Oh! My heart! This really got me feeling all the emotions! This is a moving, fantastically written story by a debut author.

This is a young adult novel and it reads with an obviously young perspective. I think that perspective is important to the integrity of the story here. As the story continues there was layer after layer added into the foundation laid out in the beginning and, by the end, it was full of depth and beautifully drawn characters. There was so much to unpack here and this is a book worth having a dialogue with others about. It would be a great book club pick.

I loved this book. I received an ARC of this and I am wanting to purchase it because it was just that good.

Absolutely astounding book!! This story follows Ethan and Juniper who become friends over a Summer. Once introduced to Juniper's character, its very easy to fall in love with her. She is so full of life and the idea of her uniqueness only makes her that much for appealing.

This is a hard hitting book that deals with racism in the 1950's. We are briefly given two different timelines that aid in the story and are written very well.

I LOVED this book!!

Beautifully written, this book follows Ethan, a young, mixed raced boy in the summer of 1955 as he is sent to live with his white aunt & uncle in Ellison, Alabama. Ethan struggles with learning about hid race, self identity & fear when he meets Juniper Jones, a vibrant girl, full of life who immediately befriends Ethan. Their unlikely friendship fuels Ethan with hope & strength & changes his life forever. An incredibly warm, yet heartbreaking story; one everyone should read. One of the best books of 2020!

Grab the tissues. This is a win for me. This book is stunning. I’ll keep my review short because this book speaks for itself. It’s a beautiful story of history, friendship, race and one influential summer. This is a must read as far as I’m concerned.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones follows the friendship of Ethan, a biracial boy from Washington state, and Juniper/June the red headed, blue eyed, spirited small town "looney". Nothing would or should seem amiss about this pairing today, but it's 1955 and the setting is the small town of Ellison, Alabama. So while Ethan's and Juniper's friendship blossoms, they're met with constant obstacles from those that would like to tear them apart.

This was a difficult book for me to review. I found it well written for the most part, though it did have its slow moments. I definitely felt a connection to Ethan and wish more of his fears and concerns had been listened to from the start. At times, this novel came off as one of those white savior type novels, as Juniper acts as the catalyst to opening up Ethan and making him seem more human to everyone else.

I think most teens would enjoy reading this novel in school, but I'm not sure how many would select it for themselves. But I think it would definitely be a better option to hand teens a copy of The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones rather than a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to study racial injustice and the beginning of the Civil Rights movement.

There is a lightness and hope that is weaved throughout their summer, but also a heaviness and complexity that comes with the illumination of racial tensions and the wrong-mindedness of the era. You cannot help but to fall in love with Juniper and feel a tenderhearted affection towards her. On the other hand, your heart will break for Ethan over and over again – you’ll want to draw him into a protective bubble and shelter him from the hatred he encounters while wanting to bash some sense into his adversaries. This book will swallow you whole, chew you up, spit you out, and leave you with big emotions to process, but it also brings to light some very unfortunate aspects of history, while balancing the strength and value of true friendship.

The author weaves some unexpected moments in and you’ll be gasping for air as you bawl your eyes out more than once. It’s one of the most heartrendingly beautiful books I’ve ever read. It’s recommended for 12 & up (grades 7 – 9) and the author, Daven McQueen, acknowledges that difficult subjects are broached and offensive terminology is used. While I would recommend it unabashedly, if you have a particularly sensitive tween/teen, you may want to read it first, and then use it as a platform for conversation afterwards. For myself, it was a 5 star read for sure and most definitely one of, if not my most, favourite books of 2020.

My thanks to the author and publisher for the complimentary title via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley & Wattpad for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the 1950s, Ethan, a mixed-race teenager is sent to Ellison, Alabama by his white father to learn a lesson. While there Ethan encounters racism from the residents of the town, something that he hadn’t experienced to the same extent in his Washington town. He befriends a girl called Juniper Jones, who takes him on adventures throughout the summer.

