A wonderfully written novel about friendship, connection, and finding your place in a world that is so often unkind. A beautiful tale of friendship, love, and overcoming obstacles like prejudice and racism. Definitely worth the read.

Wow, just wow. I really loved this story. One of only a few 5 star reads for the year. The topic is difficult but the story was so beautifully written. 1955 and Ethan a biracial young man, is struggling with life. He gets in a fight and his father(a white man) decides to send him to his hometown. He has his sister and brother in law take care of him. He hopes this change will help Ethan work out some of his problems. But he is so miserable and depressed when he gets there, he can’t believe his father would do this to him. This small town in Alabama is very white and Ethan feels his blackness like never before. In a town where he feels very unwelcome he meets a wonderful young woman, Juniper Jones. Juniper has her own troubles but she offers her friendship to Ethan. Ethan doesn’t know what to think at first but he holds on tight and embarks on the start of an amazing friendship. They have two bikes, tons of adventures ahead and help each other like no one else could. His time at his aunts house isn’t so awful anymore. He gets to see his mother. Appreciates his aunt and uncle’s hospitality, even though the town doesn’t like it. And even starts to understand his father a bit. Raven McQueen, tells such a descriptive tale. I felt like I could have been in the town. I could feel the hatred and the love she wrote about. Juniper and Ethan are such a special duo. It is a nice reminder that even in the worst of times, people can be so good. People can love so big and be so kind to each other. That humanity isn’t dead. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure reading and reviewing The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones.

I am CRYING!! Been crying since the start of the book when Ethan first meets Juniper, until the very end! And here is WHY!

Ethan is of mixed race sent to stay with his aunt and uncle in Alabama in 1955, he got in trouble for something he did during the school year. We all know our history and how it was in those days, I was scared for Ethan from beginning to end when it came to this book. Anyway he’s in this town, he’s the only black kid in it and he meets Juniper while working at his uncles shop. Juniper was just LITERALLY the best character ever. Her energy, her positive outlook in wanting this amazing summer and meeting Ethan and being best friends.

He’s experiencing racism at a whole different level because where he lives, it’s nothing like Alabama. And we get a lesson here between the adults in his life, what his mom tells him, the ignorance of his white dad, and his want to protect his kids by not talking about race. The fear that Ethan experiences, and even with Juniper who is AMAZING who supports him and is by his side through everything, is scary.

As the book is ending you Ethan opening up more, creating things for them to do, showing her even new things, I am telling y’all I was in TEARS, and when it finally ended, Omg, I am so happy I read this book…it deserves all the stars all the hype and a great end of summer read.

I liked the friendship between our two main characters. This book dealt with a lot of important topics and was a good summer read.

It has an honesty ,balanced by down to earth prose , that reaches to every moment you doubt who you are as a young person. Ethan Harper was given a gift the summer of 1955. Her name was Juniper Jones. She was that combination of light and laughter, that tricked adults into letting her be who she was, wherever she appeared. Ethan and Juniper joined to make life in a rural southern state ,revelatory, in a time when everything was measured by the shade of your skin. A truth Ethan learned from his very first day. It’s a read every young person should experience. It’s a celebration of a spirit not bowed by expectations. Juniper is a model of the rarest kind. Happy to be who she is.

This book will definitely be going on my “Best Of 2020 “ list! It was beautifully written historical fiction, set in the 1950’s in the Deep South. There was a nostalgic feel, due to the author’s attention to details like television sets in store windows, women dressed up in gloves and hats to visit town, icy-cold Cokes bought at the general store on a summer day. There was an underlying tension beneath the innocence, however; in several places I found myself holding my breath as I read.
I loved this story with its message of the power of true friendship. It also shows how destructive predjudice and hatred can be, when people use the excuse, “That’s the way things have always been” to justify it.
A wonderful book for Y.A. readers, with adult guidance. Due to the setting, some words are used and attitudes expressed which would be offensive in today’s society. If history teachers use this book in their classrooms, as I would recommend, it could be a great teaching tool about how things have changed for the better since the Civil Rights Movement.

1950's Alabama about coming of age...
it was a truly incredible and beautifully written story.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this publication. In return, I have promised to provide an unbiased review.

I can’t believe it took me this long to read this book. I loved it so much. Juniper and Ethan were so real to me and the things Ethan had to endure were horrible and it’s so unbelievably sad that things like this are still happening today. I loved the conversation of racism and prejudice. As a Caucasian, I see my privilege reflected all throughout this book and I was thankful for the deep perspective of how it is for the African American community as reflected in this story. More people need to be talking about this book. I loved how gut wrenching it is and how important it is for everyone to read.

I couldn't finished this book on the kindle. The formatting was glitchy for me. Will try checking out at the library to see if holding a book would help.

Giving it a 3 for the important content.

