Overview

There are some friends you never forget. 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. Enter Juniper Jones. The town's resident oddball and free spirit, she's everything the townspeople aren't-open, kind, and accepting. 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 . . .

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9781989365168

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Starred Review - School Library Journal - May, 2020 * After getting in trouble for punching a bullying classmate, Ethan, 14, is sent to the small town of Ellison, AL, to stay with his Aunt Clara and Uncle Rob. It is the summer of 1955, and Ethan, whose father is white and mother is Black, grew up in the relatively integrated town of Arcadia, WA, and has never experienced the racism and segregation of the Jim Crow South. Not long after his arrival, he meets Juniper Jones, a flame-haired free spirit (think Anne of Green Gables meets Stargirl) who immediately declares them friends and starts to plan the invincible adventures they'll have. What follows is a sweet, heartwarming account of two friends discovering the innocent pleasures of summer shenanigans: They roll down the steepest hill, climb the tallest tree, and have picnics in the middle of the lake. Despite their budding friendship, the reality of Ethan's life in the Deep South lurks just outside of their pleasant bubble as small-town racists and a trip to the segregated city of Montgomery jolt him to his core. Striking a lovely balance between exuberant joy and piercing heartbreak, this story will make an impact with many readers. Juniper is a somewhat familiar character type, but the sensitive, well-drawn portrayal of Ethan stands out. His delicate shifting from anger to love to resentment to confusion will linger after reading. The writing is clear and evocative, bringing to life the lush countryside of Alabama in full summer and never veering into melodrama, despite the book's high emotional content. VERDICT A gorgeous, memorable story that deserves a place on both school and public library shelves. -Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood Public Library, MA

*A gorgeous, memorable story that deserves a place on both school and public library shelves. --School Library Journal, Starred Review . . . one incredible book about a summer that changed so many lives --Book Nerd Cafe The underlying message of the story - that friendship is possible despite differences, and that everyone has the right to respect - is one that resonates as much today as it did in the Alabama of 1955. --Canadian Review of Materials McQueen weaves a heartfelt narrative that examines friendship, otherness, and forgiveness --Booklist [A] powerful . . . story of friendship, respect and compassion. --Ms. Magazine Heart-breaking and well written, THE INVINCIBLE SUMMER OF JUNIPER JONES is a YA historical fiction about racism, friendship, and the events that are indelibly printed on our souls.--YA Book Central McQueen deftly balances the rollicking summer adventures of Ethan and Juniper with the gravity of racial discrimination; Ethan's wrenching initiation into what it means to be Black in the United States is handled with candor and force.... The book provides a nuanced look at its characters' turmoil, guilt, fury, and love. --Boston Globe In the foreground of McQueen's novel are characters so vulnerable, their emotional complexities mirror those we struggle with and cherish in our own lives. McQueen's writing also reveals the precarious balance between hope and sorrow related to these controversial themes. --Shelf Awareness for Readers

Author Information

Daven McQueen grew up outside of Los Angeles, California, and graduated from Brown University, where she earned a BA in literary arts and economics. Her works on Wattpad include December, Beautiful Dreamer, and Superior, which received a Watty Award for Science Fiction. When she's not writing, Daven can be found tap dancing, embroidering, cooking, and eating dessert. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her cat, and works in education.

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