The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is beautiful, heart wrenching, but nonetheless beautiful. As shown by the synopsis, the books follows Ethan Harper and Juniper Jones on their incredible summer long adventure. It manages to paint even the simplest of days as breathtaking. Everyone roots for the underdog, there being two makes you fall in love with this story all the more faster. The racism is hard to swallow, as the POV is so realistic in these scenes, but it makes you think about what used to pass as "racial decency" in the 1950s and how wrong everyone was for even thinking these things. By the end I was actually sobbing, which hasn't happened at the hand of a book in quite some time; 5 stars. Amazing novel.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones makes you stop and think... about family, relationships, race, and racism. While set in the 1950s, the story line could easily be transposed into current times with only a few tweaks. When Ethan is sent to live with his aunt and uncle, he doesn't truly understand the impact the color of his skin will have on what happens in Alabama. No one has talked to him about race in America. He is shocked to learn of the laws in 1950s Alabama and what it means for how people in the small town will treat him.

He makes a friend in Juniper Jones when she, as another outcast in town, decides she wants a friend and Ethan it will be! They have their struggles, but their friendship sees them through some rough patches that summer. Juniper makes sure that Ethan sees the good things in her town. She's there for him during some tough decisions and events in his life.

While the ending was not what I was expecting, I think it brings more meaning to the story.

Thank you to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for a free Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

***TRIGGER***
racism, death, bullying

It's 2015 when Ethan receives a letter that brings him back to the summer he spent in Ellison, Alabama, 60 years earlier. The story picks up in 1955, before returning to 2015 for the last part of the book. With the story being bookended in the present, with the tale of the past in the middle, it made the book feel very cinematic. Throughout the entire story, I could picture every scene as if it was a movie. 

The friendship between Ethan and Juniper was just lovely. It's rare to read about such a strong boy/girl friendship that never moves into romance. Juniper was so special, even though no one in town could see it except for Ethan and his family. She accepted Ethan, no questions asked. She saw the good in everyone, even people who didn't deserve it. 

I can't speak as to how this dealt with racism, especially Alabama in the 50's, but from things that I have seen and read, this seemed to be pretty spot on. The writing was very strong. I'm excited to read more from Daven McQueen. 

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that I didn't know I needed. Juniper Jones spends the summer trying to make Ethan feel welcomed in a racist town in Alabama during the 1950s. Ethan doesn't just face the struggle of being biracial, he is now challenged with racism firsthand. Everyone should read this book, especially studies. They should be able to build empathy and understanding of what some people in America have had to endure then (and even now). This book will definitely make its way into my classroom. I would rate this book 10 stars if I could.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones was a historical fiction novel the takes place in the mid 1950’s and is about a young man of mixed race forced to spend his summer in the South. This was during a time of segregation and blatant racism. Ethan has some terrifying and horrible experiences, but yet he is able to make a long lasting friendship. At the beginning of his torturous summer, he makes an unusual friend in Juniper Jones. She is white, has red hair and blue eyes, she is also seen as out of place in this very small town. They spend the summer going on many outrageous adventures and make an everlasting bond and friendship, even though their friendship is not seen as acceptable amongst many townspeople. The descriptions of Juniper are just so vibrant and colorful, she is a character that literally jumps off the page at you. The descriptions of the town and all the places where Ethan and Juniper visit are so descriptive, the writing makes it very easy to visualize a summer in Alabama. Being a child of a mixed race couple, I can relate to some Ethan’s feelings of not quite knowing where you belong. Although I am sure it was much more difficult in the 1950’s. This book is a wonderful historical fiction novel for any middle schooler and mature elementary school readers.

This book was a roller coaster ride of emotions: I loved it so so so much! The characters were amazing, had beautiful development and were just such cuties! If you only consider the characters, you might think that this is a middle grade book, but if you look a bit deeper at the issues that are dealt with in the story, it gets a bit more complex to just be a middle grade book.

I cannot really write a lot without spoiling the story, but I just loved the friendship between Juniper and Ethan and the ups and downs that they went through together. I also really liked the topics covered, such as the problematic of racism and the racist town they live in, as well that it's a historic novel set in 1955. As I am not a person of color, I cannot relate to Ethan, but I liked to read his thoughts to learn and understand how it was to be black back then, what his daily challenges were. All of the characters were written so beautifully and I loved how the author made this place sound so magical. I had always a very beautiful picture in my mind due to the amount of descriptions and use of adjectives. I feel like I have seen the movie to the book instead of having just read it, because I just have such vivid pictures in my mind when I think back to it. Everything fit so perfectly and was just so well thought through, this book was just such an enjoyment I cannot stress this enough!

I was always looking forward to reading this book, it was always such joy to pick it up and I took my kindle with me to so many places just so I could read a bit on the way (and almost miss my stop several times...). I fell in love with the main characters immediately and hated the "villains" so incredibly much, this was unreal. I felt so much when reading this book, cried with the characters and was so happy with them when they were happy. I liked the kind of mysterious vibe that Juniper had and the sudden turns, they always came so unexpected and I lived for it. This book is not predictable at all, at least I thought so.

This book just dug deep and had my heart immediately, so yeah, if you see this in a bookstore and don't know what else to do with your life, please please please do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You will love it and devour it and it will be so beautiful. Just beautiful. Trust me, this book is so incredibly worth it. SO, worth it! Thank you Daven for writing this beauty!

Both a heart-warming story of friendship and a searing view into racism in 20th century America, this book has at its heart a deep-seated desire to prove that, although love won't fix everything, it's always easier to face the bad things with someone by your side.

I thought the plot was well-constructed and that the characters showed great depth and insight, particularly Ethan. But, I would have loved to have delved more into Juniper's backstory and learnt more about her family, in particular.

The contrast between June and Ethan was brilliant, and the way their friendship developed was so well-portrayed that it felt just like being a kid again!

Overall, a brilliant story and I can't wait to see what McQueen writes next!

Ethan is sent to his father's hometown to live with his aunt as punishment for fighting at school. His father, a white man, believes that the South will teach Ethan some "Southern Manners." However, Ethan looks like his mother who is black. Ethan world is turned upside down, when this small 1950s town believes he doesn't belong there. Throughout the summer, Ethan quickly realizes what it means to be black man growing up in America as well as what true friendship is when he meets, Juniper.

Juniper and Ethan set out to have the best summer ever that takes them on a journey that neither are truly prepared for. This heartwarming story embraces the complexities of race in the 1950s as well as the 2010s, and explores different perspectives of race and racism. All of this wrapped up in a beautiful story of two kids who just want to have the best summer of their lives.

I highly recommend that everyone read this book because it allows people to view the world beyond a narrow gaze.

This is a truly heart warming coming of age story that comes with a 😭😭 warning. Massive thanks to Netgalley and Daven for the ARC!

