Juniper Berry in Mock Newbery 2026

Apr 12, 2011 Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: mg, debut-2011

Sometimes the key to writing something scary is to simply write the truth. M. P. Kozlowsky in his debut middle grade novel Juniper Berry combines just the right aspects of the truth with powerful storytelling for a novel that grabs you from beginning to end. Juniper Berry has everything in some ways except for the attention and affection of her famous parents. She wishes for friends, for a life outside of her family's home, and most importantly for her parents to see her again. While exploring t ...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Wendy rated it liked it

Shelves: scary, 2011-award-possibilities

Interesting. I only have a vague idea of what makes a book "horror" (have been told that it isn't about whether it's scary or not), but this book is definitely a horror novel for kids. Like, it's kid-appropriate, as long as the kid is cool with scary. In this I think it succeeds very well. I wanted more of some aspects, like the Dark Side of Fame. In general, the first half was really good; the second half felt like a roughly sketched plot outline, or, I suspect, a screenplay pitch. Recommended ...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Jess Gill rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrens-fiction

interesting plot, and well-constructed main character. i'm not much of a horror book reader, and i wonder how the intended age group would feel about this novel - i think the happy ending was entirely appropriate in this case! ...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Sarah W rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookaday, middle-grade, 2011, horror

Juniper Berry is a delightfully creepy read that in many ways feels like a modern day fairy tale. It's not a fluffy, light, sparkles and wings fairy tale. It is a story where you worry what is happening just out of sight, a story where the supernatural is sinister.

Juniper Berry lives what might seem like a dream life. Her parents are famous stars. She lives in a huge, rambling house with a built-in theater. The grounds around the house are sprawling. Juniper doesn't have to go to school because Juniper Berry is a delightfully creepy read that in many ways feels like a modern day fairy tale. It's not a fluffy, light, sparkles and wings fairy tale. It is a story where you worry what is happening just out of sight, a story where the supernatural is sinister.

Juniper Berry lives what might seem like a dream life. Her parents are famous stars. She lives in a huge, rambling house with a built-in theater. The grounds around the house are sprawling. Juniper doesn't have to go to school because a tutor comes to see her.

Her life, however, is far from perfect. Something seems wrong about her parents. Where they used to act out stories with her, read the scripts she wrote with delight, and share theme family dinners, they are now immersed completely in themselves. There's always a practice to go to, a review to read, people to belittle, things to find fault with and work to do. Juniper's under foot and under appreciated. Her mother starts to sound like a caricature for every self absorbed actress that ever existed, all worry that is being seen as finished or too old. Her father worries that he can't carry a character well enough. They seem hollow, empty, as if they are not the same people at all.

One day while outside with her dog Kitty, Juniper meets Giles. He's a boy that seems every bit as lonely as herself. His parents are famous musicians who seem to be acting in much the same manner as Jupiter's. He reports his parents leaving the house at odd times and vanishing near a particular tree on the property. Juniper also finds poetry in her father's hand that doesn't sound like him at all, poetry that says "I don't know myself." Then there are the times she catches her parents coughing, limping, and acting infirm.

Worried, Juniper and Giles go to the tree and descend into the area below. There they meet Skeksel, a creature with far too many teeth. He watches the area above with the aid of a raven named Neptune. Skeksel claims to be a friend of their parents, to be able to offer the two kids far more than the safe return of their parents. He claims to offer them their greatest dreams. He gives them a taste of what this would be like before offering it for real. What would their dreams cost? A balloon. For a balloon filled with their breath, Skeksel gives them a balloon to breath filled with their dream. Giles accepts the deal while Juniper refuses.

Now Juniper has to worry what will happen to her new friend as well as their parents. She doesn't know how to lessen Skeksel's hold or where to turn for help. Will she return to Skeksel as he said?

As the back jacket of the book says, "Be careful what you hope for." ...more

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May 30, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs-i-own, 2011-100-book-challenge, mundie-kids-book-reviews, debut-author-challenge

4.5 stars

Juniper Berry is a fabulous middle grade mixed with fantasy, mystery, twists and great characters. The story has a powerful message of being careful of one's true desires and what you wish for.

http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/0... ...more

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Mar 29, 2021 Shari (Shira) rated it liked it

Shelves: childrensbooks, sci-fifan

One of my children's literature students recommended this book as a fantasy option. It is creepy! The kind of book that gives kids nightmares. There were some unnecessary characters and some issues left unexplained. I do admire the strong, female protagonist. ...more

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May 08, 2012 Becca rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This is the second weird children's book I've read this week (The Wikkelingis the other, much weirder one), but I enjoyed it for the most part. The lesson that we can't sacrifice our souls for the sake of dreams is pretty evident, but I think it also teaches that we should partake in art (be it music, acting, writing) for the act of the art itself, not for an audience or for recognition.

The storytelling is vivid, the character of Juniper original and enchanting. A great (albeit scary) bed-time s ...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Megan rated it liked it

Shelves: 2010-2011-challenge

Read it and liked it but did not love it

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Jul 27, 2011 Donalyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s-fantasy

I wish it was possible to assign different star ratings to different parts of a book. I enjoyed the first half of this book-- Juniper is a great character and her investigation of her parents' bizarre behavior was interesting enough. However, I found the second half disappointing. The climax lacked tension and suspense (I never felt Juniper's fear), and in a book where the setting plays such an important role, I wanted more description. ...more

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