I loved this book. The characters are incredibly loveable, and the descriptions of the setting are excellent. Daven McQueen’s storytelling about race and how it impacts Ethan as a Black person in a town full of white people is really impactful. Even though this is set in the 1950s, the discussions surrounding how White people can support Black people is incredibly relevant.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

What a beautiful and wonderful book. I am going to be telling everyone and anyone who will listen to read this book. I learned so much from this book and everyone needs to pick this up.
Wonderful description regarding race, friendship, family, and a crazy adventurous summer.
Juniper Jones is a friend that anyone and everyone should want. She doesn’t follow what people think she should do and lives her life her way. She stuck up for herself as well as Ethan throughout the book.
Thanks to netgalley for letting me read this arc. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It took a little bit to get into, but once I got into it, I was invested.
Go into this book knowing that it’s not a happy ending book.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is an incredibly on topic novel during these times. I would encourage any reader interested to try this novel out. And while reading this novel, please consider how the setting (1955) wasn’t even a whole lifetime ago. Furthermore, remember that segregation in the south would not end for nine more years. A measly 56 years have passed since black people were allowed to drink from a “white water fountain”. And while the south legally had to allow black men and women into their schools, they didn’t do it with open minds, hearts, or arms. As a person newly living in the south I can tell you that the racism and racial tension are still very strong. Don’t turn a blind eye to injustices facing our modern world. The fight is not over.

This is the story of a bi-racial boy and a white girl whose unlikely friendship change them forever.

Ethan is a mixed adolescent sent to his aunt’s house in Alabama for the summer. His summer in Alabama was meant as a punishment for a physical altercation that occurred. His father thought it might be wise for Ethan to experience his home town in the south. I believe this was meant to be a lesson on personal growth. But Ethan’s father attempt fell incredibly flat as a white man who doesn’t see color but has always been a privileged white man. Fortunately, Ethan has one saving Grace that summer, Juniper Jones. Juniper Jones is native to the little town in the south. She is considered an outsider like Ethan but she has white skin so she is more accepted. Together they take on an invincible summer full of fun, conflict, tension, and best friendship.

I have one complaint that I would like to get out. The author implies that Ethan has never really experienced racism growing up in Oregon (I think). He had one instance, otherwise, his life as a bi-racial boy had been fairly smooth. I have an incredibly hard time believing this despite the location. Racism is prevalent everywhere and this was the mid 50’s. I understand it was to re-enforce readers with how unexpected and confusing it felt for Ethan to arrive in this small southern town. It just didn’t feel too realistic. As for complaints, pretty much it. One single thing. That my friends is an excellent book.

McQueen did a wonderful job creating characters worth caring for. It made the character growth that much more rewarding as a reader. However, these characters also break your heart. It is a damn shame that barriers had to be broken before anyone including family could see this young boys worth. Why does it take a child proving himself to realize his skin pigmentation has nothing to do with his character? McQueen definitely makes readers want to open their eyes.

One last thing, I’d like to touch on. Throughout the story, Juniper Jones insists that Ethan focus on the positive. To simply ignore the bad and focus on their summer adventure. She would absolutely admit the discrimination and injustice within her town. She didn’t condone it and would go to bat for Ethan. But she still wanted Ethan to simply focus on the good. This was a situation that happened quite a few times. A racist encounter would happen, it would dissolve, and Juniper would want to focus on something else when he was hurting. She got upset on an occasion because Ethan couldn’t redirect his attention from the pain. Her intentions were so pure, but Ethan couldn’t make her understand why forgetting about it wasn’t so simple. I think that McQueen did this purposefully. It is so easy for white people to ignore the uncomfortable or want to move on from it. But for Ethan, it is impossible to ignore an injustice that happens daily by merely existing. And as a white little girl who grew up in the south, I don’t think Juniper Jones would ever truly understand why Ethan can’t always find a silver lining. This was a re-occurring theme and I found it a pretty profound way to explain Ethan’s perspective and why Juniper’s request simply wasn’t plausible. Some things you can’t comprehend from the outside looking in. It is that simple. But like Juniper Jones, we need to have to trying understanding, practice empathy, and compassion.

McQueen’s release could not have come at a better time. She does a fine job of making readings feel attached. She also does a wonderful job of telling the truth breaking your heart in the process. But with pain comes growth. I think this is a novel that we all should read. It would do wonders in an educational setting.

Thank you truly NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the read!

thank you Netgalley and @wattpad for the e-copy❣️

This is a YA coming of age story set in 1955. We follow Ethan, a mixed-race fourteen year old, as he’s brought to spend his summer with his uncle and aunt in a small town in Alabama. Ellison is a racist town and Ethan does not know this when he first gets there, but as the days move on he feels scared, frightened, and hurt from what he sees happening to him and in the town. Until, he meets Juniper Starfish Jones, a red-hair, blue eyed, white girl his age, who is nothing like everyone in town. This is a story of their invincible summer, the adventures they experience, the racism Ethan experiences in Ellison, and Ethan’s learning about the world.
This YA story is about friendship, race, and history.
This is the perfect summer YA book!


