Jane Austen Book Box Testimonials

JASNA has awarded Jane Austen Book Boxes to schools, libraries, and reading programs across the U.S. and Canada since 2022. Curious to see how past recipients incorporated the free books into their projects and programs? Here are a few testimonials to inspire you.

Teacher Angie Hudgens used the Book Box in the first women’s literature class at her high school in Terre Haute, IN.  “Austen is the reason I became a teacher, so I’m always recommending her to students and staff."

"I am happy to report that students have enjoyed the Jane Austen books from JASNA, and it has inspired them to pick up more of her books to read," said Melanie Keown, a high school teacher in Roblin, MB. "The student responses were mixed on their enjoyment of the more modern retellings. Some appreciated the modern stories and others enjoyed the original historical versions better."

“In our tiny rural town, none of the children I spoke with over the summer, except my own, had even heard of Jane Austen,” said Erin Begel of the Morristown Public Library in Morristown, NY.  “The very fact that so many of them took these books home and have been excited to read them is astounding. I have every confidence that we will be able to continue generating excited interest in Austen’s work and life.” 

“We were surprised that so many of the participants in our Reimagining Art project were boys,” said Mary Dumars of HARK, a summer reading program for ninth- and tenth-graders in Shreveport, La. “We focused on the bonding activities between Bingley and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, increased our snack budget, and got the boys to compare their lives to those characters from the 1800s. We loved being able to offer this programming.”

In Panama City, FL, students read either Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice and used their artistic skills to illustrate an aspect of the novel. Many enjoyed their assigned novel so much they opted to read the other book on their own as well. 

Student Drawing of Mr. Darcy	Student Map of Pride and Prejudice Locations

Community leader D. D. Bayless of the Bishop Blue Foundation used the Book Box for a summer camp with seventh- to tenth-grade girls in Marshall, Texas. “Our students explored Sense and Sensibility and were invited by the theater teacher at Louisiana State University to perform excerpts in their small-box rehearsal room,” Bayless said. “After that thrilling experience, the students decided to write their own version of Austen’s work with a Texas twist. A director (who is also an elementary schoolteacher) has agreed to help the students write [an] adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. This is an ongoing project for the [upcoming] school year.”

Character Scrapbook for Elinor Dashwood

Lisa Jaeger, an eighth-grade teacher in Jacksonville, FL, organized her students in literature circles, and each circle read one of the Awesomely Austen adaptations of Jane Austen’s major works. In their groups, students created a reading schedule, read aloud or independently during class circle time, completed literature logs to reflect on their reading between classes, discussed their findings, and worked on creative projects: either a character scrapbook or alphabet scheme, a full-size character silhouette, or a family directory.

“Reading Jane Austen is something many of these students would not have done until at least high school, were it not for this unit. Several students told me how much they ended up loving their novels,” said Jaeger. “I plan to place a curriculum request for copies of this series for future use.”

Teacher Elizabeth Rand's tenth-grade students in Mobile, AL, compared three versions of Pride and Prejudice—a graphic novel, a manga version, and Clare West’s abridgment. “Because we spent so much time looking at different versions of the novel, I assigned the students to propose their own ideal adaptation,” said Rands. One adaptation parodied reality shows as “The Real Housewives of Longbourn,” while another reversed the characters’ gender roles. Students also blended their new passion for Austen with the genres of fantasy and horror. One version mashed up Pride and Prejudice with Dungeons & Dragons. Another presented a Friday the 13th slasher scenario in which only Elizabeth survives.  “For our final reading quiz," noted Rand, "I asked the students to tell me why they believe Pride and Prejudice is a story that continues to be told again and again and why its appeal has remained so long lasting.” One student wrote, “The story creates relatable characters for everyone. Anyone can relate to Darcy’s awkwardness or Elizabeth’s feelings of independence.”

Julie Calhoun, a school librarian in Lander, WY, used her school’s box to form a book club of third-graders who read the Awesomely Austen simplified version of Emma. After finishing the book, she and her students celebrated with an afternoon tea. Everyone enjoyed the experience so much they continued by reading the Awesomely Austen Pride and Prejudice.

“This was an amazing opportunity to introduce these girls to Jane Austen and her writing,” Calhoun said, noting that the students “were intrigued by the characters and eager to read and discuss each week.” Hoping to offer the book club every year, she has also stocked the school’s library with all the Awesomely Austen editions and is pleased to note that “they have been checked out numerous times.”

Students from Gannett Peak Elementary read Awesomely Austen children's adaptations.