Ethan and Juniper are two innocent teens attempting to live an unforgetable Summer that I won't soon forget myself. Juniper is such a loveable character that it pained me to see both her and Ethan come up against so much discrimination and malice.

I think our generation take for granted how bloody lucky we are. I hope more people are now more aware, due to the current situation, just how incredible it is that we are able to love who we want, travel where we want (normally anyway!) and that our biggest day to day concern is our phone running out of charge. This book highlights just how different our world was just a couple of generations ago. Though there is still progress to be made, I am so thankful that we are on the way to a more accepting world 🙌🌍

Anyway, this is a lovely Summer read that'll stick with you long after Summer ends!

3.5 Stars

When Ethan Harper receives news of a funeral taking place in Ellison, Alabama, he is taken on a journey down memory lane to a summer 60 years ago when he first met Juniper Jones.

The majority of this book is set in 1955 Alabama with just the first and last chapters being set in the present. Ethan is a biracial protagonist who has faced micro-aggressions as a result of the colour of his skin since elementary school however it is not until he is forced to spend the summer with his Aunt and Uncle in rural Alabama that he comes face-to-face with the true scale of the institutionalised racism that exists within America.

Juniper Jones is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl who befriends Ethan and together they set out to have an invincible summer together.

Throughout the course of the story, there is mention of PoC living in Ellison previously and that they were "dealt with" however it is not until towards the end of the book that the full story is revealed. There is a growing sense of unease throughout the book as Ethan continues to be stigmatised and the reader knows that something bad is about to happen.

I found this book really compelling throughout however I wasn't keen on the ending. This is very much a personal preference but I just didn't enjoy the direction that the story went in.

This book will likely be a hint with fans of Looking For Alaska and The Hate U Give.

This book left me feeling devastated and full simultaneously. The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones follows Ethan, a biracial teen from Arcadia, who is sent to Ellison, Alabama to live with his white aunt and uncle for the summer. Ethan meets Juniper Jones, eccentric misfit, and they become best friends, destined to have an invincible summer.

Daven McQueen tells a nuanced story about racism and friendship, that is appropriate and necessary for YA audiences and adult audiences alike. Set in the 1950s, when the klan wandered freely and proudly, this book’s exploration of racism is nonetheless (unsurprisingly and sadly) relevant today.

What I took from this book most of all is that best friend can be an identity. An identity that strengthens us and our community, an identity that carries meaning for generations, and an identity that forms us into the people we become as we grow up.

McQueen broke my heart and filled me with a sense of love and longing with The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones, and I cannot wait to recommend it to all my friends and fellow readers who love YA for its unapologetic confrontation of big issues, fun stories, and new voices.

Set in 1955, THE INVINCIBLE SUMMER OF JUNIPER JONES is a heartbreaking story that will stay with me for a long time. It is a coming of age adventure that touches the bond of friendship and family but also the suffering of racism.
I have to say that it is probably one of the most beautiful books I read in a long time. I am sobbing as I just reached the end. It is one incredible book about a summer that changed so many lives.
This book will remind you a lot of childhood and innocence but it will rip your heart out showing the cruelty of small minded people. Being black in a world of white people meant that you were an outcast, had no rights and sitting in the back of the bus or being able to watch a movie in a negro area were considered privileges one should be grateful for

Ethan and Juniper go on forest-filled adventures in a quietly beautiful but profoundly broken town.


The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones: a story where Ethan, a biracial teenage boy in 1955, is sent by his white father to Ellison, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it town in Alabama, to learn some "real southern values". He meets Juniper, a girl with southern values all her own, who orchestrates a summer that will reverberate in the memories of many for years to come.

Ellison is a town where the dust never settles, sun-showers occur spontaneously, and inhabitants do anything in their power to make black people in their proximity feel unwelcome. Walking through this summer with Ethan was heart-wrenching - from when his father drove him to Aunt Cara's house to the very before-last scene of this novel - rejection and disdain ebbed and flowed from all around, including home:

"...he knew he made Aunt Cara uncomfortable. He could see it every time she looked at him - or rather, all the times she didn't"

In this town of hateful people, Juniper comes in as a wonder - a beautiful animated girl who bakes misshapen biscuits and rides bikes down winding forest paths. She teaches Ethan to see the beauty in such a place of social ills, and Daven McQueen writes her well. She easily could have been some manic pixie dream girl - here to make everything magically better - but she's a person with flaws and fears that make her more tangible. Juniper offers relief and innocence in this world where I feel uncomfortable reading about Ethan walking down the street:

"I know this isn't how it works, but if I could reach out an airplane window, I think I'd borrow a few stars and bring them back home"

Ethan's father was a controversial character, and I questioned his motives for sending Ethan to Ellison throughout the novel. His good intentions were obviously tone-deaf but McQueen uses him to tell a wider story of privilege being a matter of choice between ignorance and action. At first, I thought of Ethan's mother as a deadbeat - but seeing how the political climate of 1955 infected all spheres of life - her estrangement gives insight to the far reaches of institutionalized racism.

I appreciated how Ethan is not presented as the epitome of targeted racism - because he's not. His whiteness allows him to escape and move through situations without the same grave consequences experienced by previous darker-skinned inhabitants of Ellison:

"And probably there are things about my mom and her life that I'll never understand... Because of who my dad is, and the parts of him that are in me, even if they're small.

The growth from the characters in their own rights shine a glimmer of hope and give the characters a personhood that allows this story the potential to become a classic in its genre - I give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars (hopefully I can add to Juniper's borrowed stars...).

This novel would appeal to people who enjoyed The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Imagine wandering the streets of Alabama, a bit bummed to be stuck a summer in the sleepy old town where your dad grew up... until people start giving you strange looks (fear? anger? disgust), whispering (or not so much) behind your back, and tormenting you; all because of your parents' backgrounds. Ethan has always been aware of how he is considered an "other" and treated differently, but the racism he faces head-on is heartbreaking. Luckily, Juniper has chosen him as her companion on an invincible summer, giving a great confidante and friend while dealing with the sentiments of the South during 1955.

The descriptive imagery, internal conflict, and believable character personalities bring this book to life. I felt like I was in the ice cream parlor with Starfish and Ethan, gasping at some of their injustices faced. I see this as a title that can be added to many curriculum that explore themes of the United States Black experience, racial discrimination, and social injustice. I plan on having my students read this book.

Thank you for the ARC, #NetGalley.

This book had all the summertime warmth and glory of a Calvin and Hobbes adventure, paired with incredible depth and maturity. Ethan is a bi-racial teen who is sent to live for the summer of 1955 with his aunt and uncle in Ellison, Alabama. There he meets a wild and wonderful girl named Juniper Jones who is the first person in town that doesn't treat him like some kind of monster. She decides they are best friends and will have an invincible summer. In between bike rides through the forest and rolling down Alligator Hill, they confront the racism inherent in small town Alabama, and Ethan copes with accepting the Black half of his identity.

