Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
227
Description
When eleven-year-old Juniper begins to suspect something is wrong with her mother and father, she and her friend Giles discover they have been selling their souls, pieces at a time, to a silver-tongued creature in a terrifying fairy-tale underworld.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
227 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
9780545485739
Similar in this library
Lexile
700L
User reviews
LibraryThing member leyliagray
Striking illustrations and interesting storyline but the first half of the book was a little boring and didn't hold my interest as much as the last half of the book when the action picks up. The author took a little long to set up the story and I would've liked more explanations about who the
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fantastical creatures and people were under the tree. The story in the book deals with changes and wants. In this story, it manifests itself into a creature that exchanges her parents wants/dreams in exchange for their "breath" (the book explains what's happening at the end but you can figure out what it is if you think about it). At each exchange, her parent's self and health dramatically declines and Juniper tries to figure out how to stop it before its too late. Ultimately its about taking the easy way out, which can be unhealthy, or doing things the hard way which takes more strength and is more rewarding. Great ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member ashley5
this book is great it has good personification in it and some mysteries. this book includes this girl named juniper berry and here parents are famous actors and they found a secret tree but inside this tree is something different down there but scary at the same time. but down there something
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happens to her parents and she has to save them. Show Less
LibraryThing member KimJD
From August 2011 SLJ:
Gr 4-6–Juniper Berry misses the days when her parents were less famous. They have become two of the most recognizable actors in the world, and the 11-year-old rattles around their mansion with only her dog for company. Even when her mother and father are home, they are too
Gr 4-6–Juniper Berry misses the days when her parents were less famous. They have become two of the most recognizable actors in the world, and the 11-year-old rattles around their mansion with only her dog for company. Even when her mother and father are home, they are too
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preoccupied to act out the plays that she writes for them. When Juniper meets a boy wandering around the grounds, he tells her he has noticed a similar withdrawal in his parents and believes the adults’ strange behavior is linked to a mysterious tree on Juniper’s property. As she and Giles explore the tree more thoroughly, they find a hole in its base and a staircase. They discover an underground lair that is the home of Skeksyl, a shadowy creature that trades in special balloons. Those who agree to breathe into one will have their innermost desires fulfilled. As the children are drawn deeper into the eerie world, they realize that their parents have fallen victim to Skeksyl’s temptations and must find a way to reclaim their souls and restore the unity that their families once enjoyed. While Kozlowsky’s imagined world is an original one, readers are never truly drawn in as events unfold, and even the main characters come across as flat and unappealing. Lyn Gardner’s Into the Woods (Random, 2007) and N. D. Wilson’s “100 Cupboards” trilogy (Random) are better choices for fantasy lovers who enjoy themes of the importance of family. Full-page, atmospheric illustrations appear throughout.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Show Less
LibraryThing member Robinsonstef
If you like a book that is on the scary side, then you will certainly enjoy Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky. Fans of Coraline will be thrilled to find another book about a world that is off kilter and eerie. I would recommend this book to kids at the end of elementary school through middle school.
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Some kids might be too terrified by it, but anyone that likes stories that make their knees knock will find it to be a unique read. I thought it was a fast paced book, and I was definitely curious to see how everything would turn out in the end. Juniper is a girl who believes in being kind to others. I also liked that she was brave and clever throughout the book. I must say the cover first drew me to this book, but the interesting storyline kept me reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookRatMisty
When I came across this on Goodreads, it became one of those things that just takes over your brain. Or takes over my brain, anyway... Everything from the cover to the title to the fantastic little tag line just called to me. So when I was offered a copy out of the blue, of course I casually
And when it came in the mail (so if you went with Choice 1, sorry, you lose), I promptly sat down and made short work of it. And though the beginning was a little rocky for me, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Juniper Berry for me was interesting in that it pleased both my adult side and the 9 year old Misty that was obsessed with creepy books and made her mother worry that she had "unhealthy" reading habits (because apparently to moms, Goosebumps is acceptable only in small doses. A steady diet of it = serial killer, or something. Or, at least that's what meddling neighbors lead moms to believe. Moving on...) Reading it, I got the same impression I had when I read Coraline: that my younger self would have eaten this up. It was just creepy enough, and unflinching in its darker aspects, that it would have delighted me to no end. It had this fantastic dark circus feel, with fairy tale elements in there as well (hence it's inclusion in Fairy Tale Fortnight), but it still remained its own thing. There were certain little unexpected elements that delighted me (kid and adult) and gave it this great visual appeal, and I have always loved a book that makes you see what is going on and leaves you with lasting images. Certain quirky things are always going to pop into my head when I think of this book, and I love that.
