Junie: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • As the Civil War looms, a young girl must face a life-altering decision after awakening her sister’s ghost in this “poignant story of love, family and friendship [that] celebrates the power of liberation” (People).
“An enrapturing tale of survival . . . Eckstine has poured a ton of heart into her characters.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The richly textured prose quickly pulled me into [Junie’s] treacherous yet magical world.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake
Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie.
When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble, she realizes Bellereine is harboring dark and horrifying secrets that can no longer be ignored.
With time ticking down, Junie begins to push against the harsh current that has controlled her entire life. As she grapples with an increasingly unfamiliar world in which she has little control, she is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?
“An enrapturing tale of survival . . . Eckstine has poured a ton of heart into her characters.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The richly textured prose quickly pulled me into [Junie’s] treacherous yet magical world.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake
Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie.
When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble, she realizes Bellereine is harboring dark and horrifying secrets that can no longer be ignored.
With time ticking down, Junie begins to push against the harsh current that has controlled her entire life. As she grapples with an increasingly unfamiliar world in which she has little control, she is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?
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Community Reviews
I really enjoyed this book and that Junie fought back. The author did a great job of touching the cruelty enslaved people had to endure with out the whole book being about suffering. It was a tale of strength and family and a great love story. I wish the ending could have been a fairytale it's fiction why not give me the happy ending. Also loved the authors note that this was inspired by her ancestors. What a wonderful way to share there story. My book club is going to read it later in the year and I'm excited to discuss with them and it's so good I'll probably reread it.
I wanted more from this book. I’m not really a fan of YA, and at times it felt predictable. The FMC really irritated me she had me so frustrated throughout the story. I also struggle with books about slavery that try to soften white characters or paint them as “not that bad.” That never sits right with me.
To me, Junie is about releasing the expectations placed on you and letting go of the version of yourself that everyone else told you to be. Through loss, Junie begins to figure out what she actually wants out of life and who she can become, breaking free from the shackles literally placed upon her. There isn’t a happy ending in liberation and honestly, that felt intentional.
That said, I’d give it 3 stars. It doesn’t really pick up until about 60% in, and that made it hard to stay fully invested. I also found myself wishing the story had focused more on Minnie I would’ve rather read her story instead.
Junie is a sixteen year old girl living in Alabama. She is a slave owned by the McQueen family and a maid to their daughter, Violet. She becomes concerned that Violet is going to marry a young suitor who is visiting the family. Meanwhile, her sister, Minnie's ghost appears and asks her to complete three tasks in order to help her move on.
I loved everything about this book even the small element of the romance and just the setting that it took place in. The historical fiction part of it and the setting is the best part it. Honestly, I just experienced so many emotion grief, anger , love and just kind of relief throughout the whole book it was just so many emotions in it that’s why I loved it so much!
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