The Janna Mysteries facts for kids

The Janna Mysteries is an exciting series of books written by Felicity Pulman. It follows a brave girl named Janna (whose full name is Johanna) as she tries to find her father. She wants to understand what happened to her mother. The stories are set in England in the 1140s. This was a time of civil war, known as The Anarchy, between Empress Matilda and King Stephen of England.

There are six books in the series: Rosemary for Remembrance, Rue for Repentance, Lilies for Love, Willows for Weeping, Sage for Sanctuary, and Thyme for Trust. In 2015, the series was re-released for adult readers as "The Jenna Chronicles," with new titles for each book.

Book 1: Rosemary for Remembrance

Janna is learning to be a healer from her mother. She feels her mother isn't giving her enough important tasks. They also argue because Janna wants to know who her father is. Her mother agrees to tell her, but then she dies unexpectedly. Janna suspects someone poisoned her mother. She puts herself in danger trying to find out who did it.

Many people are suspects, including the midwife, the apothecary, the priest, and a man named Robert of Babestoche. Janna gets help from Godric, a villein (a type of farm worker) who likes her. She also gets help from Hugh, a handsome nobleman. Hugh likes Janna but needs to marry someone with land because he has none.

When Janna's home burns down, she has to run away. But she has already found some clues about her father. She sets off to find him and get answers about her mother's death.

Book 2: Rue for Repentance

After her house is burned by villagers who believed old tales, Janna is on the run. She dresses as a boy and meets Edwin, a person who is also on the run. They find work at a manor farm. Janna soon discovers that Hugh, the nobleman from the first book, manages this farm. He is the nephew of Dame Alice, who owns the property.

Things are not as they seem at the farm. Strange events start to happen, and a sprig of rue is found each time. Then, a child goes missing, and Janna promises to find him. Who can she trust? Edwin, who stole from her earlier? Godric, who seems to be against her? Or Hugh, who would benefit if the child was gone? Janna needs all her cleverness and common sense to solve the mystery. Time is running out for both her and the missing child!

Book 3: Lilies for Love

Janna is still running from Robert of Babestoche, a dangerous man who wants to keep his secret hidden. She finds safety at Wiltune Abbey. There, she desperately tries to learn how to read. She hopes reading will help her uncover the truth about her unknown father.

But first, more mysteries appear. Who is the new person asking questions about Janna? Who stabbed Lord Hugh at St Edith's fair? Was the knife meant for Janna? Or will Hugh's friendship with the beautiful Emma cause big problems for everyone? Who is damaging a valuable old book? And who is leaving lilies at the shrine of St Edith?

The civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda is at an important point. Janna even meets the empress when she visits the abbey. This meeting opens Janna's eyes to a whole new world and helps her discover more about who she is.

Book 4: Willows for Weeping

In Willows for Weeping, Janna leaves the abbey. She travels with a group of pilgrims heading to Amesbury. She hopes to learn more about her mother's past there. But a stolen holy item and a dead man with a secret message make the journey complicated. Especially when the leader of the pilgrims is found dead at Stonehenge.

A charming pilgrim catches Janna's attention. He hints that he knows something about her father. They travel together with a group of performers towards Winchester. When the missing message suddenly appears, things go wrong. Janna faces a tough choice between her feelings and her duty.

Book 5: Sage for Sanctuary

It's 1141, and England is still divided by the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. Janna's search for her father has brought her to the royal court in Winchester. Along the way, she has solved many crimes and mysteries. But the secrets of her own birth and her mother's death put her life in danger.

How can Janna choose between the two men who like her? Her money has been stolen, and she's lost all proof of who she really is. She is working hard in a tavern to support herself. When someone tries to harm the tavern, Janna needs to find out the truth. Instead, she finds herself fighting for her life against people who want to stop her forever.

Book 6: Thyme for Trust

Janna's quest to get answers about her mother's death is almost finished. But more challenges lie ahead. She starts to realize the danger she brings to her new family. Fearing for her life, Janna goes with her father to Oxford. Empress Matilda is under attack there by King Stephen.

Janna wants the freedom to act and follow her heart. This puts her at odds with her father, who is arranging her marriage to a powerful person chosen by the king. When the man she truly loves is accused of a serious crime, Janna has one last mystery to solve. Then, a big battle at Wiltune turns her life upside down and changes everything.