Ringo Award-winning middle grade graphic novel Jane American will be published by Mad Cave Studios kids’ imprint Papercutz later this year, and The Beat has all the details.
Written by Jason Douglas, illustrated by Annie Wright, and lettered by Dave Lentz, Jane American is a historical fiction tale about a young woman whose family and stability are torn apart by the realities of World War II, leaving her with an important choice.
Here’s the synopsis:
During the 1940s, Jane was living a life of family, stability, and hope…until she wasn’t! Until the war brought tragedy to her doorstep and changed her in unbelievable ways that are better left hidden. Yet the realities of the end of the war, dad is not coming home, and society has determined that mom can no longer be a Rosie The Riveter, have left Jane with a choice: stay safe, stay hidden, or… embrace who she truly is and what she can really do, for the sake of everyone that she loves!
Jane American balances emotional storytelling, historical authenticity, and adventure while exploring universal themes of identity, self-worth, gender, grief, and belonging through the lens of wartime America.
Check out interior and cover art from Jane American below.
Hardcover
Paperback
“At its core, Jane American is about the universal and relatable themes of identity, self-worth, you being you in a world that tells you something different, and the super-heroics of everyday people…and yet it is a deeply personal story to me,” said Douglas, who won the 2025 Ringo Award for Best New Talent.
“It is named after and inspired by my grandmother, who went through all of that more than 80 years ago. It is dedicated to all of the students who have passed through my classroom, still struggling with identity today. It is much more freshly dedicated to my late grandfather, who, at the age of 99, when he realized he would not see 100, made me promise that the book that contains the name and likeness of his high school sweetheart, my grandmother, would see print,” Douglas continued.
“Jane American is my very first graphic novel, and I’m very deeply connected to Jane’s story of bravery, reinvention, and vulnerability,” said Wright. “It’s a touching journey that offers a valuable perspective on a young girl growing up during a time of struggle and war. I feel that her relationship with such harsh realities can transcend time, allowing the readers of today to connect with her in a personal way.”
Jane American includes extensive educational material for readers and educators in grades 4-12. The book will hit shelves on September 1 in paperback and hardcover. Pre-orders are available now.
