Shelley Blanton-Stroud

Historical Fiction 2020 | 250 pages

Jane has a rough start in life, living impoverished in the Dust Bowl.  She and her parents ride the Okie Trail, Route 66, to Northern California, seeking a life where they may be able to stop living in tents and cardboard homes.  Their house held little, but it did provide protection for Jane's hope chest of books including self-penned notebooks filled with her detailed account of the family's migration to California in the 1930's. Always, she writes.

Jane felt she owed her Momma ... she was the first twin born: the second twin, Benjamin, was still-born. Benjamin became "a spirit, a stream of particles". Jane hadn't cleared the account she felt she owed, though she'd tried in a thousand ways.

One night, Jane's mother and father engage in oft-repeated domestic abuse.  Fists fly.  Momma, heavily pregnant, is knocked to the ground, and Jane hits Daddy with a crowbar.

Jane leaves her physically abusive Daddy and psychologically abusive Momma for San Francisco, and finds the apartment of two women she knows, who feel pity and take her in.  In order to earn her keep, Jane needs to find a job.  At 17, in the Depression, Jane knows she wants to be a copy boy.  She disguises herself as a boy, as she is six-feet tall and has a raspy voice but needs to bind her breasts and buy some wingtips!  This is the only way she can get such a job! And this is the story of her days as a copy boy.  She takes her brother's name and is now known as Benny Hopper.

An unfortunate photograph, unscrupulous photographers and writers, and a discovery that her Daddy is still alive, all add to her (temporary) demise as a copy boy.  Copy Boy by Shelley Blanton-Stroud is an excellent work of historical fiction taking place in Northern California during the Depression. It is a gem of a story about a strong young woman in history.  I enjoyed this historical mystery set during the Depression. I admired Jane’s strength and her commitment to what’s right. Overall, this was a quick and captivating historical read with some added suspense.  Blanton-Stroud’s debut novel is fabulous!  Starting with a gripping first chapter, we are suddenly hooked into Jane’s ruse as she builds her life. The story is well researched with rich detail of depression-era San Francisco and the life of journalist at that time. Quite a fascinating read!  I quite enjoyed it.

This is a fantastic debut ... another great first novel! I recommend it!  Copy Boy was written by a friend of a friend.  Thank you, Jo!

New Year's Eve 2023