Walking in the City with Jane, by Susan Hughes, illustrated by‎ Valérie Boivin

Jane Jacobs's book The Death and Life of Great American Cities is a must-read for urban planners, community developers, and people interested in their own cities and neighborhoods.  Still relevant more than 50 years after its publication, Jacobs's book criticizes the cavalier way urban planners stamped out neighborhoods in favor of freeways and high rises.  Susan Hughes's book Walking in the City with Jane introduces young readers to Jane Jacobs's insight and activism for her neighborhoods and her influence on urban planning.

Even as a child, Jane was curious and observant about how things work.  When she moved to New York, she watched the city and noticed things most people don't.  As she explored her new home, she realized that just like the natural ecosystem, "a city is also an ecosystem. . . . It is made of different parts--sidewalks, parks, stores, neighborhoods, City Hall . . . and people of course.  When they all work together, the city is healthy."  Watching the people in a city was like watching a "sidewalk ballet."

Her perspective is so refreshing.  Putting people ahead of cars--what a concept.  On multiple occasions she led her neighbors in successfully resisting plans to tear down neighborhoods for highways.  If only more neighborhoods had Jane Jacobs!  Take a drive around Detroit, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, or virtually any big city and you will see remnants of neighborhoods that were irreversibly damaged due to heavy-handed urban planning.  The highway interchanges and crumbling housing projects mutely testify to the social fabric that was shredded.  Jacobs's voice, when unheeded, was sorely missed.

Walking in the City with Jane is wonderfully, nostalgically illustrated by Valérie Boivin.  At worst, the book will introduce readers to a remarkable lady and help them be more aware of the city in which they live.  At best, it will inspire them to learn more about Jacobs and be a voice for putting people first in their communities.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!