This bittersweet middle-grade book hits all the emotions - showing the joy of summertime adventure while also showing the heartbreak and gravity of racism in America.

It tells the story of Ethan, a biracial teen forced to spend the summer of 1955 with white family members in small-town Alabama. Ethan, having lived his whole life in Washington state, experiences the stark realities of racism in the South for the first time, as the only black resident of the town. The only bright spot in the summer is Juniper Jones, a local teen with a never-ending fountain of energy and imagination who slides her way into Ethan’s life and becomes his best friend.

The author made language and plot choices in order to paint as accurate a picture as possible of a black teen living in the South in this time period. Though difficult to read at times, I appreciate her thought and consideration in order to write a book that would mirror some readers’ life experiences, allowing them to feel seen, as well as providing the opportunity for other readers to consider the perspective of someone different than themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Smith Publicity for giving me the chance to read The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones! This is only the second book I’ve read in my life that made me ugly cry (which is a good thing)! I won’t get into a summary, but this book was so compulsively readable that I blew through it in just a few days. The issues addressed are relevant today, even if the setting is in the past, and the characters feel real and relatable - I wish I could know Juniper Jones! I cannot wait to read more by Daven McQueen, and I hope that more than just YA readers get their hands on this book. Excellent read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad for my electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published June 16, 2020.

Be prepared to laugh and cry and feel uncomfortable. This YA book takes us to the South in 1955, where bi-racial Ethan is dumped to live with his white relatives for the summer. Juniper Jones and Ethan form a wonderful friendship over the summer as they conquer their list of invincible activities while experiencing discrimination.

Kudos to the author for addressing this issue so well. It felt authentic because I found myself reacting strongly.

Review also posted on GoodReads.

Reading this book felt both like being hugged and punched in the face. At the same time. It's such an important book, such a brilliant book. It's a story about racism and friendship, losing innocence but gaining something in return. Such an incredible book!

I loved this book. It was beautifully constructed it was incredible from beginning to end. Juniper was such an endearing character, and her positivity was magnetic throughout the story.

This book is full of powerful messages about race and how we see the world. Definitely a tear jerker, but well worth the water works. Highly, recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for the opportunity to review this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to read this beautiful book. The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen is one of those gems that hits you out of nowhere and will probably stay for a very long time.

A coming-of-age story set in the South in the 1950s, McQueen examines what it means to be black in the USA. Although it is set in the 50s, McQueen’s writing hints that things may not have changed fundamentally from that time. Sure, it’s no longer acceptable to be overtly racist (or maybe it still is, judging by what’s happening in the White House), but deep seated ignorance about others and otherness still prevails. It’s a heavy topic, but McQueen handles it wonderfully, showing us in the most heartbreaking of ways, how being the Other takes so much away, and that solely by the lottery of birth, are some given the privilege of innocence.

Personally, I’m increasingly uncomfortable with the manic pixie dream girl trope and I actually sighed when Juniper was trotted out at first in her full brightness. However, Juniper was fleshed out quite well as the story progressed, allowing her to be human and not just a device to propel the plot forward.

I cannot emphasize how much I believe that everyone needs to read this book. It is such a well-written book that I can’t even begin to describe. You need to read it to experience it yourself. Trust me.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A coming of age novel set in rural Alabama during the Civil Rights movement. A biracial teen is sent to stay with relatives for the summer and comes face with blatant racism and also some understanding and love.

This story starts in 2015 when Ethan receives an unknown letter in the mail - we then flash back to the 50s where he spends his summer in Ellison, a deeply southern town. Ethan's white father brings him here to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle because he has gotten in trouble at school. Being black, Ethan sticks out like a sore thumb in this southern town, and the town residents don't graciously accept his arrival. He befriends fun, sweet Juniper Jones, who doesn't quite fit in either and their invincible summer begins...

The idea of this book was absolutely beautiful, and I loved the importance of what story this would tell. Unfortunately, it wasn't as beautiful to read as the synopsis. Due to the writing style, I could not finish this book.

First, the main characters are supposed to be 15 (in the summer between Freshman and Sophomore year in high school). I consistently read them as being around 12 or 13, and every time it mentioned their age again, I was surprised to remember that they were in high school. The way they interacted with each other and the things that they say, what they care about, just their whole character seemed much younger. This would have been a very sweet middle grade read.

Second, the story DRAGGED. I stopped halfway into the book, and the plot still had yet to develop much at all. The characters still had yet to develop much at all. I'm not sure it was necessary to describe each and EVERY event in such extreme detail. Ethan and Juniper's invincible summer list, while it should have been something cute, turned into such a chore to read.

