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Book Review and Giveaway for A Most Clever Girl by Jasmine A. Stirling

March 22, 2021 by Rachel Dodge

In light of Women’s History Month, I’m pleased to share my review of a beautiful new book by Jasmine A. Stirling that is sure to delight the hearts of Jane Austen fans of all ages entitled A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Found Her Voice.

This exquisitely illustrated, full-color book traces Austen’s writing journey from her younger years at Steventon, to her “quiet” years in Bath after her father died, and finally to her years of astonishing creativity at Chawton. This is a book you’ll want to read for yourself, give as a gift, and display on your coffee table.

The writing by Jasmine A. Stirling and the illustrations by Vesper Stamper truly make this book a feast for the eyes and the heart. As a lifelong Austen fan, I found myself swept up in Stirling’s writing style. Her exploration of Austen’s talent, her heart, and her genius brought me new-found joy. This book vividly captures Austen’s experiences as a writer and shows us why her writing still endures today.

Jasmine and I connected on social media several months ago, and I was intrigued by her book because it is a fictional telling of what I and many others have noticed about Austen’s writing career: that she found her perfect time and place to write when she came to Chawton. (You can read my article on this topic here: New Beginnings at Chawton Cottage.)

Jasmine’s book explores the early foundations of Austen’s literary upbringing, the depth of character that Austen’s life experiences produced, and the intriguing set of circumstances that allowed Austen to discover her unique writer’s voice at Chawton.

I highly recommend A Most Clever Girl to any Austen fan of any age. I especially like the idea that I can give this book as a gift to my friends and family members who have younger children so that their children can be exposed to Jane Austen at an early age and be inspired to follow her example as a person and as a creative.

Please continue reading below for the book details, purchase links, and details for a lovely giveaway contest which includes a Jane Austen-themed picnic basket and a hardcover copy of A Most Clever Girl autographed by Jasmine A. Stirling!

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Found Her Voice
Written by Jasmine A. Stirling
Illustrated by Vesper Stamper
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Release date: March 30, 2021

Publisher’s Synopsis: Witty and mischievous Jane Austen grew up in a house overflowing with words. As a young girl, she delighted in making her family laugh with tales that poked fun at the popular novels of her time, stories that featured fragile ladies and ridiculous plots. Before long, Jane was writing her own stories-uproariously funny ones, using all the details of her life in a country village as inspiration.

In times of joy, Jane’s words burst from her pen. But after facing sorrow and loss, she wondered if she’d ever write again. Jane realized her writing would not be truly her own until she found her unique voice. She didn’t know it then, but that voice would go on to capture readers’ hearts and minds for generations to come.

PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon
Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmine A. Stirling is the debut author of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, a picture book biography of Jane Austen about persistence and creative mastery. Jasmine lives on a cheerful street in San Francisco with her husband, two daughters, and their dog. From a young age, she loved to write poems and stories and worked her way through nearly every children’s book (and quite a few for grownups, too) in her local library. When she’s not writing, Jasmine can be found hiking in the fog, singing songs from old musicals, and fiddling with her camera.

Jasmine A. Stirling, author of A Most Clever Girl

Jasmine first fell in love with Jane Austen as a student at Oxford, where she read her favorite of Jane’s six masterful novels, Persuasion. A Most Clever Girl is her dream project, done with her dream team—award-winning illustrator Vesper Stamper and Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing. Jasmine also has a YA/New Adult history of the women’s suffrage movement out soon, titled We Demand An Equal Voice.

Visit www.jasmineastirling.com to get a free Jane Austen paper doll kit with the purchase of A Most Clever Girl. While you’re there, enter to win a Regency tea party gift basket!

Follow Jasmine on Instagram and Facebook @jasmine.a.stirling.author where she posts about kidlit and life with two young girls.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Enter for a chance to win a glorious Jane Austen-themed picnic basket, including a hardcover copy of A Most Clever Girl autographed by Jasmine A. Stirling!

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

A picnic basket filled with:
- A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling
- A vintage teacup
- 1 oz of tea From Adagio Teas
- Truffles from Moonstruck Chocolates
- Gardenia hand cream
- A set of Jane Austen playing cards
- A $15 gift certificate to Jasmine A. Stirling’s Austenite Etsy Shop, Box Hill Goods

Two (2) winners receive:

A copy of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, signed by author Jasmine A. Stirling

The giveaway begins March 16, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT, and ends April 16, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE FOR A MOST CLEVER GIRL