My emotions are all over the place right now, but I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I fell in love with Juniper Jones. She was the most amazing friend Ethan could have. I loved how much Ethan learns and grows throughout the story. I loved Juniper’s and Ethan’s relationship, how much they learn from each other, and their invincible summer. There was a point where I just couldn’t believe what was happening and I just couldn’t stop crying. My heart was in pieces. I learned so much from this story, it reminds the readers, especially the white readers (like myself) to stand up, make a difference, and be a better person, just as much as Juniper is.

Thanks to NetGalley for this book, I really enjoyed it!

Set in 1955, the story follows 16 year old Ethan as he is sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in Alabama. Ethan is mixed race, and quickly finds out that 1950s Alabama is not accepting of "coloured" people as his home town in Ellison. He forms a friendship with a local girl called Juniper Jones, and they plan to have an "invincible summer"

This book is beautifully written and is a powerful story. The characters in this book are well rounded and many have great character development.
This book highlights the injustices of racism at the time of segregation in America, and just how small-minded people can be. Although set in the 50s, there are many lessons that can be learnt for today too - may we all learn to be as accepting of others as Juniper! The language is very visual throughout, I could literally picture the final paragraph as an end sequence in a film.

Overall this book has a great plot, great characters and is beautifully written. It's released on 23rd July in the UK and I would definitely recommend it!

This book is an honest and heartfelt portrayal of prejudice and racism, and the marks it leaves at a young age. Ethan is moved to Ellison, Alabama for the summer as a result of fighting at school. Ellison is a small town populated by white people and backwards ideals. The reader is led to believe that Ethan, coming from a larger city, has had a limited experience of racism before now, and has not been informed of the realities of small-town America by his white father.

The friendship that springs up between Ethan and Juniper Jones is magical, however the effects of racism still permeate through their relationship as Juniper can never really understand what Ethan goes though on a daily basis.

This novel shows the reality of segregation and widespread disapproval of friendships between black and white people, as well as the very real threat to life of being black in the 50's. Whilst we have come a long way since then, we still have much further to go as shown in the current 2020 discourse surrounding continued racism and inequality.

The second half of this book really picked up for me, the story added much more depth through the mounting unease felt within the townspeople of Ellison, the exploration of Ethans relationship with his family and Junipers, and some very real heartbreak. This book is an important and timely read for young adults and definitely brought more than a few tears to my eyes.

The reason this book was not a 5 star read is because parts of it felt rushed (especially the last 25% or so) and I really felt the author could have dived deeper into the issues explored. But all in all it was an enjoyable read with compelling themes.

Thankyou to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

Ethan messed up. He got in a bad fight during the school year and was suspended for the few remaining weeks of the school year. His father makes a decision to send him to stay with Erhan's aunt for the summer, hoping that the town will teach him something he is not learning in the city. Ethan discovers that this little town in Alabama is not nearly as receptive to his blackness and he is faced with racism at nearly every turn. He forms an unlikely friendship with a socially, outcasted, girl named Juniper Jones. Juniper is determined to make this a summer Ethan will never forget.

This was an engaging and at times, difficult to read story. The story elements that worked the best here were Ethan's overall characterization and the struggles he faces as the only black teenager in a very segregated town. His struggle to maintain his identity, while maintaining his safety is a story that was relevant in the 60s and is still relatable to people of color now. The internal struggle of Erhan's character and his complicated relationship with his family members created a tension that was felt palpably by the reader.

Where Ethan's character contained depth, Juniper Jones' character filled the pages with a sort of "manic-pixie-dream-girl" energy. This MPDG vibe felt a little distracting from the tone of the book and excessively difficult to connect with. It was difficult for me to see her as a fully formed character rather than just a idea that highlighted the uniqueness of Ethan and Juniper's relationship. I could not fully connect to Juniper the way I suspect the author had intended and that made the read feel a little disjointed in places.

A very pertinent YA book for today. In 1955 Ethan, a Black American teenager is sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle in a small town in Alabama. Here he encountered prejudices that had not been a part of his early life growing up in Washington. This is a beautiful friendship story, laced with hate, love and peoples ability to learn and grow.
I would recommend it for more mature teens and YA with the opportunity to discuss it with others after reading.

