What a terrific book with an interesting main character’s perspective on Western society’s tools, behavior, and lifestyle. Juniper Berry has lived her life secluded in the woods with her parents, Zephyr and Clara, and her siblings, 5 year old Hawk and teen Skylark. When Hawk becomes too ill for nature’s remedies to heal, Zephyr races him back to the privileged culture he fled years ago with Clara and the girls following a few days later. While Hawk hangs onto life by a thread, the family moves in with an uncle Juniper never knew she had and he and his two daughters reluctantly try and make a place for two ignorant cousins. Told from Juniper’s wilderness-loving point of view, readers will get a very different look at the technology and routines that they experience without a second thought. If you have never lived with electricity, have always grown or hunted/gathered every bite of food, and bath and wash clothes with river water, how bizarre would things like cell phones, microwaves, and grocery stores appear? Wonderful book that taps into themes of not being afraid of what others think about you, true friendship and mental health. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and violence is limited to a few well-deserved kicks to the shin. Most main characters present as Caucasian but Zephyr may be Black and supporting characters represent a variety of skin tones and names that imply other ethnic backgrounds. Outstanding book for grades 4-7.

With young readers in my family, I’ve been wanting to read more middle school/children fiction. That way I can be there to recommend a good book for my kiddos. The first one I’ve read recently is The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry.

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Your child or even you will enjoy this book if you like:
* Wilderness survival
* Curious minds
* A pet goose named Zombie
* Families healing

Juni is an eleven year old girl who just wants things to go back to the way they were. Society is hard. Which now that I’ve read this in her POV, it is hard. Juni is an eye opening character. She sees the world so differently then we do. Made me realize how much we take for granted and not care how something works. I loved her character and I loved this book. I’m definitely going to buy this and recommend it to others. Chad and Shelly did a great job with this story!

Content warning: little brother is in the hospital very sick which might be traumatic for some kids.

This is such an amazing book, mostly because of the point of view of the protagonist, who is narrating the story. She is so much a fish out of water it is amazing, but she has so much self-confidence, that it doesn’t matter if she is. Because that is not based on her self-worth.

THe basic reminds me slightly of Mean Girls, in that the main character come from a place where things make sense, to trying to figure out the politics of middle grade. But what is different is that Juniper doesn’t car. She bases how people react to the animals she knows, and figures mean girls are chickens, hen-pecking those who don’t fit in. That is the best explanation I have seen.

Juniper has been raised off the gird, but she also has good skills that were installed in her. She doesn’st take any guff, and I love her for it.

The book is so much fun, as she discovered the joy of the laundry box, where she doesn’t have to wash clothes by hand, her most hated chore.

I get why some books grab you. I get how hard it is to be an agent or book buyer, and so I especially love the beginning of the book : I can fox-walk. Foxes can walk through the woods, hardly making a sound. Spying on you. Creeping into your chicken coop. They’re sneaky. And so am I.

That sort of sums up how Juniper is in this book. Strong, and free, for the most part. And a mind that sees things as they relate to nature.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. tHis book is coming out from Shadow Mountain Publishing 15th of August 2023.

If you're into heartwarming book then pick this one up! Its definitely worth the read!

PRO :
• it is an easy read. The chapters are short. So, whenever i want to put this book down, i spot that the next chapt was not very long and i'd continue reading just a lil bit more and more and more.

• There's a lil bit mystery that keeps you reading. Also i didn't predict everything that was happening.. so.. i like it.

• I enjoyed the plot & the setting. When it comes to the wood, i can feel a sense of comfort by nature. City, I also feel a warm feeling because I am surrounded by people and at the same time I feel overwhelmed like what June feels.

• I loved the main character, Juniper Berry. At first, her behavior was a little annoying for me, but after a while... I felt that she was a strong, steadfast figure, brave to keep trying, always knew how to love herself, rand able to face all difficulties. I also like the side characters, Harry.

• This story is packed with a lot of moral value and reflection.

• I really satisfied on how it ended.

CONS :
• I don't really like Juni's Parent. I tought the author want to depicting what it is like living with a mental health problem (?). But it ended up gimme impression that Juni's Parent were a lil bit selfish.

This book had a great premise, a family entering 'society' after living off the land for years when the youngest son gets sick and they need medical attention. They move in with their relatives and discover the wonders and difficulties of living in modern society where there are washing machines, pizza and bullies.

Aspects of the story were really well done: I loved the tight family unit, Junipers discovery of modern amenities we take for granted, and her indignant reactions to bullies at school. At times, it felt like it was trying to cover too much - you've got societal pressures, conservation, climate change, bullying, social media, familial traumas, medical traumas, siblings growing apart, intergenerational relationships, financial issues, friendship issues, the list goes on. The ending wrapped up nice and neatly in classic middle-grade style.

An overall ambitious book that I wish had looked in the mirror and taken something off before it left the house.

I loved this book!! It was such a great mix-up of the standard Coming of Age story. Just the right amount of different to be interesting. I laughed, I cried, I questioned my own life choices a little bit. Will definitely be recommending this book.