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Book Review

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Publisher's Note:

Juniper Berry knows how to handle bobcats, bears, and mountain lions, but can she survive the toughest predator of all―middle school? Eleven-year-old Juniper Berry lives with her family deep in the wild woods. Living off the grid is pretty exciting, but her happy life in the wild ends abruptly when her younger brother gets sick, and they move to the city to be closer to the hospital. Juniper and her older sister end up living with cousins they hardly know and attending public school for the first time, which is harder to navigate than the wild woods ever were. Juniper feels like a wolf cub separated from her pack. As the hospital bills for her brother start piling up, Juniper knows they’ll need to be paid before the family can go back to the woods, so she decides to make enough money to help out. With her cousin Alayna’s support, Juniper starts posting videos filled with her wisdom from the woods, hoping to get a following. But what if it doesn’t work? What if the bills never get paid? Not going home to the wild is Juniper’s worst nightmare. While she’s stuck in the city, she might as well make the most of it, like sticking up for Alayna, who’s being bullied by her supposed friends, for starters. The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry is a story about perseverance when faced with difficult and unfamiliar challenge, belonging and finding your identity, compassion for others, and learning that our differences can sometimes be our strengths.…

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The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry

by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Reviewer: Jenny
Genre: Fiction
Recommended Age: 9+

Overall Book Review:

The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry is quite the story. It is one that leaves a lasting impression and all school-age children could benefit from reading it. Authors Chad Morris and Shelly Brown bring up some pretty deep issues such as mental health and parental abandonment, but do so in a way that doesn’t feel too heavy and in turn offers a great opportunity for discussion. The characters also experience two very different settings that make for an interesting plot. Due to the significant setting change, there’s plenty for the characters to learn that will induce readers to laugh, cry, and feel many emotions in between. A lot can be learned from several of the characters, including Juniper and her bravery. This would be fantastic for a book club or for families to enjoy together. Not only will lessons be taught, the story will entertain and be loved by many.

Review of a Advance Reading Copy Provided by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis: 

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Many (29) brief incidents including character saying, “Stupid will get you dead”; character joking about hunting another; characters worried about getting hurt or killed (by animal); reference to mother animals being willing to die for their babies; character wanting to kick animal and person; similes/metaphors about something hurting; character experiencing a panic attack and feeling like she will die; character saying, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat”; verbal threat; character asks another not to shoot them; character might have to shoot someone with an arrow in self defense; references to dead animals; character shoots another with a practice arrow (little to no injury); character kicks someone; character gets bit by animal; character stomps on another’s toe; character has life threatening health problem; creature dies. 

Sex/Nudity: Two brief incidents–including a young child in underwear; parents discussing that their child will eventually want to marry.

Mature Subject Matter:

Mental health issues; parents abandoning children; young child hospitalized with life-threatening health problem; a few references to gross bodily functions.

Alcohol and Drug Use:

None

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
0
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
1
10

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About the Reviewer

Jenny
I love being able to help busy parents who just don’t have the time to pre-screen all their children’s books and know how much I appreciate it as my sons have gotten older. I feel very blessed that my amazing husband makes it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mother to four amazing boys. When not reading or enjoying time with my family, I like baking, especially trying new recipes, and the occasional sewing project.

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