Juneberry Blue

by Candice Ransom (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Part gentle mystery, part ghostly fairy tale, this contemporary novel celebrates small towns, cozy storytelling, and one very determined ghost cat.

Eleven-year-old Andie Jennings, of Morning Glory, Virginia (population: 8), is set to inherit her family's magic on Midsummer's Eve. And Andie plans to use it to bring her dad home for good from his long-haul trucking job. Except her gift doesn't come. But when a see-through cat starts following her, Andie realizes she didn't fail to get her magic at all. Her gift just isn't what anyone expected. Turns out, her new ability to communicate with ghosts may help her solve a mystery in Morning Glory and finally bring about some much-needed change--for the town and for her family.

Inspired by the tradition of tales passed down through generations, Juneberry Blue celebrates the importance of listening to stories--and the people who tell them.

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$17.99

Kirkus

Kids save the day in this story filled with mystery, magic, and small-town mythos.

ALA/Booklist

Dreamy descriptions, comforting nostalgia, and close relationships coalesce into a sweet, summery story perfect for any reader seeking a touch of mystery and magic.

Publishers Weekly

Ransom (Only Margaret) takes cues from "Sleeping Beauty" in this story about an enchanted Southern town and the tween determined to revive it. Morning Glory, Va., has all but faded from maps since the Juneberry Blue soda factory closed. Only eight residents--including 11-year-old Andrea Jennings--remain. All that could change if Andie inherits her matrilineal family's flair for crafting life-changing recipes that feature juneberries from the nearby magic-touched orchard: a new, charmed dish could reignite tourism, generate much-needed business for the Jennings's failing diner, and maybe even bring Andie's truck-driving father home for good. But when her recipe flops, Andie discovers a far greater gift within: she can communicate with ghosts. After learning that the local spirits need her help with a locked tower and a mysterious stranger, Andie and pragmatic friend Tanner unravel secrets "scabbed with mold," and realize that anything worth doing needs intent, belief, effort, and faith. Sentient plants and otherworldly cats round out an amiable cast in this gently magical tale that centers nature, ecology, and connection. Characters read as white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Victoria Wells Arms, HG Literary. (June)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 

 

Candice Ransom
Candice Ransom is the author of more than 170 books for children and young adults. She has an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and an MA in children's literature from Hollins University. She currently teaches at Hollins University in their graduate program in children's literature. She lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with her husband and two bossy cats. Visit her at
candiceransom.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781682636695
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Peachtree Publishers
Publication date
June 18, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV024000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | Country Life
JUV058000 - Juvenile Fiction | Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural
Library of Congress categories
Family life
Ghosts
Fantasy fiction
Cities and towns
Ability
Novels

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