My one hundred adventures
by Polly Horvath

Jane is a twelve year old girl and she is ready for adventures; to move beyond the world of her siblings and single mother and their house by the sea. Over the summer, adventures seem to find Jane, whether it’s an exciting ride in a hot-air balloon, the appearances of possible fathers, or a unique new friendship with a preacher and psychic wannabe. Horvath creates a small town which holds a slew of characters that you can find anywhere; the weird preacher, the old man who doesn’t seem to do anything, the family with tons of kids and bad parents. Jane is any typical 12 year old girl. She is starting to see the world through adult eyes. Sometimes Jane’s duped, sometimes she’s played; but if hope fades, it returns and adventure still beckons. Horvath is able to capture a child’s inner voice and logic as she grows up. Jane’s discovery of what lies at the heart of all great adventures is that not what happens to you that matters, but what you learn about yourself.