I love the way the allies and advocates are portrayed in this book. They are not perfect. Juniper struggles to confront racist attitudes in her family. His aunt and uncle at first barely see Ethan as a person. However, these people confront their own biases, make amends, and do better. They also admit that they will never understand the Black experience because they are "safe in their skin" but that they will love and protect Ethan.

This book will make you crave a rootbeer float on a hot summer day, horrify you with bullies and racists, break your heart and help you heal again. I'm pretty sure everyone should read this book.

"Sometimes, content like this is kept away from teens and young readers because it might be hard to handle. It is hard to handle. But even though this book is fiction, antiblackness is an undeniable reality."

From the author's note to the end of the book, this is an intense and difficult read. But like Daven McQueen says: it is hard to handle. It's supposed to be difficult, and never once do you forget that; even in the softest, sweetest moments of the narrative, you feel yourself tense and taut, waiting for the next moment that will rip you to shreds. The portrait of a young black kid in Jim Crow south is unflinching and honest, and too much of Ethan's experiences continue into modern day; too often people believe since we no longer live under Jim Crow laws that things are better, but they aren't. This is a book about resilience and friendship and resistance and the desire to be even when the world doesn't want you to be. It's well-written and full of depth and characters that are so real and vibrant. It's so important, beautiful, and forever relevant.

This book ripped my heart out! I really enjoyed reading it, but I did think the end was a bit predictable.

Ethan and Juniper were such a fantastic duo! They seemed to be polar opposites, but created an unbreakable bond because they were both outcasts in the tiny town. I love how the author created characters who were so multidimensional. Both Ethan and Juniper maintained a childlike innocence, especially when it came to their adventures, but also showed maturity and courage when dealing with the racism that Ethan faced.

I appreciated the way the racism in the story was handled in a way that made it appropriate for it's target audience: young adults. The author didn't shy away from the use of the n-word (two or three times) which is touchy, but sadly, a part of American history. I think this book is being released at a perfect time and would be a great tool for middle school or high school teachers to use when discussing the racial issues of the past and the present.

I received a copy of this book from @netgalley and @wattpadbooks in exchange for an honest review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ethan, age 15 has a white dad and black mom, and gets sent to spend the summer of 1955 with his aunt and uncle in Alabma after he was suspended from school. His eyes are opened to the segregation of the south while there. He meets Juniper Jones and they embark on a summer of adventures. I will be thinking about Juniper for a long time...I loved her character! This book made me smile and cry (for about the last 30 pages non-stop), and I would reccomend it to everyone. This will for sure become a part of my classroom library. Release date: June 16, 2020 #netgallery #theinvinciblesummerofjuniperjones

"The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones" is an excellent debut YA novel from Daven McQueen. Sometimes I find that YA authors force historical facts into books, but that was not the case in "Invincible Summer." There were definitely historical facts in the book, which took place in rural Alabama in 1955, but I felt like the author did a great job of weaving them into the narrative. Also, I like that the author chose to set this story in 1955 - the same year as the Emmitt Till murder and thus the birth of the Civil Rights movement. I also appreciate the brutal honesty in the narrative/McQueen's seeming refusal to make this a story to make this a story about a young black man who meets a Southern girl, they fall in love and racial tensions are forgotten. It is important that stories set in 1950s accurately portray the time period, and this book did just that. I also thought that the characters were really well-developed! Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a really excellent YA novel.

Juniper Jones is a sorrowful yet incredibly sweet quick-read to fill a warm Sunday afternoon. The author's youthful voice is deftly able to convey complex emotions and realistic racial conflicts through the eyes of a teenage boy in 1950s Alabama. A good reminder of the innocent joys of childhood friendships and the cruel realities that threaten them.

This is such a beautiful story. The plot revolves around Ethan and Juniper and their unforgettable summer in 1955.

Although I loved the book, I have a few issues. The writing of this author isn't very mature. I heard it's a Wattpad story. I think the author should have polished the book a little bit more before publishing. The sentence structure was poor and the word choice wasn't rich either. Also, Juniper's family issue wasn't focused much. It was mostly focused on Ethan and his struggle. I would love to read more about her. The main issue I have with this book is the title because when I read the first chapter I immediately knew something bad happened to Juniper. It gave away the major plot twist. However, these issues can be overlooked because the plot is tragic and also beautiful.

I have read lots of books about racism but I have to admit this is book is beautiful and tragic at the same time. Nonetheless, Its a story about friendship, innocence, and racism.

This is a challenging and heartwarming read with unforgettable characters. Unfortunately it read a little too young for me to enjoy, and the dialogue didn't pull me in as I'd hoped. The environment and world building and prose were beautifully done. Highly recommend for school aged children and teens.

I was pleasantly surprised with how good this book was. I chose to read it on a whim and was blown away by the story and how much it moved me.

Some subject matters aren’t an easy pill to swallow, but they need to be shared to keep the truth and history alive. Ethan Harper’s experience in Alabama, though fictional, stems from a time and place in our country when racism was alive and well, but one character went above and beyond to make him feel welcome when no one else would.

Juniper Jones was a fantastic character and we should all aspire to be more like her. Not only for her kind heart and acceptance, but for her free spirit and sense of adventure. She was determined to make Ethan’s summer in Alabama one he would never forget and to show him the beauty that can be found in ugliest times.

This story was beautifully written and at times so tragic that it brought me to tears. I highly recommend it, and also think it would be an excellent book for students to read in school!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3292531182

This book destroyed me. I. Am. Not. Okay. ⁣
⁣
In the summer of 1955 Ethan, a biracial teen from the west coast, is sent to live with his white aunt and uncle in small town Alabama. ⁣
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Enter in, Juniper Starfish Jones, a care-free, fun loving, eccentric girl ready to take on the invincible summer with Ethan. ⁣
⁣
This is a coming of age story about race, segregation, fight, injustice, understanding and love. It will leave you in pieces, but it is an important story. ⁣
⁣
“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”⁣

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and Wattpad for sending me this ARC.

I enjoyed this book so much. I cried a lot but I also laughed like crazy.

It's an amazing story that needed to be written. It was hard, but it was worth it.
I'm glad that I got to read a story about racism in the 50s in the US. It's important to talk about those things. And this book did it in such a beautiful and heartbreaking way that you just can't put it down.

I enjoyed the characters a lot. They are well constructed and complex.

There was a moment that I was scared because I thought that maybe Juniper and Ethan would end up together but I'm really glad it wasn't the case. Friendship is so important and needs to be showcased more in literature. Specially between men and women.

As soon as it comes out I will buy it because I need to reread at least 100 times more.

This book destroyed me. I. Am. Not. Okay.

