Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones,” tells the story of Ethan Harper. He is a mixed-race boy who is sent to live with this aunt and uncle for the summer in Alabama, 1955. While working at his uncle’s malt shop, he meets Juniper Jones, a girl who is a free spirit. Juniper plans to have the best summer and ropes, Ethan, into helping her.

In this small town, Ethan starts to realize the racial tensions and discrimination that he is experiencing. He learns about the injustices of racism. He has to deal with being the only black person in this small town and how to cope with the discrimination he is facing.

This is a beautiful book about friendship, racial tensions, heartbreak, and having the best summer imaginable. It is a coming of age story. Ethan is stripped of the childlike innocence when he realizes how deeply rooted racism is in people despite him doing them no wrong.

“The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” is the perfect read. It was joyful, hard-hitting, and heartbreaking all tied in one. I think this is an essential book for Young Adults (and anyone) to read. It weaves together issues of racism and discrimination set in a beautiful story about friendship and having the best summer ever.