The Secret Life of Bees meets My girl.

The message and characters was too honest and real. But like a historical novel... that's not worked. Sorry definitely the author has been helped by their editors and historian experts into racial movements in 50's. The idea is amazing and lovely. It should be a better novel but the book publishing used to looking for ruining QPOC historical fiction giving more chance to keep white supremacist. Coming back to the novel I know exactly Juniper is racist obviously by the time (still now🙄). I really appreciate the story and this book needed more help.

In the summer of 1955, Ethan, a young biracial man, is sent to stay with his white family members in Ellison, Alabama. He sticks out like a sore thumb in the tiny Southern town, and is immediately treated with scorn by the community at large. Thankfully, he is befriended by a fellow teenager, a young white woman—Juniper Jones—who is “in equal parts, a gift and a natural disaster.” Their friendship becomes a source of hope and happiness for them both in a town that frowns upon anything, and anyone, who upsets the status quo.
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It’s been a minute since a book made me sob, but this one took my heart and crushed it. And I say that with great affection. Obviously it is difficult to contend with the reality of what life was like in the U.S. for black folks in the Jim Crow era; but avoiding the painful patches of history does not help us to heal from those wounds together. And stories like this one also help us remember that there life contains joy and wonder, even when they must exist alongside genuine fear; we do not always get to choose how we are perceived, but the meaning of our lives is more than the pain we suffer.

Overall I enjoyed my time with this story. I loved the characters and the plot a lot and would definitely give this one a second read.

Brilliant book. It really opened my eyes and I was really quite disappointed when it ended. I enjoyed this read.

I received an ARC of this book well before it’s initial release date (thank you to Netgalley and publishers for providing me with this copy In exchange for an honest review) and I wish I had read this book much, much sooner!

This is a story of friendship that also tackles mature themes like racism. Although this book is set in the 1950s, there are still many clear parallels to today’s current events.

The story was both heartwarming and tragic at times. The bond between the two characters reminded of that from other stories like It or The Body (Stand By Me?), although the stories are not at all the same the feeling of seeing friendships grow always hits that soft spot.

I will admit, there were times where the writing could have been a little more polished (hence the 4 stars), but it is clear Daven had a story to tell and she told it beautifully.

I will likely be checking out future reads from her!

This was a beautiful and heart wrenching book, with well-written likeable characters. It was a real page turner but at the same time it was upsetting.

In 1955, mixed-race teenager, Ethan is sent to stay with his white aunt and uncle in the town of Ellison where the Klan are rife. Ethan had never faced some of the prejudice before or knew that segregated bathrooms and seating was reality for some.

This book takes you on the journey with him as he realises what the world is like for mixed-race and black people in 1950s America. He is befriended by the local 'loony' as the townsfolk call her, Juniper Jones who was full of adventure and fun. She helps him cope, even through she knows she could never truly understand.

I think this is a great read and one I would fully recommend.

I finished it, and immediately said to myself “I am so glad I read this book.” All books should make us feel that way!
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The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen has been on my TBR since it was published two summers ago. Being a mood reader, I mistakenly thought it would be best for me to read during the summertime. It needs to be read ANYTIME because everyone needs a little Juniper Jones in their life.
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Set in Alabama in the 1950’s, racism is prevalent and sometimes tough to read, tough because it still happens today although not always so blatantly. When a biracial boy spends the summer in this small Alabama town, he experiences hate like he has never known. He also experiences the best type of friendship, love and optimism he has ever known.
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Wow. This book really got to me and I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I could have been telling people about it for two years now. Well, I am starting today, go read it then read it again. Get a mindset like Juniper’s, be kind and accepting. See the light in darkness, and the beauty in the ugly.
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I have seen it said before, and couldn’t agree more. This poignant story of friendship, racism, adventure, history and growth is invincible, unforgettable and one not to be missed.
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Read it and you can say to yourself, too, that you are glad you read this book!
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This book is a beautifully written story about friendship between Ethan and Juniper in the summer of 1955. While reading this book you'll find yourself in the historical background of the deep south during a time when racism was at the forefront of the times. It his heartbreaking to read this book in 2022 and see the parallels to 1955 society. This book was well written, emotional, and all around one that everyone should be reading.

I picked up the audiobook to this one and enjoyed it. The narrator did a great job in providing a voice to Ethan and Juniper that felt authentic. I definitely recommend this format for other audiobook lovers.

100% would recommend.

I was very intrigued from the gorgeous cover of this book as well as the description. The book did a wonderful job discussing racial issues. I would definitely recommend this book to older high school students and lovers of YA.

I was quite interesting in this book when I requested it, so I was expected it to be good. And it delivered. It was so interesting to read, so heartbreaking and sad at times, but I am so happy that I've read it.

Read but was not terribly memorable. I am clearing out the books published in 2020 from my "to review" shelf!