This is of course aided by the fantastic illustrations. My copy, being unfinished, only had some of the illustrations, which means I'll have to track down a finished copy to see the rest. But from what I saw, they were perfectly suited to the text, and stylized nicely.
I mentioned Coraline earlier, and I want to bring it up what more time because the comparison doesn't end just in the fact that I liked it as an adult and now I would have loved it as a kid. It also reminded me of Coraline in that it was disturbing in the way that Coraline was disturbing. In Coraline, there was the Other Mother, and good lord, if she is not the creepiest character for a kid to read... And it's not just the black button eyes, or the eating of souls. She's disturbing because she is a parent (or, looks like one and pretends to be one, anyway). Though there is a villain in this (more on him in a minute), what ups the disturbing factor in this is the parents. You know - and Juniper knows - that they are good people, but that something is wrong. Having your parents do these strange dark things ups the creep out factor immensely, and I loved it.
But moving on to the actual villain of the piece, Skeksyl, my reaction to him was...interesting. In some respects, he's a very good villain. He's creepy, he's dark, he's tempting, and he has a raven for a sidekick. (Villain: ☑). But there was one thing that I found off-putting, and this is just because I'm me. I don't think kids would be bothered by this, but every time Skeksyl is described by Juniper, his nasally, high-pitched, screechy voice is mentioned, which just made me want to laugh. I can't take a villain seriously with a nasally, high-pitched, screechy voice (unless it's a wicked witch, and then, sure). I know that's minor and silly, but it affected my overall impression of the villain, and really, I just needed to share that with someone. So there. I could have done with a little more subtlety from him, too, but whatever, it's a kids book.
And Skeksyl was the only one that got on my nerves at all or made me question. I loved all of the other characters, especially Juniper. She's smart and quirky and strong, and above all else, she knows herself. She knows who she is and what she wants (which is kinda the point of the whole thing), and beyond just loving this personally, I think it sends a powerful and much-needed message to young readers. I love having a character for this age group who is so self-aware and confident in who she is. I love that she's not ashamed of her intelligence and her interests. Juniper knows who she is and says so proudly. The book as a whole is a great statement on insecurity and acceptance, and it's refreshing and welcome. That's why, if you know a kid who will be able to handle the darker elements, I would highly suggest recommending them (or gifting them!) this book.
Side note: I absolutely adore it when an author uses big words for young kids, and uses them without being condescending or explaining/excusing the word away. Just unashamedly using a word and meaning it. I love that. Respect your reader (and your reader's intelligence and inquisitiveness), and they'll respect you.
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said, Oh, thanks but nah.... O_O Or HELLS YEAH. It was one of the two.And when it came in the mail (so if you went with Choice 1, sorry, you lose), I promptly sat down and made short work of it. And though the beginning was a little rocky for me, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Juniper Berry for me was interesting in that it pleased both my adult side and the 9 year old Misty that was obsessed with creepy books and made her mother worry that she had "unhealthy" reading habits (because apparently to moms, Goosebumps is acceptable only in small doses. A steady diet of it = serial killer, or something. Or, at least that's what meddling neighbors lead moms to believe. Moving on...) Reading it, I got the same impression I had when I read Coraline: that my younger self would have eaten this up. It was just creepy enough, and unflinching in its darker aspects, that it would have delighted me to no end. It had this fantastic dark circus feel, with fairy tale elements in there as well (hence it's inclusion in Fairy Tale Fortnight), but it still remained its own thing. There were certain little unexpected elements that delighted me (kid and adult) and gave it this great visual appeal, and I have always loved a book that makes you see what is going on and leaves you with lasting images. Certain quirky things are always going to pop into my head when I think of this book, and I love that.