This book was amazing! It not only deals with racism, but it also teaches privileged white people to speak up, and that's why I think it's especially important to read this book during this time (with the BLM movements going on). This book not only contained a wonderful story about friendship but it also helped me realize that I need to speak up about racism against my friends and family. There was one quote I particularly liked. After Juniper's aunt made a racist comment towards Ethan, Ethan tells Juniper that she should've said something about it to her aunt. Juniper finally realizes that she was wrong by not having spoken up and says: ''part about being family is about making each other better people. And I can't make any promises that she'll change. But I'm sure gonna try my best.''

Since I saw ‘The Incredible Summer of Juniper Jones’ on NetGalley, I was dying to read it, mainly because it was about to be published under Wattpad Books. If you know me in real life, or even if you have been following me for a while, you know that Wattpad has been a big part of my life. I used to stay up the nights to read fan-fictions and anything that caught my attention (4 years ago), and this book brought me a bit of nostalgia. Anyway, this novel has been a lot of things, but not at all bad!

The story is about Ethan and his struggles in a town where people of colour are not welcomed. After getting into a fight, his father sends him to stay with his aunt during the summer. There he meets Juniper and becomes friend with her. Who would have guessed that only three months can have such a big impact on someone’s life?

This book deals with heavy topics such as racism and bullying, but the story itself is quite playful and happy. I didn’t feel the pages turning while reading, but at the same time, I found myself crying because after all, racism is real, and so many coloured people are suffering because of it.

The main characters are Juniper and Ethan, and they are very different. Juniper is trying to see the better side of people, and she is very energic and happy all the time. She manages to see the bright side in the worst situations, even if some might say she lost everything. Sometimes I wish I was like her… On the other hand, Ethan is mad with life, and he has a reason to be. Black people don’t have the right to be innocent. Since they are kids, they are forced to stand up for themselves, but at the same time they not allowed to make too much noise, not allowed to stand out, not allowed to live their lives.

The storyline is complex, and the style of writing is clear and simple. It can be read without much effort, and I enjoyed that. I had one problem though, and I might be wrong. In 1995 Ethan was 14-years-old but in 2015 the author tells you that he is 60-years-old. How is that possible? He should have been 34-years-old in 2015. This little thing annoyed the hell out of me while reading, but I am not going to give it 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall, this has been a heartbreaking read. I cried and I laughed at the same time, and I do think this novel gave me a new perspective regarding racism and everything that comes along. I would definitely see this book in school libraries, and I do think kids will enjoy reading it.

The story of Ethan and Juniper was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones brings you the tale of an epic summer between to unlikely friends, a white girl and a Black boy in the deep south in the 1950s. Ethan is shipped off to his dad's hometown for the summer after getting into trouble at school. He meets the town free-spirit Juniper and the pair soon become inseparable.

