JUNONIA

Illustrated throughout by the author, Junonia is a pitch-perfect young middle grade novel. Alice's story is one of growing up, just a little at a time, and the gifts we give each other.

Alice Rice looks forward to her family's Florida vacation every year, and this year is supposed to be extra special, because she will turn ten years old while she is there. But when she finds out her favorite other vacationers cannot come, she is crushed. She still has her Aunt Kate's arrival to look forward to, but then Kate brings a new boyfriend with a six-year-old daughter, and Alice cannot help feeling disappointed. Mallory is demanding, throws tantrums and is ruining Alice's coveted time with Aunt Kate. Alice's mom tells her that Mallory's mom left her family behind for Paris, and she should be patient with her.
Alice tries her best to stay positive, but it is so hard when everything is changing. The one thing that could salvage her vacation would be finding a rare, flawless junonia shell. She hunts for one everyday with no luck. Meanwhile everyone is getting ready to celebrate Alice's birthday. Her birthday in Florida is always fun and Alice is convinced that her double digit birthday should be the most special of them all. But when Mallory throws a tantrum at her party, it ends awkwardly early. Alice is further disappointed when she realizes that her beautiful gift from her neighbor has gone missing. She suspects Mallory took lt. But when she finds it later she realizes that she should not have jumped to conclusions. She leaves Florida realizing that while her vacation did not go as planned, life with her parents and friends is as wonderful and rare as a junonia shell.

Kevin Henkes is the creator of many books for children. He has written both picture books and novels, including Olive's Ocean (for which he received a Newbery Honor), Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, and Kitten's First Fu!! Moon (winner of the Caldecott Medal). He and his wife, Laura Dronzek, live with their son and daughter in Madison, Wisconsin.