My Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane and Frank Butler, under the calm guidance of their adoptive father, Wild Bill Hickok, are more than performers in the Wild Bill’s Wild West Show. They are on a secret mission, charged by the U.S. government to hunt werewolves, or “garou,” as they are called. In particular, they are on the hunt for the “Alpha,” a particularly vicious garou intent on biting as many people as possible. Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter in her own right, is determined to join the show and quickly inserts herself, making the duo a trio. When Jane is bitten by a garou, she heads to Deadwood to search for a rumored cure, but instead finds the Alpha. Along the way, each character reveals secrets about themselves that fit seamlessly, regardless of whether or not they are true.
Told in alternating chapters, with occasional (and delightful) intrusions from the author narrators, My Calamity Jane makes no bones about taking liberties with the real lives of the historical characters. But honestly, who cares? The changes give the three main characters more hopeful trajectories than their real-life histories, particularly true for Jane, and Annie is given opportunities to examine her own preconceived notions and intolerance. Set in 1876, the times are depicted accurately, including the abundance of guns, the lack of laws regulating drinking age, and the U.S. government’s shameful treatment of Native people. The critiques of these topics are dealt with by the established authorial intrusion with deserved respect. The budding romance between Frank and Annie is endearing, and the queer romance given to Jane is sweet and swoon-worthy. Written for readers ages 13 and up, this is a delightful, rollicking, and, sometimes, a laugh-out-loud read. This reader had a smile on her face from cover to cover.