In the summer of 1955 Ethan, a biracial teen from the west coast, is sent to live with his white aunt and uncle in small town Alabama.

Enter in, Juniper Starfish Jones, a care-free, fun loving, eccentric girl ready to take on the invincible summer with Ethan.

This is a coming of age story about race, segregation, fight, injustice, understanding and love. It will leave you in pieces, but it is an important and meaningful story. Daven McQueen has a gift to draw you into a story at the beginning and leaving your heart aching by the end.

“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”

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! CAN I GO AHEAD AND PREDICT: Newbery 2021! This is the best MG/YA book about race relations in the Deep South (set in Jim Crow times) that I’ve read in a LONG time! The author includes a trigger warning in the front of the book, so I won’t add that here, but she did a beautiful job holding nothing back. She does more than call racism for what it is: she also challenges the white population to take a good look at themselves. At the same time, she gives voice to the black population in a way I haven’t seen in MG/YA literature before. Ethan and Juniper are characters that will stick with me for a long time. This book comes out in June and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Racism is not part of every society but when to comes to personal sides this takes on a different level of actions.

Something greater came from these experiences.
The hope of friendships and warm behaviors from others affected the people in a positive way.

The summer improved along with friends and forming of new friendships.
Race doesn't matter as it shows a different approach to getting together and making of new friends.
Acceptances great and does not happen in every society but in time accepting others comes to feel as another obstacle for a few.
In society it feels alone and sometimes can feel in a crowd. In this book it feels new and does come together or all.

Ethan Harper brought in her own emotions and to feel everything in her own way even though the reality of the ugliness presented to her directly.
The negative feeling and the weaknesses did not let Ethan Harper fail to form new friendships.

This book was an amazing read. A coming of age novel set in the Deep South during the times of racism and segregation weaves a story of two young teens, both viewed by their town as outcasts, through one epic summer. Ethan and Juniper both have their own challenges in life, but when they’re together, all the nonsense in the world seems to disappear...until reality hits them and it comes roaring back front and center. This is a must read for young adults studying racism during the 1950s.

Wow. All I can truly say is wow. This story is absolutely impeccable. By the end of this book I was completely in tears. Racial historical fiction is very hard for me to read due to my own lives experiences but I am so glad I read this book. It’s a great coming to age story about race, friendship and the importance of not being complicit when the status quo is pushed to the forefront.

Thank you to Net Gallery who gave me this book in exchange for my honest review - I will be purchasing this book to support the author and recommending it to everyone I know.

The author deals with race in the 50's in the south. Told from a bi-racial point of view it is revealed that Ethan's white father has never prepared him for racism. The feelings explode in Ethan as he finds himself sent to live with his white aunt and uncle in a small town in Alabama for the summer for punishment for fighting. His only salvation is one white girl, Juniper, who others think is the town "weirdo". Their growing relationship is the high point of the book. She, the aunt and uncle try their best to deal with their own racism and the conflict in the little town.. Nothing good comes from those that are racists.

This book was great and I liked it. The stories and characters were amazing. Such a powerful story. My attention was held the whole time.

Set in a small town in rural Alabama in the 1950s, The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a story of friendship that is both hopeful and heart-wrenching. Every once in a while a book comes along that really strikes a cord deep in your soul. It changes you a little, then stays with you forever. This is that book. I'm not sure I can even explain why, it's just special.

WRITING STYLE: 4/5
SUBJECT: 5/5
CANDIDNESS: 4/5
RELEVANCE: 5/5

This was one of the most touching novels I've read so far this year. This book was-- poignant, heartbreaking at times, and lovable! I enjoyed this book and how prominently friendship, family, and discussions of race were featured.
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a coming-of-age story about Ethan Harper, a biracial teenager in 1955. After getting suspended from his high school, Ethan is sent to Ellison, Alabama to stay with his aunt and uncle for the summer. Stuck working at his uncle's shop, Ethan expects nothing exciting to come of his summer in Alabama-- that is until he meets redhead Juniper Jones. Juniper is outgoing, stubborn, fiercely loyal, and eager for an adventure, and wants nothing more than to spend it with her new friend Ethan. However, in 1955, Ellison, Alabama is full of white families who have no desire to welcome a mixed boy into their town, and aren't afraid to say so.
I'm also not quite sure if the title 100% represents the book. The title makes it seem like it's Juniper Jones's summer and I think this detracts from how this isn't Juniper's story, it's primarily the story of Ethan.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I RATE THIS BOOK FIVE STARS!

Wow.
Ok this book is kind of a heavy read..
It's a good book, but if you're looking for a light read, or one that won't have you thinking all the way through this isn't it.
This book had me feeling a lot of things.
Mostly sad and frustrated.
People can send to toss out the word"racist" much too easily these days, but this book definitely shows hope we got here.
Overall, a good book week reading.

“The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” is a breathtaking coming of age story that touches on the bonds of friendship and family, and the hardships of racism and prejudice. This young adult historical fiction novel depicts lives in the south in the 1950’s for a young biracial boy. After getting in an altercation at school, fourteen-year-old Ethan Harper is sent to live with his aunt and uncle for the summer in Alabama. Ethan immediately feels out of place and is discriminated against by the townspeople, as he is the only person of color present in their small town. However, Ethan meets Juniper Jones, a spark of light in this unwelcoming town, and his summer is changed forever. Juniper Jones is free-spirited, effervescent, and does not care what people think of her, thus making her an outcast from most of the town. She immediately connects with Ethan, and makes it her mission for the two of them to have the best, most invincible summer ever.

This novel is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, and will put you through a whirlwind of emotions. I laughed and I cried as I read this beautiful piece of young adult literature. “The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” demonstrates how one summer can change your life, and the beauty someone can find in friendship and family despite the oppression surrounding him. I fell in love with the characters, and the story will stick with me for a long time. This novel will be a perfect recommendation for my 8th grade students next year, and I hope they will love the story as much as I do.

Thank you to NetGalley and Smith Publicity for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Okay we really need to talk about this book!

The writing style is amazing! This book reads so fast and easy because the writing is so smooth. I literally flew through it!

Then there was the story. The story was great! I absolutely loved it! There were times that made me laugh so much and I totally sobbed at times too. I thought the haracter development in the story was amazing too! I always find it so disappointing when the characters are dull and boring, but that's definitely not with this one!!

This will definitely be one of those books that I recommend to my friends! I absolutely adored the story and I would read it again!

