Many people will call this a "quiet" story, which is usually a euphemism for a boring story. Not much happens in Junonia. A girl named Alice goes to Florida with her parents for vacation. She turns ten. She's disappointed that her mother's best friend comes with a new boyfriend and his annoying six-year-old daughter. She hopes to find a rare junonia shell. Yawn.

But Henkes does sort of amazingly capture a ten-year-old's voice. Alice's small moments of joy and despair hit me as true. I kinda felt transported back to being a little girl myself. It was pretty great.

So I enjoyed this book, but I don't know if many kids will. It's a hard sell because there's hardly any plot and it's not particularly funny or unique. But it's a very well-written glimpse into a child's inner world. ( )

There is something about Kevin Henkes novels that I can't quite put my finger on... but I think if I read one without knowing who wrote it, I would be able to identify it as his. The main thing I think is that he is a master of expressing the emotions of children. How they feel. What sparks those feelings. The other thing is that his books are never highly plot-driven. It's more like we just step in and see a segment of the protagonist's life. There is a starting point and and ending point, but the books always seem to be much more about the way the main character feels and interacts with others than it is about plot elements.
In Junonia, Alice (9, turning 10 during the book) goes with her parents on an annual vacation to a beach in Florida. When she gets there, she finds that several of the things she looks forward to every year will be different (or non existent) this year. A new girl, several years younger shows up, and Alice must deal with her too. The book is about all of these things, but what it is really about is how Alice feels and reacts to things.
It is a lovely book. ( )

Kevin Henkes novels always have that quiet thoughtfulness about them. Alice and her parents set off for their annual Florida vacation and on this trip she looks forward to turning 10. But the trip isn't exactly as she anticipated when some of her favorite people don't show up, and Aunt Kate's new boyfriend and his daughter Mallory upset the expected dynamic. This is about growing up and learning to deal with the disappointments of life. And being 10, she's on the cusp of realizing life isn't always going to be what you expect or want. It's a pretty deep message once you think about it. ( )

Adult Reader Reaction: This is a rich, beautiful story. The descriptions draw you into the story as if you're standing right there with Alice. It is a quiet book that won't appeal to all readers, but don't mistake it for a "girl book." Alice's thoughts and emotions are universal. This has the potential to be a comfort book for preteens.

Pros: Vivid descriptions and a realistic cast make for an engaging summer vacation read. This could be particularly powerful for kids who struggle with change. Alice offers a road map that might help.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

Beautifully written. ( )