Both characters learned about racism and what it means to be white vs Black both in the south but also throughout the United States. I picked up this book at just the right time and if you're looking to expand your knowledge of race and racism, this is a great way to add to your learnings. It will tug at your heart and make you think. If you think YA can't teach you something as an adult, I tell you to reconsider.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones has so far been my top read for 2020. It is a book which deals with some heavy issues, some which are still prevalent today. It is a heartfelt work of historical fiction with a variety of loveable characters, and loathable ones, which drew me in from the first page to the last.
The book is set in 1955 Alabama where we are introduced to the main character, Ethan, who is a mixed raced teenager. He is sent to live with his aunt and uncle over the summer break as an incident has occurred at school, so off he goes to the other end of the country. As he is half African American, he has to try to fit into a town which is 1. extremely racist towards people with dark skin and 2. a family who are having a very difficult time trying to accept him. He then meets Juniper Jones, the towns ‘crazy’ and begins a strong friendship as they are bound together as the town’s outcasts. While everything seems dandy, issues arise towards the end of the book which may test the strength of the friendship and the town itself.
First up, I really liked how this book was set in 1950s America. This was a time of significant unrest in the US after WWII and the protest movement was just getting up and running. The book was authentic to the time period and the attitudes which would have been common at the time. The choice of setting was also well thought out and really made the book have a greater impact. By having it set in the South, in particular Alabama where there were stronger tensions between the whites and the blacks, it really brought to light the injustices that were faced by the young, African American population and was extremely eye opening. As a white female, I have never faced prejudices due to my race and Daven McQueen has done an amazing job of portraying empathy throughout the course of the book.
The plot was extremely well written and engaging, right the way through until the final page. The inclusion from the current time had my guessing as to who’s death we were preparing for throughout the book and it wasn’t until near the end of the book that I guessed who it was (and I have a tendency to pick things up earlier normally!) The book started off in the 50s with multiple issues that main character Ethan was facing but as we move forward, some of these issues arising due to race begin to subside as he starts to feel a little more comfortable in his own shoes. While he is never 100% accepted into the somewhat small-minded town, Ethan is able to realise that it is not only himself facing these prejudices but they are also things that his mother has faced throughout her life as well in the South and also possibly a reason why his parents did not stay together. The culmination of all the tension throughout the book into the major problem near the end really cemented my thoughts as a reader of what is important in life and had me thinking about this well after I had completed the book.
My favourite part of the book would have to be the characters. Each and every character was so well thought out with key distinctive qualities that shone throughout the course of the novel. These characters also had the chance to grow enormously from start to finish as well, as they encountered people and took part in activities that changed their outlook on various different things. Ethan and Juniper’s friendship was so fun to see grow, as they were both considered to be social outcasts for different reasons. While nobody wanted to see Ethan accepted, Juniper was ahead of her time and place as she couldn’t care less what he looked like but only cared about the sort of person that he was on the inside. The character development of the uncle was the most tremendous of the book. At first he clearly did not want Ethan there but over time, came to see how great a kid he was and began to see him as his own (even though he was the step-uncle).
One thing I would have liked to have seen was some more information about Juniper’s family. While we know that her parents have passed and she lives with an elderly relative, we do not know about her family, what her parents did or any general background information about them. This may have been intentional but I feel like it would have added something to the story.
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a book which I had read in high school. It really makes you aware of the prejudices in the 1950s and how they are still present many years later. It is a book that makes the reader both cheerful in parts, and extremely upset in others but achieves its goal of informing the world about the key themes of racism, friendship and perseverance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy for review.
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones will be released on the 16th of June in the US and in Australia in October.

Thank you FFBC for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Invincible Summer Of Juniper Jones
By: Daven McQueen

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
The Invincible Summer Of Juniper Jones is sad, y'all. I ain't gonna lie because it just is. This book has coincidentally published at a time when its content and current events parallel in some ways. The issue is racism, and the story is about 1950's Alabama, a red headed girl and a boy of mixed race through one summer. I won't give anything way, but as you can imagine, fair treatment for all of humanity is not present much in the story. The depiction is true to the era with unique perspectives and is excellent historical fiction for young adult readers. This is an emotional, sharp and raw accounting of true selfless friendship at a pivotal young age when being understood is everything. I laughed and cried through reading, but one thought stuck out in my mind. Our physical bodies are certainly not invincible, but our spirits, souls, whatever you call it, linger on and are forever invincible.

⁣⁣Wow, guys, this book made me feel all the feels. I had to collect myself before I could write my thoughts because I was an absolute emotional mess. I still haven't finished my full review for my blog because this book has just left me with so many thoughts and feelings.
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⁣⁣The Invincible summer of Juniper Jones is a beautifully written, extremely powerful story and one that everyone should be reading. It's a YA historical fiction, but that does not mean adults wouldn't get anything from this. What it does mean is that this is a perfect read for middle graders and teens about a topic that too many parents don't discuss with children.⁣
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⁣⁣I truly felt this story. My husband kept asking if I was reading the same book because one minute I'm laughing, I would be visibly angry the next, and then I'm full on ugly crying. 
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⁣⁣This is a story of race, friendship, interracial marriage, family, coming of age, and history. I fell deeply for the Ethan and Juniper. While we can all learn from Juniper, we need to realize that we can do better as well. This story takes place in 1955 Alabama, we should be doing what Juniper did and more. We can, and should, be doing all we can to make a change.
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⁣⁣"The way I see it, you know, people are like the different paint circles on a palette. You've got your reds and blues and greens and yellows, and you need all of them to make a painting."
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⁣⁣Many thanks to @netgalley @wattpadbooks and @daventhequeen for the digital review copy and the opportunity to provide my thoughts.
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