The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones – Daven McQueen

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: June 16th, 2020
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Racism, Friendship

REVIEW:

This is a beautiful book about a life-changing summer shared between two characters full of heart. After his father leaves him with his aunt and uncle in an unknown place, Ethan thinks he’s going to spend the worst summer ever. No one in Alabama seems to want him there, excluding but sometimes even including his extended family, except this one strange girl named Juniper Jones, who is like no one Ethan has ever met.

Juniper has this crazy list of things she wants to accomplish this summer, and she really wants to do them with Ethan. Reluctant or not, Juniper Jones is not someone you can or want to say no to. Her joy and soft heart are what Ethan needs most right now. Someone who cares and someone who doesn’t treat him like he doesn’t belong. These two misfits found each other and neither of them wants to let go.

I have read historical novels that deal with racial tensions before but nothing quite like this one. Ethan is an endearing young man and Juniper is a wonderful young woman whose presence is felt, always. The town they are in doesn’t want either of them, because they don’t fit a certain box, but they want each other. The two of them are very different, physically and personality-wise. One is calm, one is effervescent, but they fit. Maybe not within their physical environment but within themselves. A gorgeous debut.

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