I have no doubt that the ending moral of the story is spectacular - I just wish someone could tell me what page that starts on so I can skip all the rest. Two stars because I love the idea of the story and its importance, but just could not get through the adaptation of it on paper.

(Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I was immediately drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover. Then, I read what it was about and I was totally interested. The story develops in the summer of 1955. Ethan is a biracial thirteen-year-old boy who lives in Arcadia, Washington, where racism is not as explicit as in Alabama, where he is sent by his father. While he is miserable because he has to stay in a small town with his aunt and uncle, he meets Juniper Jones, a joyful redhead who becomes his friend. This book describes how their friendship becomes stronger as they try to have an invincible summer, while several issues about race are discussed. I have to describe this book as a "coming of race" novel, as Ethan discovers how society sees him and what the implications of his race in his daily life are. Most of the white characters find themselves dealing with these situations for the first or second time, so they have to think about their prejudices, what they stand for, and what the role of each person in such a large and structural issue as racism is.

What I liked: There are many dialogs about how racism feels for Ethan and how the white people who love them are trying to learn more about it in order to help. It is an interesting book because these interactions allow the reader to understand that taking a side in situations of racism is urgent, but it explains as well that it is also a difficult process that requires constant efforts. I think this book should be read because it talks -in both a clear but complex enough way- about some racial issues that must be discussed if we want to work for a better society. Talking about racism requires learning about it and empathy for the peoples that have been oppressed by racial inequalities, and I believe reading this book is a great place to start or to understand more about this topic. I have to say that the book is also a fun story to read about two best friends who have many adventures during the summer. I had a nice time reading it, especially because of how the value of friendship is depicted and how the apparently neverending fun of summer is described.

What I did not like: The background history of most of the secondary characters is told in a couple of lines, and it is okay because nobody needs to know everything about every person mentioned in the book, but I did want more details about several characters. In that way, characters like Abrahams, Courtney, Ms. Phillips, or Noah's family could have been developed some more. It was a great book, but having a clearer picture of their opinions could have been interesting to have a deeper understanding of their position in the racial conflicts that we read about.

I finished this book in one sitting. I was immediately drawn into the storyline the moment Juniper made her first appearance. So much that I wanted to partake in the invincible summer Juniper and Ethan envisioned. I was brought back to memories of my own childhood and the many adventures I had during those wonderful summer days. At first the racial tension in the first half of the book were like gnats in the summer, annoyances that interrupted the fun. However, the storyline went from joyful, fun to very emotional and if the year was not detailed you would not know that it wasn't present day as the same racial tension and its consequences slowly suffocate certain communities. I commend the author for not writing another race fueled story that is only one-dimensional. Justice does not always take the form we either expect or hope for in life but I appreciate how the ending included an incredibly mature take on the story and actually was more realistic.

Please note that I was provided an advance copy of this book in return for a review.

3.5 stars

Usually anything by Wattpad Books is a no-go for me, but this one was actually great! The writing does feel a little Wattpad-ish at times, but the story is so beautiful and important. I loved it. A fantastic read about a summer that will be an easy read for your summer!

Thank you to Netgalley, who provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A thought-provoking novel with a surprising ending!

I really did think before I read The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones that the main character would be... well, Juniper... but it wasn't, which is probably a good thing because I don't know how I'd feel about Stargirl 2.0 being the protagonist. Not that I didn't like Juniper's character - she was eccentric in a good way, most of the time.

I like how this book dealt with racism in an appropriate way despite the silly tone of a lot of the story. Juniper Jones gets serious when it needs to be, especially with that ending. The prologue wasn't joking around with its foreshadowing!

The novel also takes place over one summer, which I always find to be fun. It makes you ask yourself, "What's going to happen at the end of summer break when the main character has to leave?"

The only problem I had with The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones was that the summer events in the middle seemed repetitive, but it paid off in the end. This was a great book and would be a perfect - if not tragic - summer read!

Daven McQueen may have just given me one of my favorite books of 2020. Incredibly well-written, McQueen tells the story of Ethan Charlie Harper, a bi-racial teen, and his misadventures with Starfish, legally know as Juniper Jones. The story is set in the 1950's in Ellison, Alabama where race tensions are at a high. Ethan is visiting his dad's sister, Aunt Cara, after Ethan had found himself in some trouble back home in Washington state. Ethan has never experienced an atmosphere quite like Ellison and it is a whole new world. The harsh realities of racism are shown in this book, including derogatory language and explicitly racist remarks, including segregation in a movie theaters and buses. I felt like this book is such an interesting foray into young adult books that meet historical fiction. Wonderfully done.