A biracial boy and free-spirited white girl become best friends in small-town Alabama in 1955. It is impossible not to fall in love with the charming and utterly pure Juniper Starfish Jones. For Ethan, who had never faced such unmitigated, blatant racism before, June’s friendship and kindness are all that are getting him through an otherwise terrible summer. Their story is adorable, quirky, fun, important, relevant, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Be prepared to experience laughter, tears, and every expression of emotion in between. I read this book in a single setting; I couldn’t put it down! Ethan and June are extraordinary characters. I will not soon forget them. 5 enthusiastic stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Daven McQueen, Ana publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

I want to start by saying that this book is not an easy read. It is not a fun and happy story - even if it has happy and fun moments. It's so important to focus on what the main message and story is when reading this. This book will break your heart. Sure, some parts made me smile and laugh but overall it is not a light story. But, it is an important story and I am glad I read this book - and I hope others do as well.

Small note: there are trigger warning to be aware of. There is a lot of mention of racism + racial slurs. There is discussion about segregation and the immense struggles and discrimination POC face. It takes place in the 1950s in Alabama and some of the characters are absolute a**holes.

The things I liked about this book:
- It defines how hard racism can be and it forces you to think about how messed up this world was (still is) and it does it in a way where you almost feel scared and uncomfortable (and I kinda find that important but if I talk about why I'll enter a social worker rant)
- The mentioning of friends and supportive family was pretty great as well

Overall a great, important and eye-opening read and it gets a 4.5 <3

This book gave me all the feels - I laughed, I cried, and cried some more. Ethan is a teenager and of mixed race, he spends a summer with his aunt & uncle in Alabama. It’s the 1950’s and it’s a shock to his system of how close minded people are, how he’s treated, and not welcomed. Thank goodness he meets Juniper Jones! They form a beautiful friendship as she guides him through cultures with her kickaxx, spunky attitude. Love these characters and this book! Thank you Wattpad Books, NetGalley, and Daven McQueen for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This book stole my heart. At its core, it's a story about friendship and how both love and hate have the ability to transform people. The friendship between Juniper and Ethan is lovely and it's written so the reader feels like part of their duo having an invincible summer along with them. I appreciated McQueen's direct approach to the racial tension of the 50s and the depiction of the discrimination, hate, and physical abuse Ethan suffered at the hands of racist townsfolk. I think she nailed the balance between allowing the reader to fall in love with the story and characters while simultaneously building a sick-to-your-stomach feeling of dread about what would happen to Ethan and Juniper. Ultimately, it's a story about hope and progress, even as it made me so angry and very sad. Both fans of historical fiction and contemporary fiction like T.H.U.G and Monday's Not Coming will enjoy this book. I can't wait to recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Alabama in the 1950s is a tricky topic but dealt with beautifully in this uplifting and moving story. Ethan and Juniper are both great characters - Ethan's inner (and outer) struggles are shown honestly, and Juniper Jones has got to be the perfect name for a feisty female character. The sympathetic treatment of all the characters in seeing multiple sides of their personalities and actions was really well done.

The pacing of this story was great and the story moved along smoothly, with the situation Ethan was in escalating almost without us noticing. I wasn't sure the bookending of the story with Ethan in 2015 was really necessary, although it does allow for some wise words at the end and some stock to be taken on progress in the last 60 years.

My final suggestion is that the author checks out her gardening next time as I'm fairly sure even in Alabama daffodils don't grow in the summer, but this is an extremely minor point that many (especially younger) readers likely will not notice.

This would be an excellent book to give to a young adult as part of educating them about racial injustice.

I saw this book on bookstagram and knew I wanted to read it. I absolutely loved it. It drew me in and I didn't want to take a break. Definitely did not disappoint!

trigger warning
<spoiler> racism, lynching, bullying, being orphaned, grief, isolation </spoiler>

Ethan is sent to live for the summer as a punishment. At first, he only thinks about all the things he could do if he were still at home, but then he realises that life in rural Alabama in 1955 is dangerous if your skin happens to be the wrong colour.

Juniper Jones adopts Ethan upon their first meeting. She always wanted to have a summer sidekick as she calls it, somebody to go adventuring with. She's a misfit, she sees another misfit and senses opportunities.

I have only one problem with this book, and that is that I was constantly pondering if Juniper Starfish Jones is a manic pixie dream girl or not. Can't decide. Also, I <i>like</i> manic pixie dream girls, apart from their funktion in stories.
I always want to befriend them, and I'd love to be friends with Juniper.

This book made me cry.
That doesn't happen often. Once every few years.
It's beautiful and sad and disgusting all at once, all in the right parts.
And that's from me, who can't connect to race issues because I'm pastry-faced in middle Europe. Can't imagine how you'd feel if you'd read this and share struggles with Ethan.

Just go and read it already.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the most touching novels I’ve read so far this year. Ethan is the biracial son of an African American mother and a Caucasian father. He lives prominently with his father in Washington, where he finds himself in some trouble after a fight with a boy from school. His father sends him to his hometown of Ellison, Alabama for the summer to teach Ethan a lesson. Ethan becomes quickly aware of the blatant racism that envelopes the town, as he’s told many times that “his kind” aren’t welcome there. Just as he feels there is no hope of spending all summer in Ellison, he meets free spirited Juniper Jones. Juniper has a plan of settling for nothing less than an invincible summer, and she’s convinced herself that she needs Ethan by her side for the adventures to come. Overall, this story completely broke my heart and yet warmed my heart at the same time. Juniper’s character is so sweet and refreshing, the way she immediately befriends Ethan was both comical and loveable. I loved watching their friendship blossom page by page. Would very much recommend this read to anyone. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy via NetGalley.

An ARC of this novel was sent to me by NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is as amazing as its cover- I adored this book! I am extremely impressed by the the settings, the characters, the details, the plot and the development in the characters!

It's the summer of 1955 and Ethan Harper is delivered to his aunt and uncle's home in Alabama. Little does he know what will wait for him. You see, Ethan is biracial, but when he showed up as the only black person the treatment that waited for him, even by his own family, was unexpected.

Also catching Ethan by surprise was the relationship that would develop with a quirky Juniper Jones. She vows to make it the best summer ever and together they embark in pursuit of creating memories to last a lifetime. Summer bucket list includes learning to swim, planting a sunflower in everyone's yard because what could be happier, and more pipe dreams that only June is capable of.

I loved this book so so much. It's been a bit since I've read anything this powerful. It was filled with all of the feels. It hurt because the levels of hurt are unfathomable now. I laughed because who couldn't laugh at Juniper's tactics? It's a story of a boy being forced to see the world around him in a different light. It's a book that is perfect for all young-adults to see how the world was, and really shouldn't be anymore. But perhaps it still it a bit more like this than any of us like to admit.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones takes place in the summer of 1955. Our main character, Ethan, is biracial. After he gets into some trouble, his father sends him to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle. Unlike his home, his aunt and uncle's town is much less accepting of his race. The people make it very clear that he isn't welcome. Then, Ethan meets Juniper Jones (aka Starfish) who is the "weird girl" of the town. She decides that she and Ethan will be best friends and they embark on having an invincible summer. With the help of Juniper Jones, Ethan begins to understand himself and the society he lives in.

