, is peerless.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the moral struggle that Jane faces when she learns Rochester's secret. Why does Jane feel she must leave Thornfield Hall?
Jane Eyre is as an unconventional heroine, a young woman ahead of her time. What makes Jane different from other female main characters in novels of Bronte's era -- from Jane Austen's women, for example? What makes Jane seem old-fashioned, and what makes her timeless?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper Press
- Publication date : October 16, 1900
- Number of pages : 490
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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