From the beginning of Juniper Jones, you know that it’s going to be a sad ending. The frame takes place in 2015 with our main character Ethan, and then goes back to his time in 1955 as a 14-year-old. So is it young adult because it’s about a 14-year-old? Or do you need a more sophisticated understanding of what it was like in our country in Alabama for people who weren’t white in 1955? I don’t know the answer, but I will say that pretty much anyone will get something out of this book. The friendship between Juniper and Ethan is so pure and innocent that it is a joy to be a part of. The study march to what seems like an inevitable conclusion is full of both suspense and heartache. Highly recommended.

This story is equal parts beautiful and sad. While it's geared towards the young adult set, I feel as though people of any age would enjoy this book. It's a stark reminder that people are more alike than they are different, and it may encourage readers to both live and love hard. Highly recommend this read.

I didn’t have really any idea of what I was getting into when I picked up The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen. Is it too shallow to say the cover appealed to me? Scanning the blurb was enough to get me interested and start reading. And I am so very grateful that I did. This book made me feel all the feels!

As much as I loved the sweet friendship between Ethan and Juniper, this book made me equally angry – at so many things. Ethan’s dad, Ethan’s aunt & uncle, the entire town, society, the world, all the anger. Yet the author did such a good job at showing how Ethan had to hold it all in and that made me feel like I had to do the same. And what a crappy feeling that is. I had never considered how much holding all that anger inside could hurt.

Of course, there were sweet carefree moments too. How else could you have an invincible summer? What a precious thing it is to be outside and free with your best friend. Quite a wonderful portrayal of an unlikely friendship. Which led to all the ugly crying when the friendship was destroyed by hate. I had naively hoped things would end well, but it couldn’t have – not then.

This was a five-star book for me. It successfully pulled me out of my own narrow worldview and left me both broken and with eyes opened at the end. This would be a great addition to any high school curriculum.

I requested and received a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen is currently set to be published on June 16, 2020.

I didn’t 100% know what this book was about until I read it. I won’t lie because I found at times this book was hard to read.

Initially, it is about racism. It is such an important story.

It is set in the summer of 1955, when Ethan is sent to live with his aunt and uncle.

Ellison is a racist town and coloured people are not welcome. They don’t let Ethan forget it.

Then Ethan meets Juniper. They plan an invincible summer and for a time Ethan forgets about what is going on in town and instead is immersed into his plans with June.

Until it all comes crashing down around him.

Ethan had never been told of his roots. His father just never knew how hard it was for a person of colour. During the course of this story, Ethan figures it out and Juniper does her best to help him.

This story made me cry, and it made me laugh. I couldn’t put it down.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones was such a beautiful story. The cover art is incredible and immediately drew me in. This story primarily takes place in a small town in Alabama during the same time as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A biracial teenager, Ethan, is sent to stay with his aunt & uncle for the summer and forms a fast friendship with Juniper Jones. Juniper helps Ethan navigate through racial tension with her idea of an “invincible summer” where she shows him how much more their town has to offer. Ethan faces racism head on and learns how important it is to have a friend by your side. This story was beautifully written with exceptional character development and an unpredictable ending. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

You know those times you start a book knowing something awful and heartbreaking is going to happen but even when it does you still cry all over your Kindle at midnight while your husband snores away next to you......yea this is that book. This is a story all about race and the deep seated nature of how it can shape people's lives. It is also the story of how friendship, real friendship doesn't see color...only people...and has the power to change people for the better.

We meet Ethan and Juniper in summer of 1955 in a small town called Ellison, AL. Ethan is a young bi-racial young man forced to come to stay the summer with his aunt and uncle (the sister of his Caucasian father) after an altercation in his hometown hundreds of miles away in Washington state. It is immediate and undeniable he is not welcome and there will be issues to be dealt with "The stares of the people here, their curiosity wrapped with disgust, was familiar in a deep and ugly way"

While working in his uncle's malt shop, one of the highlights of this sleepy Southern town, he meets Juniper. "She had forest fire hair and hurricane eyes and when he meet her it was as if his world had been set aflame". Juniper is a force of nature. Within minutes of meeting Ethan she recruits him to partner with her on her plans for an invincible summer. She is kind, smart, brave, loyal and genuinely enthralled with living every day as the gift it is. She is the friend you wish for your children to have or better yet the person you wish your children could be.