This is of course aided by the fantastic illustrations. My copy, being unfinished, only had some of the illustrations, which means I'll have to track down a finished copy to see the rest. But from what I saw, they were perfectly suited to the text, and stylized nicely.
I mentioned Coraline earlier, and I want to bring it up what more time because the comparison doesn't end just in the fact that I liked it as an adult and now I would have loved it as a kid. It also reminded me of Coraline in that it was disturbing in the way that Coraline was disturbing. In Coraline, there was the Other Mother, and good lord, if she is not the creepiest character for a kid to read... And it's not just the black button eyes, or the eating of souls. She's disturbing because she is a parent (or, looks like one and pretends to be one, anyway). Though there is a villain in this (more on him in a minute), what ups the disturbing factor in this is the parents. You know - and Juniper knows - that they are good people, but that something is wrong. Having your parents do these strange dark things ups the creep out factor immensely, and I loved it.
But moving on to the actual villain of the piece, Skeksyl, my reaction to him was...interesting. In some respects, he's a very good villain. He's creepy, he's dark, he's tempting, and he has a raven for a sidekick. (Villain: ☑). But there was one thing that I found off-putting, and this is just because I'm me. I don't think kids would be bothered by this, but every time Skeksyl is described by Juniper, his nasally, high-pitched, screechy voice is mentioned, which just made me want to laugh. I can't take a villain seriously with a nasally, high-pitched, screechy voice (unless it's a wicked witch, and then, sure). I know that's minor and silly, but it affected my overall impression of the villain, and really, I just needed to share that with someone. So there. I could have done with a little more subtlety from him, too, but whatever, it's a kids book.
And Skeksyl was the only one that got on my nerves at all or made me question. I loved all of the other characters, especially Juniper. She's smart and quirky and strong, and above all else, she knows herself. She knows who she is and what she wants (which is kinda the point of the whole thing), and beyond just loving this personally, I think it sends a powerful and much-needed message to young readers. I love having a character for this age group who is so self-aware and confident in who she is. I love that she's not ashamed of her intelligence and her interests. Juniper knows who she is and says so proudly. The book as a whole is a great statement on insecurity and acceptance, and it's refreshing and welcome. That's why, if you know a kid who will be able to handle the darker elements, I would highly suggest recommending them (or gifting them!) this book.
Side note: I absolutely adore it when an author uses big words for young kids, and uses them without being condescending or explaining/excusing the word away. Just unashamedly using a word and meaning it. I love that. Respect your reader (and your reader's intelligence and inquisitiveness), and they'll respect you.
Show Less
LibraryThing member reader1009
Children's fiction - part Coraline (spooky!), part Mysterious Benedict Society (spying! secrets!), part cautionary tale against drug addiction (the drug in this case comes out of sinister balloons; upon inhalation users get a temporary high followed by desperate lows). Juniper's character is
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instantly likable and her environment interesting and full of intrigue. Show Less
LibraryThing member ftbooklover
As Juniper's parents become more and more famous as movie stars, they seem to change. They no longer treat her like their beloved daughter, becoming mean and thoughtless, only caring about themselves. Juniper thinks that fame has done this to them until she meets her neighbor, Giles. His parents
The metaphorical theme in Juniper Berry is clear, the lure of "the easy way" to people's desires can devour their souls. The tree and the raven add realistic elements to the story that lead to a more sinister, supernatural power beneath. Overall, an interesting story, but definitely written for a younger audience.
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have also become famous and thoughtless, but he believes there is more to it than just fame. He has found a tree in Juniper's yard and swears that his parents disappear inside it. Giles and Juniper decide to investigate, but what they find scares them and tempts them more than they could have imagined.The metaphorical theme in Juniper Berry is clear, the lure of "the easy way" to people's desires can devour their souls. The tree and the raven add realistic elements to the story that lead to a more sinister, supernatural power beneath. Overall, an interesting story, but definitely written for a younger audience.
Show Less
Call number
FIC G Koz