Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night

I read this book when it first came out in the late '70's. I remember that I was affected by the situation that the baby, MaryJane was in. Caught in the middle of her parents divorce, and only wanting her parents attention. It moved me as a young adolescent. I also remember wanting to protect MaryJane from her mother as any big sister would. I couldn't understand as a child how a parent could hurt their child like that. I recently reobtained a copy, and reread the story. Only this time my maternal instincts kicked in and I became angry again at Rowena for not getting the help she needed and for hurting MaryJane. I just wanted to take that baby home and love her and make everything ok. The Story is very real for the time it was written and it holds up very well. It is a good beginner book for a young group of children just learning about child abuse. It's not as graphic as "A child called It".(which is a great book to call attention to the plight of child abuse in America-a must read). It drives the point home and has a dramatic plot twist. The characters are well written and likable. The book is Short and to the point, which in today's society is a selling point, when trying to get the kids to read. I recommend this book to parents and to children. Parents read this one with your kids, you'll both enjoy and learn. Be safe and take care.

This book took my heart away and made me feel as if i was in the position of the charectors. I would recomend this book to 11 and 12 year olds or at least a very mature 10 year old.

"Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night" is an excellent, descriptive, and unputdownable novel. Joanna Lee and T.S. Cook bring you into the world of an abusive mother of a three year old girl, who wants peace and quiet and ends up with too much of it.

I truely loved this book.Wehn I read it I felt as if i was that little girl and I felt her pain. The story is of this little girl and her parenst have recently seperated and her mom beats her.