Beautifully written with a stunning portrayal of an enslaved young girl, Junie, who works for the McQueen family. Junie is bright, vivacious and very well rounded. She is grieving the loss of her sister, traversing multitudes of different personalities from her own family as well as the McQueen family, and doing it with grace and humor.

It isn’t often that a book shows us in such depth what life as a slave was like. As Junie comes to age, we get to see her grow and try to thrive in miserable conditions. It’s heartwarming to see her overcome obstacles and forge her own path.

Give this one a shot, you’ll be glad you did. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC of this 4-star book.

Eckstine's writing is beautiful. This book was powerful, emotional, and as a reader I adored the writing style. Junie is a character you want to root for and see the story work out for her. The descriptions of characters and the environment were impactful and really shined in the book. Also the cover is gorgeous which makes the experience even better. This book has made me a fan of Eckstine and I want to read more of their books.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine takes place just before the Civil War. Junie is the maid of Violet, and they are the same age and are friends. Violet has taught Junie how to read. But just how real is this friendship? Violet's family has been losing their fortune, her father is mostly absent from home. Junie is very insecure especially since the death of her sister Minnie as she feels responsible for this death. Minnie is a haunt and asks Junie to complete certain tasks. Violet is expected to marry, and a wealthy family arrives from New Orleans. Junie's grandfather travels with Violet's father and they arrive with this family and another slave Caleb. I wanted so much more for all these characters. There is much tragedy in this book which may be expected due to the subject. Sometimes it was a very hard read and for that reason I will give it 4 stars. Overall I enjoyed the book and it is worth reading. I did receive a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Was a good read. Not five stars, but definitely 4 stars for me.

Not a must read. But a nice fast year for weekend. Vacation, or rainy day.

Recommrnf.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Junie has lived a hard life for a sixteen year old. She is a slave and dreams of a different life. This was an emotional read.

Generally loved this one. Junie, a slave on Bellerine Plantation for her entire life, has lost her mother and her sister, frequently disappoints her grandparents, and keeps up a tenuous sort of unbalanced friendship with the mistress of the house. Violet claims Junie is her best friend, but Junie's elders know that isn't the way of the world for enslaved help. When Junie accidentally disturbs her sister Minnie's dead spirit, things start to go south, as Violet begins a courtship with a suitor that might take Junie from the only home she's ever known. Junie enlists the help of Caleb to help run Minnie's errands from beyond the grave.

Without spoilers, the ending of this book was incredibly sad but so beautiful at the same time. Overall, Junie is about a slave reckoning with the realization that her "best friend" does, in fact, consider her property, and a coming of age about love, security, and the bonds of family for better or worse. I really enjoyed this read.

Thanks to Random House -Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!

Loved the storyline and author’s writing style; however, for me, including the ghost of Millie was a miss. I think the storyline could have supported Junie moving through late adolescence and preparing to transition to her next phase in life without a supernatural element. That’s just my personal preference when reading historic fiction.

Debut who? I knew this one was going to be a really emotion-packed read, but this book left me gutted. Junie is just a really well written, thought provoking piece of literature. The levels throughout this story of slavery, sacrifice, and oppression were so impactful. Junie, our protagonist has hopes and dreams bigger than her circumstances and she refuses to allow herself to forget that. She is this really strong-willed, passionate woman who wants better for herself, her family, and the people she cares about.

There are so many layers to this story. Junie, enslaved since birth, cannot escape the memories of her recently deceased sister. It feels like Millie is everywhere, until she actually appears, shaking up any possible contentment that Junie felt with her current status in life.

Junie spends most of her time as maid to Violet, and though she has spent her entire life alongside girl, learning to read, sharing their love of books and poetry, the illusion of real friendship with the girl begins to ripple. With the arrival of a wealthy New Orleans family, intending to seek Violet's hand in marriage, Junie discovers how this will change everything she knows.

I love that Junie never really had to have that AHA moment in order for her to see what is truly going on in the utter imbalance of power she lives in. Instead, these feeling have remained simmering under the surface, just waiting for the catalyst. Junie will go to great lengths to find freedom, learning some painfully hard truths along the way.

This book just filled me with such rage, yet Junie herself was a balm. She was such a powerful presence and I adored her.

What an informative novel. Very well written. I didn’t realize how brutal the slave owners were!it certainly made you stop and think what the black people have gone through. Maybe retribution should be give to some of these people. Tha ending was quite sad!

