Book Review: The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen

Book: 135/150

Rating: 5/5

It's 1955 and Ethan Harper is sent to Ellison, Alabama for the summer to live with his aunt and uncle as a punishment for a fight he was involved in at school. His white father doesn't see any potential flags with sending his biracial son to the deep south, but Ethan is soon confronted for the first time with what it means to be Black in America.

While working in his uncle's malt shop, he is befriended by Juniper Jones (the town's resident 'oddball') a spunky, fearless, open, and kind girl who is ready to have an invincible summer. Ethan figures it can't hurt to have a friend for the summer... and embarks on an invincible summer with his new friend Juniper.

Oh man, you guys. This book destroyed me. This is a beautiful and INVINCIBLE coming-of-age story of friendship, race, and history.

There is an innocence to both Ethan and Juniper; and the author takes the reader on an emotional ride by experiencing through Ethan's perspective the first hand experiences he has with racism. No doubt he's experienced racism back home in Washington State, but the world is different in Ellison, Alabama.

Juniper is the antithesis of the racist townspeople; she is kind, open, fun, and loving. She very much reminded me of Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables). My heart was so full reading about her and Ethan's friendship; it is such a special feeling when you make your first true best friend and McQueen captured this beautifully.

This was a perfect end of summer read (I am very much a seasonal reader), but really, pick this one up whenever you can. It's also the first book that I paid full price for on my Kobo, and there are NO regrets!