The Summer of June is another amazing book by Jamie Sumner! June has anxiety and starts the summer by shaving her head to give herself a fresh start, be courageous, and put on a brave front. Only, she finds out that might not be exactly what she wanted. June spends the summer at the public library where her mom works. She meets Homer, a boy that recites poetry. June isn’t sure what to think of him at first, or whether to let him into her real world of anxiety. During the summer, they become friends and each begin to see the other person as they really are. Jamie Sumner does a great job discussing anxiety and showing what it’s really like living with it. June is a brave character who realizes she can learn to live with her anxiety if she will let her friends in to help her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

This is a beautifully written book! I related to and fell in love with June from page one! Her mom is absolutely amazing and made me cry more than once. I love how June’s anxiety is written realistically and you see her journey to cope with it. The Tandy was a fun “villain”, and seeing the friendship between June and Homer blossom was so heartwarming! I will definitely being purchasing this for my nieces and nephews!

3.5 stars

_The Summer of June_ marks another hit for Jamie Sumner.

June, the m.c. of this contemporary middle grade effort, is a precocious character whose close relationship to her single mom initially seems like the only tool she might have for combatting her looming nemesis: anxiety. Fortunately, June's circle only expands; her demonstrations of growth and triumph follow suit.

There are some intense but age-appropriate scenes describing June's thoughts and actions, and I expect these moments will make June an essential mirror and window for so many young readers. After all, with the state of the world today, how can kids (or actually all people) be anything BUT anxious? For those like June, who has a therapist and medication for this purpose, it'll be especially validating to know about her experiences and successes.

I enjoyed the read overall and really appreciate the representation here, but this novel feels a bit light on character development and plotting compared to Sumner's previous works. I'll still be recommending it to my college students and hoping that many of them will find a dash of hope in June's story, too. We can all take _The Summer of June_ over our actual summer of horror any day.

A realistic approach to anxiety and life changes told through relatable and likable charecters. The story flowed smoothly and didn't stall.

Another wonderful heartfelt tale from Jamie Sumner. Sumner's works often feature young people with disabilities that are either not written about often or written without authenticity. The Summer of June takes on the issues of severe anxiety and adds it to a rich tale that also tackles growing up, single parenthood, deferred dreams, therapy, and finding community. Beautiful and heartwarming.

Summer of June felt like an authentic portrayal of living with anxiety (at June’s age or any age). I feel like this will really resonate with people of all ages who are suffering and will be of particular value to young readers. I loved June and her mom and Homer, and even felt myself feeling sympathy for the disillusioned old librarian - a good reminder that everyone has their own story / experiences that make them who they are. Loved this books so much and would absolutely recommend to others!

(Will return here to post reviews once I’ve shared them to Instagram and Goodreads.)

What a powerful middle grade book that brought tears to my eyes. I would highly recommend this to people of all Agees because the way the story flows is beautiful.

First off, I have to say books like The Summer of June are so, so, so important! This story focuses on June, a 12 year old girl navigating anxiety. She starts her summer off shaving her head. She does this as one of her anxious behaviors is she pulls her hair. She's tired of being judged for this, so she wants this to give her a fresh start and strength to overcome her challenges. Throughout the summer, June does a variety of things to find connection and joy and to just become more comfortable in her own skin! This was a story that was so beautifully told. It took on the topic of mental health in such an authentic and real way, and I love that this is a middle-grade read as this is a story that this age group (and thirtysomethings like me, too) need! Also, June was such a wonderful character to center, and I loved being able to see how her journey unfolded. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this upcoming release!

When 12-year-old June shaves her head on the first day of summer break, she has two goals: 1) She will stop pulling out her own hair, and 2) She and her single mom—recently dumped by her boyfriend—will own their power as fierce, independent females.

If only June could ditch her worries as easily as her hair. Her anxious thoughts make her head itch. Scratching is a temporary relief, causing the itch to spread until she’s compelled to yank out strands of hair. It hurts, June says, but it’s also satisfying. Each plucked hair seems to take a bit of worry with it.

June’s mom oversees the town library’s teen department, and, now that it’s summer, June joins her there. June helps her mom and their friend, the children’s librarian, with various tasks and slips away as needed for quiet, alone time. Slowly, June gets to know other library regulars, including Luis, a widower who is a gardening pro, and Homer Juarez, a dreamy poet and school soccer star who wants her to teach him chess.

The summer also offers June a lesson in library politics. When her mom’s by-the-book boss wrongly believes that plants in the children’s department—a tribute to Miss Rumphius—have damaged a windowsill, she demands the seedlings be thrown out. June and Homer rescue the plant babies and, with guidance from Luis, start a secret garden behind the library. Soon, June discovers the soul-soothing pleasures of digging in soil, smelling lavender, and harvesting a home-grown tomato.