I enjoyed this book and how prominently friendship, family, and discussions of race were featured. This is primarily a coming-of-age story in which Ethan begins to realize that the world isn't fair and how deep prejudice runs. Ethan is a likable and genuine character. The reader can understand his frustration, anger, and fear related to how he is treated during the summer. The atmosphere and setting of this book also felt very real and authentic. I was easily able to picture the hot summer adventures that Ethan and Juniper went on.

The only thing that I didn't enjoy as much was the fact that Juniper Jones is very much a manic pixie dream girl. She's a quirky and magical girl that helps Ethan appreciate life more and help his character arc. Her character does develop a bit, but her overall purpose in the plot is to help Ethan with his journey.

I'm also not quite sure if the title 100% represents the book. The title makes it seem like it's Juniper Jones's summer and I think this detracts from how this isn't Juniper's story, it's Ethan's. A title such as "The Invincible Summer of Juniper and Ethan" would be more accurate.

But, overall, this was a solid book. It was written well, covers some important topics, and features some strong characters. It goes by quickly and I would recommend it!

Thank you to Smith Publicity and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Just wow.

I went into this book with absolutely no expectations but I immediately fell in love with the main characters, Juniper and Ethan. I fear doing an in-depth description as I don't want to ruin the book but my god, I did not see that twist coming.

This book will have you smiling and then sobbing in the turn of a page. Please, please pick this wonderful book up.

The story needs to be made into a movie ASAP!

Juniper Jones is an incredible character, one who belongs in the annals of care-free individuals with a hidden depth alongside Stargirl Caraway. I loved how this book focused primarily on the idea of friendship between Juniper and Ethan without forcing a romantic element. As someone who teaches a coming of age unit, I could see encouraging students to adopt this for their book clubs next year.

Reading through vision loss
Book Review

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen

This amazingly written novel takes on race in a small very white centered town in Alabama during the summer of 1955. Ethan Harper is a biracial kid raised by his white father, who has never really discussed race with him. Ethan’s world is turned upside down when he is sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle in Alabama for the summer. His skin color is suddenly all the small town sees. Then he meets Juniper Jones, the town’s oddball. She persuades him to a help her have the most “invincible” summer ever. She tries to help him find the beauty in the ugliest of times. Two of my favorite quotes: “She’s the reason. The whole reason I made it through this summer. She showed me that people can be good and there can be hope , even when it hurts.” “ The revolution is a fire set to burn for generations.” I highly recommend this coming of age story, it brought many laughs, tears, and joy to me. Can’t wait for this authors next story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book in exchange for a review!

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a story aboit hope, dreams and friendship. But it is also a story of hatred and bitterness. Daven wrote a wonderful story in which the reader can lose themselve and find solace.

The narrators voice invitesbthe reader to follow along and to get an insight into his life and how he grew up. It is fluent and open and as if it was ones friend. Therefore it is easy to get lost in this book and dream of a summer as invincible as the one Juniper plans.

Triggers:
Racism
Death
Murder of a POC
Bullying

Tragic and excellent, exactly what I remember middle grade historical novels from my own school days being. The conclusion of the novel is obvious from the start, but that somehow improves it there by adding an unrelenting sense of devastating inevitability -- like watching a train plow into an accident, knowing it is too heavy (in this case with history) to stop or deviate from the obvious tragic conclusion. I imagine this novel will be on the short lists of many, many award committees.

Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summer of 1955 and Ethan Harper is dropped of at his Aunt and Uncle's home. A small town in Alabama Ethan faces a lot of racial situations because he is biracial. Then he meets Juniper Jones and it turns out to be a summer he will never forget.

I LOVED this book. It had everything I love reading about in a book. The characters where so fun. I loved the history part of it. It brought all kinds of emotions out. Happy, mad and even sad. A fantastic read for everyone.

Ethan Harper, a 15-year-old biracial kid, is forced to move with her uncle and aunt to a small-town Alabama in 1955. But he doesn’t fit with people in this new place, who discriminate against him because of his skin color. When he starts working on his uncle’s melt shop, he meets Juniper Jones, a kind and open-mind white girl, and Ethan realizes not everyone is willing to judge him for his look.

"The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones" is a story that portraits the injustice of a town of white people in 1955, but more than that, it's a story about self-acceptance and finding that place where we belong. Daven's well-drawn characters teach us a lesson of kindness, true friendship, and identity. An unforgettable and poignant story everyone should read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I am a woman that has mixed children and mixed grandchildren and even I have never thought about them being treated differently because of the color of their skin. Maybe that has to do with where I lived up until my children grew up. There were lots of mixed kids there even back in the 90's when my kids were born. But when I was growing up there were only white people were I lived and I was never told anything about any race including my own.
This book is so sad. I think I cried more than half way through it. It makes me sad to know that these things really happened to people and still do even today.
Some people don't understand the black lives matter movement and they say but white lives matter to, But they don't understand that black lives matter isn't about saying that ONLY black lives matter. It is a movement to say that black lives matterl TO. Just as much as any other life matters. That is what this book is about.
Best book this year by far.

So beautifully written, so human its definitely a coming of age story. What drew me in truthfully was the GLORIOUS cover Lort! I was hooked there.....my full review and thoughts to come when pub date is closer in the month of June.. Special thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the free arc in exchange of my honest review!!

A heartfelt book I just could not put down. The cover I have to admit drew me in firstly to the book but after reading just a few pages I was hooked, it’s a book for a dark day. Even though a tough subject matter was at play it leftest me up and showed me that anyone can do anything no matter how high the stakes are, we must just believe. The context of the book had be in awe of the beautiful descriptions littered throughout. A must read !

** spoiler alert ** This whole review is a major spoiler.



THEY KILL JUNIPER. I LOVED HER AND THEY KILLED HER AND I KNOW THAT WAS THE POINT.

I loved it. I hated it. I was passionately crying and yelling. And that's the point. This book was beautifully written. Wonderfully written. Gorgeously chaotic. I'm in love.

I was a bit disappointed in their views on justifiable anger and hate--like, if someone commits a hate crime, *please don't not forgive them*. That's hate, too, in my mind. But, I can overlook that for the beauty of the characters, the multifaceted reality that was presented to me. I loved it. I hated it.

And that's the point.

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐼𝓃𝓋𝒾𝓃𝒸𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝒥𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝒥𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“She hit him in the best way, like a rainstorm after five years of drought, healing the parched earth with a gentle touch; and in the worst way, like an unexpected earthquake, leaving dust and debris in her wake. She was, in equal parts a gift and a natural disaster. Her name was Juniper Jones.”

The invincible summer of Juniper Jones is a coming of age story set in 1950s Alabama, when Ethan a biracial young man is sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle. Ethan is the only black person in the town and they have no problems with letting him know that he is not welcome. Free-spirited, open, kind, and full of acceptance (everything that her fellow towns people are not) Juniper Jones friends Ethan and plans to have an invincible summer with him to make it all more bearable.

