The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones

I’m going to keep this review simple, because there is just no way I can write a review that will convey the depth and emotion in this story, and I’m completely blown away by the fact that this is a debut book. Honesty, I can’t even fully put into words the beauty, the heartache, the hope, the joy, and the adventures in this poignant story. Mostly I don’t want to write too much, because I want you to go into this story with your heart and emotions wide open without any possible hints from me as to what you should expect.

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones is a coming-of-age story set in the deep south of 1950s Alabama. It is a book I will never forget and always recommend. There is no doubt in my mind that this will forever be a lifetime favorite book, and I’m sure others who have read it will agree wholeheartedly. I read this as a buddy read with Jenny and we both flew through this story. As it came to an end, we were not ready to leave the characters behind because each one had impacted us so greatly and held our hearts in their hands.

Please pick up this stunning debut and read it as soon as you can. It may be a YA lit book, but it is a must read for all ages. Not only is it a moving story, but it is a relevant story to our current times.

Synopsis: It’s the summer of 1955. For Ethan Harper, a biracial kid raised mostly by his white father, race has always been a distant conversation. When he’s sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in small-town Alabama, his Blackness is suddenly front and center, and no one is shy about making it known he’s not welcome there. Except for Juniper Jones. The town’s resident oddball and free spirit, she’s everything the townspeople aren’t―open, kind, and full of acceptance.

Armed with two bikes and an unlimited supply of root beer floats, Ethan and Juniper set out to find their place in a town that’s bent on rejecting them. As Ethan is confronted for the first time by what it means to be Black in America, Juniper tries to help him see the beauty in even the ugliest reality, and that even the darkest days can give rise to an invincible summer.

Daven McQueen’s Juniper Jones is a character for all ages in this sweet coming of age story set in 1950s Alabama.