Five Children and It · Character

Jane

The younger sister, whose anxious honesty and quick tears make her both the family's conscience and its easiest target for teasing.

major

Also known as truthful Jane, the hopeful Jane

First appearance: Five Children and It

As a major figure in Five Children and It, Jane is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

One of the five children, truthful Jane, who is part of the wish-making.

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Jane is the child who sniffs when the grown-ups press, and who blurts out the truth about the Fairy when her mother demands it. She is loyal and literal, more likely to be frightened than to scheme, and her siblings…

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Character Web

24 connections

A slice of how Jane sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Core family and household
Protagonist

+19 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because Cyril’s secret, early-morning negotiation with the Psammead repres…

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Relationships

Robert
family · positive
Jane and Robert are siblings, with Jane often being more cautious while Robert is… How this plays out →
Cyril
family · positive
Anthea
family · positive
The Lamb
family · positive
Robert
family · positive
Jane and Robert are siblings, with Jane often being more cautious while Robert is… How this plays out →
The Lamb
family · positive
Anthea
family · positive
Robert
family · positive
Jane and Robert are siblings, with Jane often being more cautious while Robert is… How this plays out →
Cyril
family · positive
Cyril
family · positive
Anthea
family · positive
The Lamb
family · positive

Robert
Jane and Robert are siblings, with Jane often being more cautious while Robert is adventurous.
Cyril
Cyril and Jane are brother and sister, with Cyril sometimes teasing Jane but ultimately protective.
Anthea
Anthea and Jane are sisters, sharing a supportive and affectionate relationship.
The Lamb
Jane is the older sister to The Lamb, often gentle and protective toward the baby.
Robert
Jane and Robert are siblings, with Jane often being more cautious while Robert is adventurous.
The Lamb
Jane is the older sister to The Lamb, often gentle and protective toward the baby.
Anthea
Anthea and Jane are sisters, sharing a supportive and affectionate relationship.
Robert
Jane and Robert are siblings, with Jane often being more cautious while Robert is adventurous.
Cyril
Cyril and Jane are brother and sister, with Cyril sometimes teasing Jane but ultimately protective.
Cyril
Cyril and Jane are brother and sister, with Cyril sometimes teasing Jane but ultimately protective.
Anthea
Anthea and Jane are sisters, sharing a supportive and affectionate relationship.
The Lamb
Jane is the older sister to The Lamb, often gentle and protective toward the baby.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Jane appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Five Children and It
One of the five children, truthful Jane, who is part of the wish-making.
Beautiful as the Day
Agrees to the wish; is mistaken for a stranger after the transformation.
Golden Guineas
Hides some gold in a hedge; experiences the weight of the coins as painful when buried.
III: Being Wanted
Mends her torn frock while the others discuss the Psammead; expresses affection for the gipsy woman.
Wings
Jane argues that having wings makes them birds, so stealing plums is permissible.
No Wings
Cries from fear and later embraces the Vicar's wife, pleading for forgiveness.
VI: A Castle and No Dinner
Worries about invisible food; bursts into tears when dinner is invisible.
VII: A Siege and Bed
Expresses fear and doubts about the civilization of the attackers.
Bigger Than the Baker’s Boy
Suggests exhibiting Robert at the fair to make money.
Grown Up
Jane draws the lot to wake the grown-up Lamb and later advocates taming him by kindness.
X: Scalps
Jane recalls Cyril's wish and supports Anthea's plan, though she is initially confused.
XI: The Last Wish
Inadvertently wishes for Lady Chittenden's jewels to appear in mother's room; feels miserable and is comforted by the others.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Jane unlock in the free preview.

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