Adventures follow and a friendship of substance and beauty is formed in their wake. Their friendship not only changes them but others who come in contact with the pair. Ethan's aunt and uncle begin to realize how dangerous and frightening it is for Ethan to be with them and through Juniper begin to see him not as an outsider but a person to be valued, loved and protected.

One of the reasons I so wanted to read this one is because I am born and raised in Alabama. I love to read anything from How to Kill a Mockingbird to Homegoing if they feature my home state.....and get it right. I can say that while I don't know how she does it, never having lived in Alabama, McQueen gets it right. I wish I could tell you I don't know anyone like Noah O'Neill (the town bully) but I do. I wish I could tell you that it is unrealistic that grown men covered in white bed sheets tormented other human beings simply for being another color, but it isn't. I wish I could say that hatred isn't such a volatile force in someone's heart that it doesn't lead to deadly consequences but then an innocent man is gunned down while taking an afternoon jog because he "looked like someone who looked like a bad someone", but it is.

Another thing I really loved about this book is how McQueen dealt with how Ethan's white family members struggle to fully understand what life is like for him. It isn't glossed over as "they should know better" because back then, as appalling as it was, they didn't know better. They had to learn and become better, little by little, and I appreciated how that was acknowledged and brought to light in a compassionate way. Honestly I would love to see more of this, especially between Ethan and his Dad. It was touched on but I think it could have been explored a little deeper.

This book will wreck you, leave you so deeply sad that you wonder how we survive such hate. Yet there is such beauty in this book. There is growth and courage and forgiveness. There is light in the darkness and by that light, there is hope. Hope that we can be better, do better, be more like Juniper.".......she was bursting with color, too bright for this little room and, Ethan thought, for this whole town"

The only other feedback I will offer is the cover design. Instead of seeing the 2 faces I often see one girl face, with big hair wearing a headband (the words Juniper Jones make the headband shape). If I may offer a suggestion I think a bike, laid on its side, with a lake in the background would be very fitting.

Wow!!! <b>The Invinsible Summer of Juniper Jones </b>  was an unexpectedly great read.  In her debut novel Daven McQueen  hit the ball out of the park and I can't congratulate her enough.   This was YA Historical fiction done exceptionally well.      Granted I enjoy YAF and Historical fiction separately so it's probably not all that surprising I loved it but I can see it having wide appeal.    McQueens characters were well developed and  delightful.   Her story built gradually and came to a conclusion I simply had not anticipated.    She made me smile at the beautiful friendship between two young people, but more than anything she engendered in me an appreciation for what it was like to live with racism and her story had me in tears.

Ethan Charlie Harper was 14 in 1955 and had recently been   suspended for punching a boy.    His dad decided his punishment would be to spend the three months of summer living with his Aunt Cara and Uncle Robert in the small town of Ellison Alabama.   As readers we gradually learn Ethan is a coloured boy, born to a white dad and negro mum.     Here in Alabama it's very different from his hometown in Washington State.   He's learning the hard way that boys that look like him are not welcome.    Worse.    In the bigger towns in Alabama there are laws keeping white folk and coloured folk separate.  Not only is Ethan unhappy to be away from his friends and family but Ellison is a frightening place for a boy who has never really come across such outright racism.   Thankfully he met and was befriended by Juniper Jones.    She was a quirky character and was hard not to love.    In many ways she reminded me of Pippi Longstocking.    Not just the red hair and the apparent lack of parents but her playful nature and caring ways.    She didn't have a mean bone in her body and was completely unbothered by apearances.   She took Ethan under her wing and roped him into her plans for an invinsible summer.    They had all manner of adventures together and as Juniper and Ethan found ways to support each other their friendship blossomed.    

It was definitely a coming of age story.    Under different circumstances there may have been more than friendship between Ethan and Juniper.  In fact romantic feelings were definitely hinted at but no way could they be acted upon in this time and place.   The theme of racism was front and centre all the way through the book.    Through Ethan readers got to understand what it was like to be a coloured boy in a town where the Klan had a real and scary presence.    His awakening to his own anger about racism and his fears of being physically harmed were the things that really made him lose his childhood innocence and see the world for what it is.     All this while offset by his friendship with Juniper teaching him "...that people can be good and there can be hope, even when it hurts.”  

 Am thoroughly delighted to have read this book and highly recommend it.    Sincere thanks to the author, to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.