I adore this book. It was beautiful and I cried and I felt all of the feels. It was written so beautifully and I immediately feel in love with Ethan and Juniper and felt like I was along for the ride with them. There were times when I felt like my heart was beating so fast it was going to burst out of my chest. I couldn’t put this book down, especially at the end.

Authors - Daven McQueen
Publisher - Wattpad Books

I don't know where to start.
This book is at the same time a gentle hand guiding you through a beautiful Alabama summer and a fisted hand punching you in the stomach.
All the kind, sweet, gentle parts of it made me smile. I almost could feel Ethan and Juniper beside me sometimes. So it's not a surprise I also felt the pain every single time.
At the beginning the author says it's not a easy read, but it's necessary. I coudn't agree more. I know I (a caucasian, mostly sheltered woman) needed it. Specially the parts that made me nauseous and made me cry.
It's so beautiful written, all the strong, human force behind every character (even the revolting ones). It makes me want to be better.

This book is amazing.... The author did a good job of making the story very relatable. At times I cried and others I laughed. The topic is such a complex one The author wrote and described it in the best way possible. Great read!

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a coming-of-age story about Ethan Harper, a mixed-race teenager in 1955. After getting suspended from his high school, Ethan is sent to Ellison, Alabama to stay with his aunt and uncle for the summer. Stuck working at his uncle's malt shop, Ethan expects nothing exciting to come of his summer in Alabama-- that is until he meets redhead Juniper Jones. Juniper is outgoing, stubborn, and eager for an adventure, and wants nothing more than to spend it with her new friend Ethan. However, in 1955, Ellison, Alabama is full of white families who have no desire to welcome a mixed boy into their town, and aren't afraid to say so.

I LOVED this novel. Daven McQueen does an incredible job of writing about the United States in the height of the laws installed after Brown vs. The Board of Education. Having grown up in Washington state, Ethan is unfamiliar to the kind of world that exists in Alabama. Readers witness as Ethan grapples with his new world that is packed to the brim with injustice and racism, and experience his feelings of shock, sadness and fear right along with him. The events that McQueen writes about are heartbreaking in their cruelty and lack of humanity, but even more so when one remembers that what Ethan experienced actually happened and not just to him, but to everyone who looked like him.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones tackles racial inequality, and white supremacy, and does so flawlessly and honestly. Mcqueen writes in a way that has readers both hurting and rooting for the main character, at every moment. The friendship that she creates between Juniper and Ethan is adorable, fun, and heart wrenching, and definitely worth the read.

Have you ever been forced to spend a whole Summer with your relatives in some faraway small town?
That’s something that happened to Ethan Charlie Harper as a punishment for his misbehavior. Ethan was living in Arcadia, Washington and perspective of spending his whole Summer down in Ellison, Alabama sounded extremely boring for him. He would’ve been right if not the fact that Ethan was a black kid and it was the year 1955.

It’s a beautiful and touching story about friendship, race, searching for your own inner circle and a place where you belong. It’s impossible to finish <i>The invincible Summer..</i> without feeling wrath and resentment towards all the unlawful actions that have happened before and happens today against people of color.

This story affected me in so many ways. It made me cry and laugh and - most importantly- made me think about all the privileges I was born with. <i>The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones</i> is almost a love story with a heavy background of racial issues and for me, as a white person, it was s a way to look at the world with less privileged eyes.

The author, Daven McQueen, is contrasting idyllic and peaceful scenes of Summer vacations in a small southern town with wild and heartbreaking racist actions towards innocent people. That sweet and sour mix is served in perfectly measured portions that made me keep reading. It is Daven McQueen's first published book and I cannot wait for her next works. Our society needs more great books like this one.

<i>Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own</i>

This was an intense book. I laughed, I fumed, and I sobbed. Upon finishing, I had to sit back to compose myself.

"The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones" is a complicated story on race, friendship, and family told in the simplest way possible. Complicated because being Black in America was and is never easy. Simple because McQueen made the characters relatable and covered just one summer – Ethan's summer of 1955 in Ellison, Alabama. We feel the confusion of a Black teen who was never taught the concept of race experiencing racism. We see the amass of positive energy in the supportive Juniper, and wonder why non-Black people cannot all be like her.

Ethan and Juniper embarked on Project Invincible for a memorable summer. The free and passionate soul introduced Ethan to beautiful places in Ellison as they planned activities to enjoy their time together. Along the way, Ethan's aunt and uncle were also learning and making efforts to stand up for their nephew. I would like to think Ethan's stay at Ellison made many people better individuals.

Whether Ethan and Juniper's relationship was purely platonic or tinted with romance, we cannot know. But one thing is clear: what Ethan and Juniper had in the summer of 1955 was beautiful despite everything else, and the friendship was as rich and pure as can be.

Everyone needs to read this story, regardless of age and race. In "The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones," we see change and we see hope. But most importantly, we see injustice and unfairness that weren't supposed to be there in the first place. And fight against them.

The Invincible Summer Of Juniper Jones By Daven McQueen

A coming of age story about identity, racism, love, family ties and friendships.

Set in the summer of 1955 in small-town Alabama, where for the people there you are nothing more than your skin tone.
Blackness that inherently signifies for them the darkness of a soul and Whiteness commanding respect and power, and the people remaining blissfully ignorant that they would all bleed red in the end.

Ethan, a biracial fifteen year old from Arcadia, is sent to stay with his aunt in Alabama as a punishment by his white dad for being involved in a fight.

What his father does not realize is that his hometown Alabama has not changed since his childhood and still does not take kindly to colored folk.

Ethan spends mornings working at his Uncle’s Malt shop where he meet Juniper Jones, a fiery, joyous, kind-hearted, white girl, who is also in many ways the village oddball and considered a bit loony by others.

Driven by Juniper’s passion for life, they soon become the best of friends and plan out an endless list of activities to ensure their summer becomes the most invincible ever.

But what they do not take into consideration is that their friendship as pure as it is, will not be acceptable to many.

The writing is powerful and evocative and towards the end it gets even more powerful and gripping.

I felt the plot was initially a bit stretched out but overall it is a touching story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I loved this book! Such a beautiful expression of friendship in it's purest form. Ethan and Juniper came into each other's lives when they needed a friend the most. Through Ethan and Juniper's friendship we see them navigate the treacherous waters of the rampant discrimination and segregation of the South in the 1950s while trying to have the best invincible summer of their lives. The ugliness and tragedy of the times is tempered by their beautiful friendship and how it had a ripple effect on those around Ethan and Juniper. Definitely recommend this book to everyone!