While there were many things I liked and found compelling about this story, there were a couple that seemed to be attaching 21st century ideas into the white owner's family's part of the story. I think it could have been done differently using possibilities more likely for the time period and that aspect of it threw me off a little. I thought the author did a great job showing the complexity of the feelings about slavery with such things as if they should try to run away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of Junie. This well written historical novel discusses slavery in a different and imaginative way. Ms. Eckstine draws upon her family's history which adds to the enjoyment of the novel. The novel tells of the struggles of slaves during that time and also touches on the many issues facing the lives of the slave owners. The characters are well developed, especially Junie, and her relationship and interaction with each of the other characters.

Junie was a very unique historical fiction novel. The richness of this book was amazing.. I have read many books set in the South before the Civil War, but few where the main characters were the slaves. The author wove a rich background of family and cultures. The contrast between the lives of those being served and the lives of those serving was stark. The use of Minnie as a spirit was very different and brought a magical quality to the novel.
The author’s note at the end of the book brought home the importance of this novel to her and the connections she felt to the characters she brought to life. I wished that the author’s note was at the beginning as it would have provided a different lens in which to view the novel.
I appreciate NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity the preview this novel and I wish it success.

What an ABSOLUTELY incredible book. I cannot wait to shout this from the rooftops. JUNIE. JUNIE. JUNIE.

Junie is an incredible book. I feel like I want to write a brainy analytical review of this book because it's an excellent book and an important one and I think it will become a classic. And so even though I want to write that kind of review,
a head review, I have to write a heart review because I just finished the book and it kinda made my heart sing and put tears in my eyes. I love the way the character Junie embodies hope. I love the way the character Minnie uses her rage to try to save her family. I love the way the woman descended from the real Jane Cotton wrote this book. Thank you to Net galley and the publisher for the opportunity dread this ARC.

Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, along with her family cooking and cleaning for a white master. She also tends to his daughter, Violet - and they've become friends. Junie's sister, Minnie, passed away and late at night, in the dark woods Junie sees her ghost.

As Violet turns of age, and her father needs an influx of money to keep their plantation - he brings wealthy friends in from New Orleans to visit. Junie becomes friends with their coachman, Caleb.

The characters are really well developed and the storyline is frustrating and interesting at the same time. It's a hard period to write about, but I think it was done well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The powerful story of Junie, an Alabama slave during the days before the Civil War. This beautiful novel highlights, not only what it was like to be a slave in southern Alabama, but what the slaves lost in terms of family. Junie, the main character loses first her mother, then her sister. She learns that the only way she is going to have a life is to take a chance and make a choice…. not something easy to do . Ms. Eckstine writes so beautifully; the language just seems to flow….the descriptions just magnificent. This book had me spellbound, I could not put it down. An excellent, excellent read.

Enslaved since she was born, Junie longs for freedom. But life keeps getting in her way. First her sister dies, and Junie just knows it was her fault. Besides that, everyone is always having to correct her because she often daydreams and is easily distracted.

Junie is special to Violet, her white master’s daughter. Together they giggle about many things, and Violet helps Junie learn to read. But Junie’s heart belongs to her family, and their life is definitely not easy. She even begins to see how her family has to work to protect her from her own foolishness.

Eckstine’s goal for this story was to portray life from a slave’s point of view. She does an excellent job. We learn much about the behind-the-scenes running of a plantation and being subservient to owners whose demeaner ranges from unkindness to outright cruelty.

How Junie finally takes control of her life and in the process helps Violet to do the same makes for a very interesting story. I’m hoping to see more from this author.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine is a masterful tapestry of emotional depth and historical resonance. Set against the harrowing backdrop of the Belleriene plantation in Alabama, this beautifully crafted novel follows Junie, a young enslaved girl whose life as a housemaid is marked by profound sorrow and an unquenchable longing for freedom. Eckstine's portrayal of Junie's journey is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating, as she grapples with the loss of her sister and the burning desire to transcend her circumstances.

The narrative is a poignant exploration of grief, resilience, and the quest for self-discovery. Junie's evolving relationships and her introspective journey allow her to address her deep-seated pain while forging a path toward her own liberation and self-realization. Eckstine’s writing is imbued with bravery, compassion, and a spiritual richness that breathes life into Junie's story. The emotional resonance of this book is undeniable—I found myself deeply moved and utterly captivated. Junie is a powerful read that will linger long after the final page, and it’s a story I know I’ll return to time and again.

Junie is a beautifully written story about a young, enslaved girl who has recently lost her older sister. She's just received devastating news that could change her life forever, and she is determined to change her fate. Ms. Eckstine's writing is haunting and authentic, and this is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

This book was very creative and imaginative. As I read the pages, I could see the scenes pass. I enjoyed that it made me think about what I would do if I was in that situation. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!