March 16	The Children’s Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/	Book Review
March 17	Life is What It’s Called	www.lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com	Interview
March 18	Library Lady’s Kid Lit	https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/	Book Review & Guest Post
March 19	Austen Prose	https://austenprose.com/	Book Preview & Guest Post
March 20	A Dream Within A Dream	http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com	Book Review
March 21	Barbara Ann Mojica’s Blog	https://bamauthor.me	Book Review
March 22	Jane Austen’s World	https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/	Interview
March 23	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	https://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com	Book Review & Guest Post
March 24	icefairy’s Treasure Chest	http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/	Book Review
March 25	Heart to Heart	tynea-lewis.com	Book Review
March 26	Confessions of a Book Addict	http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com	Guest Post
March 27	Eccentric Eclectic Woman	http://finamoon.blogspot.com	Book Review
March 28	J.R.s Book Reviews	https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com/	Book Review
March 29	My Jane Austen Book Club	http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/	Interview
March 30	Jane Austen in Vermont	https://janeausteninvermont.blog/	Book Review & Guest Post
March 31	Some the Wiser	https://somethewiser.com	Book Review
April 1	Austenesque Reviews	www.AustenesqueReviews.com	Book Review
April 2	Absolutely Austen	https://absolutelyausten.com/	Book Review
April 3	Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen	brendascox.wordpress.com	Book Review
April 4	Fairview Elementary School (Library)	https://fveslibrary.blogspot.com/	Book Review
April 5	Comfy Chair Books	https://comfychairbooks.com/	Book Review
April 6	Reading Is My SuperPower	https://readingismysuperpower.org	Book Review
April 7	ShootingStarsMag	www.shootingstarsmag.net	A Beyond the Book Activity
April 8	Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk	glassofwineglassofmilk.blogspot.com	Book Review
April 9	Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb	http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/	Interview
April 10	The Fictional Cafe	https://www.fictionalcafe.com/	Review + Interview
April 11	Ingenious Baby	https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNfesiHAPnqc4STgBn-Ljw	Interview
April 12	The Children’s Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/	Guest Post
April 13	Tucked In Tuesday	https://www.instagram.com/tutoringyoutoexcellence/	Instagram Live: Tucked in Tuesday

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog and Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine. She is the bestselling author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-By-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

Posted in Bath, Biography, Book review, Chawton Cottage, Jane Austen's life, Regency Women | 22 Comments

22 Responses

on March 22, 2021 at 09:38 Susan M Heim

I’d love to win this giveaway because I’m a huge Jane Austen fan. I even have a son named Austen!
- on March 22, 2021 at 17:59 Rachel Dodge
  
  That is the best name for a boy! Wish I had thought of that!
on March 22, 2021 at 10:55 Wailand1!

I can’t wait to get my copy of A Most Clever Girl! As a lifelong Austen fan and Regency addict, this one will be my special gift to me!
- on March 22, 2021 at 17:59 Rachel Dodge
  
  Same here!
on March 22, 2021 at 11:49 Brenda S Cox

I agree this is a lovely book! I’ll be reviewing it April 3. I highly recommend it.
on March 22, 2021 at 12:15 Vic

My young nieces (7 & 8) would love a copy of this book. Being a shameless co-author of this blog, I’m throwing my bonnet in the ring for a chance at the prize!!
on March 22, 2021 at 14:36 Jamie F.

I would love to win this because I have loved Jane Austen for a long time and have gotten my daughter into her stories. I would share this with her, and the book I would love to share with my younger nieces to introduce them to Jane Austen. My daughter and I also love vintage things and tea! This is a perfect gift to share with many in the family…
- on March 22, 2021 at 18:00 Rachel Dodge
  
  I wish you luck in the giveaway!
on March 22, 2021 at 14:48 Susan K.

I love to read about Jane Austen and I’m a teatime lover!
- on March 22, 2021 at 18:00 Rachel Dodge
  
  Me too! It’s such a lovely basket of goodies.
on March 22, 2021 at 18:16 dholcomb1

Sounds like a delightful book I would love to win.

denise
on March 22, 2021 at 18:42 jasminestirling

I’m delighted to read Rachel’s review and see all the lovely comments here! Hi everyone, please feel free to reach out to me directly on Instagram if you want to chat about Austen or anything else. : )
on March 22, 2021 at 19:14 Lila Diller

I am a huge Jane Austen fan! I’m an avid reader, but Jane Austen is my favorite author! Pride & Prejudice is my favorite, but Persuasion is my second.
on March 22, 2021 at 20:40 caroleincanada

Lovely review and I liked how the illustrations were included.I have slowly been buying illustrated children’s books on Jane Austen and her novels…I even bought one in French that I had my husband read to me! There is something about the illustrations that accompany each story that helps to bring it to life, not only for children, but for adults as well. I would love to add this to my collection and to read to my grandchildren!
on March 23, 2021 at 06:37 generalgtony

I am probably not eligible for this giveaway, living in Britain.
The test of a good children’s book is if children actually engage with it. Leave it in a classroom library corner in any school and see if it is read. Also, if teachers use it to discuss and explore an aspect of children’s own experiences ,that is a good sign. I used some of the best children’s books to inspire children to write themselves. I hope the author has good luck with her book.
on March 23, 2021 at 11:51 Mindy Moyer

This sounds like such an awesome book!
I would love to learn more about the real Jane Austen!
on March 23, 2021 at 18:23 ilikeoldbooks

How lovely. I am a huge Jane Austen fan, and I have a young child who would love this book too.
on March 23, 2021 at 19:47 Elisama Lucena

Oh how lovely this book seems to be. 💗
As a Jane Austen fan, I would love to have it (all the prize as well!) 🌻
on March 23, 2021 at 19:47 Kara Masters

What a beautiful book! I’d love to peek inside the life of Jane Austen through the lens of this author & illustrator.
on March 24, 2021 at 02:10 Kimberly S

I would love to win this!! Jane Austen is one of my most favorite authors! Thank you for such a wonderful and thoughtful review…I want to read this book even more now!!
on March 24, 2021 at 09:56 KimP

This looks so lovely! Jane’s my favorite and I can’t to read this with my girls. 😊
on March 25, 2021 at 19:54 Darlene

This book looks delightful. I must get one for my granddaughter and one for me of course.

Comments are closed.

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