Book Summary
For her birthday every year, Alice and her family take a trip to Florida and stay in a beach side cabin called Scallop. From the moment she arrives, Alice learns that this trip, for her tenth birthday, will not be the same. Some of her favorite people that usually are there will not be able to come. Her Aunt Kate is coming but bringing her new boyfriend and his daughter Mallory. Mallory does not seem happy about being at the beach and has constant outbursts and tantrums about various things. Alice eventually learns that Mallory's parents are going through a divorce and her mother has moved to France. Although Alice's tenth birthday does not go exactly as planned, in the end, Alice shows a level of maturity and learns empathy towards Mallory.
APA Reference of the Book
Henkes, K. (2011). Junonia. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Impression
I was pretty disappointed in this book. I really loved Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes. When I started the book, it had the same feel, so I had high hopes. This book wasn't bad; I would classify it as average, but I definitely wanted more from it. I found the characters to fall a bit flat. There was not much development of them or of the rising action. My impression of Alice is that she was a privileged child who had never experienced any type of real struggle. Everything she was over dramatically upset about was a "first world problem." There was mentions of some type of facial deformity, but it was never addressed. I think had that been more developed, my opinion of her would have changed and the story would have been more interesting and engaging. Mallory was the most complex character, but she was quickly pulled away from the end of the story and the reader never got to find out how her character fully changed. The setting of the book and descriptions Henkes used were phenomenal and the best part of the entire book. The setting was so developed and weaved throughout the entire book that it became another character, and in my opinion, the best developed.
Professional Review
Every February, Alice and her family leave their wintry Wisconsin home for the sunny shores of Florida on a week-long vacation that usually falls right around Alice's birthday. This year is going to be extra special as Alice turns ten, and she's looking forward to celebrating with her fellow snowbird neighbors, whom she considers to be her extended family. From the minute she arrives, however, things are different: Mr. and Mrs. Wishmeier's grandchildren won't be visiting due to school, another friend is snowed in back in New York, and Aunt Kate—Alice's favorite relative—is bringing her boyfriend and his spoiled six-year-old daughter, Mallory. Perfectly capturing a girl on the verge of adolescence, Henkes offers up a quiet and, at times, almost mournful tale about the loss of simple childhood magic and the inevitable arrival of adulthood. Well loved and sheltered, Alice is just beginning to peek out at a world beyond her parents' arms, and what she finds is both exhilarating and unnerving. The independence, for example, to search the beach for shells by herself is wonderful, but the specter of loneliness and abandonment, as represented by Mallory and her wayward mother, weighs heavily upon a thoughtful Alice. The story ends on a hopeful note as Alice steps into her role as the older, wiser child through her friendship with Mallory, but an underlying thread of grief, simple and unaffected, remains palpable even at the conclusion. Readers who find themselves reluctant to leave behind the comforts of familiarity, even as they yearn for freedom and excitement, will readily relate to Alice's dilemma. Black-and-white line drawings gently textured with hatching open each chapter.
Quealy-Gainer, K.(2011). Junonia (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 64(10), 472.
Library Uses
Kevin Henkes has such a wide range of styles. His novels are so different than Caldecott winning picture books. All of these are so different than his most famous books such as Chrysanthemum, Owen, and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I think he would be a great author to highlight in a display to encourage children of all ages to check out his wide range of work. This book would be a great addition because it is appropriate for third or fourth graders.
APA Reference of the Book
Henkes, K. (2011). Junonia. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Impression
I was pretty disappointed in this book. I really loved Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes. When I started the book, it had the same feel, so I had high hopes. This book wasn't bad; I would classify it as average, but I definitely wanted more from it. I found the characters to fall a bit flat. There was not much development of them or of the rising action. My impression of Alice is that she was a privileged child who had never experienced any type of real struggle. Everything she was over dramatically upset about was a "first world problem." There was mentions of some type of facial deformity, but it was never addressed. I think had that been more developed, my opinion of her would have changed and the story would have been more interesting and engaging. Mallory was the most complex character, but she was quickly pulled away from the end of the story and the reader never got to find out how her character fully changed. The setting of the book and descriptions Henkes used were phenomenal and the best part of the entire book. The setting was so developed and weaved throughout the entire book that it became another character, and in my opinion, the best developed.
Professional Review
Every February, Alice and her family leave their wintry Wisconsin home for the sunny shores of Florida on a week-long vacation that usually falls right around Alice's birthday. This year is going to be extra special as Alice turns ten, and she's looking forward to celebrating with her fellow snowbird neighbors, whom she considers to be her extended family. From the minute she arrives, however, things are different: Mr. and Mrs. Wishmeier's grandchildren won't be visiting due to school, another friend is snowed in back in New York, and Aunt Kate—Alice's favorite relative—is bringing her boyfriend and his spoiled six-year-old daughter, Mallory. Perfectly capturing a girl on the verge of adolescence, Henkes offers up a quiet and, at times, almost mournful tale about the loss of simple childhood magic and the inevitable arrival of adulthood. Well loved and sheltered, Alice is just beginning to peek out at a world beyond her parents' arms, and what she finds is both exhilarating and unnerving. The independence, for example, to search the beach for shells by herself is wonderful, but the specter of loneliness and abandonment, as represented by Mallory and her wayward mother, weighs heavily upon a thoughtful Alice. The story ends on a hopeful note as Alice steps into her role as the older, wiser child through her friendship with Mallory, but an underlying thread of grief, simple and unaffected, remains palpable even at the conclusion. Readers who find themselves reluctant to leave behind the comforts of familiarity, even as they yearn for freedom and excitement, will readily relate to Alice's dilemma. Black-and-white line drawings gently textured with hatching open each chapter.
Quealy-Gainer, K.(2011). Junonia (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 64(10), 472.
Library Uses
Kevin Henkes has such a wide range of styles. His novels are so different than Caldecott winning picture books. All of these are so different than his most famous books such as Chrysanthemum, Owen, and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. I think he would be a great author to highlight in a display to encourage children of all ages to check out his wide range of work. This book would be a great addition because it is appropriate for third or fourth graders.
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