As the story progresses, June’s circle widens beyond her loving mom and caring therapist to include a diverse, well-rounded cast of characters. They appreciate June for all that she is—smart, tender-hearted, funny, and brave—and they continue supporting her after a devastating incident plunges June into depression.

The ending—triumphant, realistic, and hopeful—brought tears to my eyes. Young readers will relate to and appreciate this visceral, deeply moving exploration of one girl’s anxiety and the power of community.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of the novel from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased opinion. I don’t post about books that I don’t finish or don’t like.

Jamie Sumner's Tune it Out was one of my favorites from 2020. I was highly anticipating her new book, Summer of June, and it did not disappoint. Young June has severe anxiety and Trichotillomania (a hair pulling disorder) results. Determined to combat both of these problems, she shaves her head on the first day of summer vacation and proclaims that this will be the Summer of June, the time to overcome her anxieties.

This is easier said than done, however. Anxiety isn't something that one can just turn off-- as she realizes when her plans to be fierce go awry. However, she has an incredibly supportive mom and a new friend who is determined to be by her side.

June is a wonderful, well developed character. I loved all the supporting characters as well. For me, the book's only flaw was when June tried to manipulate her mother's love life. I rolled my eyes and actually put the book down for a week because it is a tired trope. Luckily, I picked Summer of June back up and was rewarded with a beautiful story about a girl facing her demons and embarking on a path for change. Another winner for Jamie Sumner.

I think I would’ve really liked this book if it was more up my alley, but it just wasn’t. It was a good story, I just didn’t personally enjoy it.

To say June struggles with anxiety is an understatement. Sometimes her thoughts get so bad that she tries pull them out of her by ripping her hair out. But this summer is the summer she's going to get better. First step: Shave her head. Second step: Don't panic as she realizes her great act changes nothing. But she has her mother and library friends to support her, including a new boy that June can't quite figure out. Together they defy the head librarian and plant a garden that helps June find peace. Until her garden is attacked and she must find the strength to overcome her anxiety long enough to speak out for the power of libraries and gardens. Mental health is covered honestly and authentically in this young adult novel that teens and adults alike will enjoy.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I tried a few times to get into this book but wasn't able to. Will purchase a copy for the branch though.

I cannot wait for this book to come out so that I can buy it for not only my school's library, but my own, as well as several copies for some middle schoolers in my life. This book so perfectly encapsulates the tangle of emotions of middle school, of beginning to find one's place in the world, of fitting in, of all the social situations to be navigated ... I so wish I had had this book when I was younger.
Summer so eloquently captures the challenges June has with her anxiety with the utmost sensitivity, but never sacrifices the reality of said struggles. It was enlightening to read this book, and know other readers will also revel in the insights provided to those of us who do not understand such mental health obstacles. The nuance of this novel cannot be overstated, and the relationships June builds throughout her story is so realistic. Every library collection should have this book!

I totally related to The Summer of June by Jamie Sumner. As the mother of two children with anxiety, I wish this book had been written years ago so I could put it in their hands so they didn't feel so alone. June Delancy, a 12 year old, strives to conquer her anxiety of the course of a summer. She sees herself as a mouse, timid and shy and wishes to roar like a lion. There is a great cast of characters, besides June--her ever supporting mother, her new poetry-reciting friend, Homer Juarez, her gardening guru, Luis, her mother's friend Sharika, and more. I love that most of the characters are so supportive and understanding of June and her anxieties. There are, of course, a few who bully her for being different. I also love that a major setting in the book is a public library as her mother and Sharika are librarians.

I will definitely be purchasing this book for my school library! Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

What can I say about June? Oh so many things! I loved June and felt for her so very much. She is a beautiful character who deals with anxiety and wants to be "cured". As the summer goes on she makes new friendships and finds new ways of coping with her anxiety instead of trying to be cured.
This is a beautiful book, about anxiety, family, friendships, and growth.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

What I wouldn't give to have had this book as a kid. June is a girl desperate to no longer be "broken" by her anxiety anymore. A sweet story involving intergenerational friendships, single parenthood, therapy, and lots of bravery.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for an early read!

June hopes to tame her anxiety this summer and own her independence. She learns new coping skills, grows a secret garden behind the library, “the plants have taken care of me”, and opens herself up to trying new experiences so she won’t miss anything. She meets poetry quoting Homer who encourages her to be herself, and it gives her courage to stand up for herself in a tough situation. Great book showing the possibilities and growth where one can live in the moment.