Couldn’t put this book down. It’s a story about a biracial kid named Ethan who is sent to Ellison, AL in the summer of 1955. There he meets Juniper, who is an eccentric white girl who has big ambitions and an even bigger sense of adventure as well as being open, kind, and accepting of Ethan for who he is. The two of them have the summer of a lifetime, all while dealing with the racism of the town. This story shook me to my core and reminded me that this was less than 65 years ago and to this day, we’re still dealing with racism the book covers. I legit cried at the end of the book and absolutely loved it. This book was a joy to read and thoroughly enjoyed Juniper and Ethan’s adventures. Highly, highly recommend this book.

I was utterly speechless when this book ended. I just had to sit with it for a few minutes to take it all in. It was a powerful, piercing and bittersweet tale of life, friendship and race.
I can't recommend this book enough to anyone at any age. A few pages in and i knew this would be one of those books that would stick in my mind for a good few years if not forever. The characters were absolutely lovely and vivid, beaming with joy of living while suffering deeply at what the society chose to offer them. The pace was perfect, and also i did not notice any unevenness or a stray paragraph that was unrelated to the whole body of the story, just like a puzzle everything fell into place and made this book unforgettable.
And as good books are meant to be, The Invincible Summer Of Juniper Jones, left me with a giant question mark:
Has our world truly changed into a better place to live (through these many decades of injustice) for people who stand out from the rest?

This book is an amazing read. The uniqueness of the plot is enthralling with the beautiful play of words.
The characters are written with remarkable accuracy and beauty. The pacing and the flow are great throughout the book.
It was a great read that everyone should add to their collection.

I wasn't easy to start reading this book - the first pages had drawings on them, and somehow that made my e-reader crash, so I had to read it on my laptop. My arm is broken near the shoulder, and sinse I had to lean in a bit to read on my laptop, it would hurt a bit to read. This book was totally worth that hassle, I would do it all over again.

'The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones' is bittersweet. It tells, no, shows how much racism hurts, especially the kind of racism that we white people hardly notice, or tend to rugsweep. It also shows true friendship and how important it is to care and to stick up for each other and ourselves.

I also want to say sorry tp POC, for all those times I probably have missed racism right under my nose and/or swept it under a rug. You didn't deserve any of it, ever.

At once joyful and heartbreaking, bittersweet and poignant, “The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” is a beautiful story that immerses the reader completely from the very first page and will leave you thinking about the characters long after it ends. It tells the story of Ethan Harper, the son of a white father and black mother, who is sent to spend the summer of 1955 in Ellison, Alabama with his aunt and uncle. He is quickly and painfully confronted with the realities of racism in the American south, while at the same time he is taken under the wing of a kind, free spirited girl named Juniper. Juniper is the opposite of most people in town- friendly, accepting and loving- and she immediately enlists Ethan to help them both have the most amazing summer ever. Juniper and Ethan’s fun summer is juxtaposed with the increasing racial tensions in their town, forcing them both to reconsider what they know and believe about race and equality. As the book raced to its emotional conclusion, I could hardly put it down. “The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” made me laugh, cry, smile and gasp out loud. The characters were so well developed, and the descriptions made me feel like I was right there with them. I highly recommend this book and think it would be especially good reading for a middle school English class, although I think people of all ages with enjoy the story of Juniper and Ethan and the best summer ever.

(Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This is no way affected my rating, and all opinions are my own)

Four stars

The novel begins in the relatively recent past with Ethan, who receives a phone call that reminds him of a traumatic summer from his childhood. For the bulk of the novel, readers are then transported to that summer of 1955. To put it mildly, this summer houses events that are painful for Ethan, for most of the characters in the novel, and for the reader, too.

One character rescues Ethan during this terrible summer: Juniper Jones. She is an incredibly endearing and quirky individual who manages to transcend her environment and possess an organic sense of humanity. I'm going to keep this spoiler-free, but her impact on Ethan - and I suspect on most readers - does not end in that summer (as per the title); it lasts a lifetime.

Though there are parts of this novel that feel a bit lengthier than necessary, its messaging and final scenes are unquestionably compelling and challenging. I love the author's note and find the combination of this addition and the overall construction of the work to be especially meaningful for a teen audience who may be new to historical fiction and who may not have had previous access to the realities of this time.

I'll be recommending this one to students as both a well devised example of YA historical fiction and a challenging but moving depiction of the period it represents.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones,” tells the story of Ethan Harper. He is a mixed-race boy who is sent to live with this aunt and uncle for the summer in Alabama, 1955. While working at his uncle’s malt shop, he meets Juniper Jones, a girl who is a free spirit. Juniper plans to have the best summer and ropes, Ethan, into helping her.

In this small town, Ethan starts to realize the racial tensions and discrimination that he is experiencing. He learns about the injustices of racism. He has to deal with being the only black person in this small town and how to cope with the discrimination he is facing.

This is a beautiful book about friendship, racial tensions, heartbreak, and having the best summer imaginable. It is a coming of age story. Ethan is stripped of the childlike innocence when he realizes how deeply rooted racism is in people despite him doing them no wrong.

“The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” is the perfect read. It was joyful, hard-hitting, and heartbreaking all tied in one. I think this is an essential book for Young Adults (and anyone) to read. It weaves together issues of racism and discrimination set in a beautiful story about friendship and having the best summer ever.

The invincible summer of Juniper Jones tells the story if Ethan Harper. In the summer of 1955 Ethan has to live with his aunt and uncle. There he meets Juniper Jones, a very excited kind girl who has made it her goal to have the best summer ever.

When I started reading this story it immediately grabbed my attention and didn't let go. This is mostly because of the characters. Ethan is a very nice character to follow. During the story he becomes more and more aware that the world is not fair and that some people are treated poorly only because of the color of his skin. It is easy to connect with him as we see him trying to deal with his situation.

Even more likable is the second main character of this story, Juniper Jones (aka Starfish). Juniper is as likeable as it gets. Everything she does and says is filled with a passion and determination. She is different from all the other people in town. She is filled with love for Ethan and everyone she meets. They both just feel very genuine and like real children.

What really stuck out to me is how this story is very happy and relatable, while at the same time dealing with heavy topics such as racism and bullying. You get to see a lot of summer adventures, where the pair climbs trees, drinks milkshake and makes paintings. But there always is this threat in the background of people who really don't like Ethan being in town. You get to see some big and some smaller signs of how much everyone seems to dislike Ethan for the color of his skin. The fact that the characters are so flashed out makes it easy to understand the horrible topics even better. All I wanted was for these two kids to just be able to have the best summer ever without having to think about any big world problems.

The way this story is written made it very easy for me to picture everything in my head. I loved the descriptions of the town.

This book has made me laugh several times, it has made my cry and it has made me want to scream in frustration.

This was a really great read! I really enjoyed reading this book, would definitely recommend. This is a good book for all ages.