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Juniper Spark and the Dagger of Mirren
Most days, Juniper is good at ignoring the burning questions and conflicting emotions she has about being left in her foster mother’s care. Today, though, she struggles to keep these agonizing curiosities at bay...
Who are her parents?
What are they like?
Why did they leave her here?
Juniper knows curiosity of any kind is dangerous in the Dark Forest, a place where rules and curfews keep creatures safely locked indoors.
It’s Juniper’s fourteenth birthday. A mysterious gift leads to a shocking discovery that changes everything. Juniper learns the world—and her part in it—is much bigger than she imagined.
Juniper’s faith is tested on a treacherous adventure to discover her family, Unraveling more questions than answers along the way.
Juniper Spark and the Dagger of Mirren was written to encourage families to dive into a read-aloud adventure together while helping spark better conversations to form deeper parent-child relationships. Book one of the Juniper Spark series touches on subtle themes of foster care and adoption to give children with relatable experiences an opportunity to see themselves reflected in new children's book characters.
Be the first to find out what happens next on Juniper's journey! Sign up for updates at www.courtneywoodruff.com/updates.
Who are her parents?
What are they like?
Why did they leave her here?
Juniper knows curiosity of any kind is dangerous in the Dark Forest, a place where rules and curfews keep creatures safely locked indoors.
It’s Juniper’s fourteenth birthday. A mysterious gift leads to a shocking discovery that changes everything. Juniper learns the world—and her part in it—is much bigger than she imagined.
Juniper’s faith is tested on a treacherous adventure to discover her family, Unraveling more questions than answers along the way.
Juniper Spark and the Dagger of Mirren was written to encourage families to dive into a read-aloud adventure together while helping spark better conversations to form deeper parent-child relationships. Book one of the Juniper Spark series touches on subtle themes of foster care and adoption to give children with relatable experiences an opportunity to see themselves reflected in new children's book characters.
Be the first to find out what happens next on Juniper's journey! Sign up for updates at www.courtneywoodruff.com/updates.
101 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Courtney Woodruff
7 books4 followersCourtney Woodruff is a communications professional living in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband and three sons. She was adopted as an infant and raised in the Piney Woods of east Texas. She set off an unexpected, decade-long adventure when her husband joined the Army, living in Germany and Washington State. Courtney writes for children, caregivers, and families in the margins of her days. She loves to spend time with her family (especially outdoors or around a table), read biographies, travel, and stargaze with friends. Courtney received a master’s degree in counseling with a focus on resilience. She has a heart for foster care, adoption, and military families, and she believes God does good, unimaginable things through our skills, stories, and passions—our fishes and loaves—when we give them away.
Connect with her on Instagram @courtneylwoodruff.
Connect with her on Instagram @courtneylwoodruff.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 20, 2021
What a great read aloud! We read this quickly (although not as fast as my girls would have liked, “JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER MOMMY!!”)
Reagan, age 7: My favorite part was when Juniper found the dagger and she was wondering where it was from. The best character was Juniper.
Evelyn, age 5: My favorite character was Sorrel. She was a very good mommy.
I loved how the animals were personified (the hummingbird and mouse duo made us all laugh) and the message about familial bonds and finding family in unusual places was heartwarming and created some really great dialogue after we were done reading.
Cannot wait for the next installment to see where Juniper’s adventures take her next!
Reagan, age 7: My favorite part was when Juniper found the dagger and she was wondering where it was from. The best character was Juniper.
Evelyn, age 5: My favorite character was Sorrel. She was a very good mommy.
I loved how the animals were personified (the hummingbird and mouse duo made us all laugh) and the message about familial bonds and finding family in unusual places was heartwarming and created some really great dialogue after we were done reading.
Cannot wait for the next installment to see where Juniper’s adventures take her next!
May 8, 2021
A beautiful adventure!
A mystery, a quest, and a story about what it means to be a family.
This beautifully written story is perfectly portioned to read a chapter at a time with younger child or for older readers to finish in one rainy PNW day.
Worth reading for the rich details and exciting adventures alone! But worth coming back to over and over for the themes of fostering, family, and community. Juniper has a won a permanent place in our family library. We can’t wait for her next adventure!
A mystery, a quest, and a story about what it means to be a family.
This beautifully written story is perfectly portioned to read a chapter at a time with younger child or for older readers to finish in one rainy PNW day.
Worth reading for the rich details and exciting adventures alone! But worth coming back to over and over for the themes of fostering, family, and community. Juniper has a won a permanent place in our family library. We can’t wait for her next adventure!
May 10, 2021
I often read books before passing them off to my older children (ages 10,11). This book is one they would fully enjoy. The illustrations throughout are thoughtfully placed keeping the reader engaged. This would also make a great read aloud for families. Juniper navigates so many real emotions and the theme of community and chosen family is well done. The author takes you into an entire new world similar to other classics I have read. Well done. I can’t wait for my kids to read it.
May 10, 2021
Real characters kids can connect with
Juniper is sweet, real and has an inner strength she’s only just beginning to realize and explore. Dagger of Mirren introduces her deeper questions about family and her place in it. This will be a series children and their adults will dig into and enjoy watching unfold.
Juniper is sweet, real and has an inner strength she’s only just beginning to realize and explore. Dagger of Mirren introduces her deeper questions about family and her place in it. This will be a series children and their adults will dig into and enjoy watching unfold.
May 10, 2021
It is a captivating story that leaves you wanting more! I’m excited to read the next book when it is a a available. The characters are likable and relatable a d you are rooting for Juniper to find out more about her family.
The illustrations are gorgeous too. My only con is that the book is too short!
The illustrations are gorgeous too. My only con is that the book is too short!
June 28, 2021
A great beginner chapter book full of adventure! The use of different species for the characters makes for a fun and interesting band of characters and spurs on the imagination. It reminds me of the Redwall series, but easily digested by young readers. I am very interested to see what happens next for Juniper!
May 2, 2021
This book beautifully threaded the topic of foster care throughout an adventurous journey of woodland animals. The entire book is filled with descriptive scenery that helps you feel fully engaged in Juniper's the quest for understanding. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
May 3, 2021
I highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed the action and adventure. I also liked meeting all the characters on Juniper’s journey. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to end.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave F.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave F.
May 12, 2021
A read out loud adventure
My kids and I enjoyed reading this book out loud. It’s an adventure to finding family, reuniting old friends and discovering lost secrets. It’s especially a good book for early readers to read on their own.
My kids and I enjoyed reading this book out loud. It’s an adventure to finding family, reuniting old friends and discovering lost secrets. It’s especially a good book for early readers to read on their own.
February 17, 2022
Exciting adventure
This is a perfect adventure story to read with kids. It's actions packed without being too scary. It's never boring, and will hold your interest to the point where you can't put it down.
This is a perfect adventure story to read with kids. It's actions packed without being too scary. It's never boring, and will hold your interest to the point where you can't put it down.
May 6, 2021
A fresh perspective!
As a past foster mom, this book was intriguing to me for those who were in my care. It was a fresh perspective for kiddos! Well done!
As a past foster mom, this book was intriguing to me for those who were in my care. It was a fresh perspective for kiddos! Well done!
May 9, 2021
A beautifully written children’s adventure story which left my son and me wanting more! We enjoyed getting to know the characters and cannot wait to see what happens next!
May 14, 2021
Loved this book! Fabulous detail and was hooked from the beginning. I can’t wait to read more of Juniper’s adventures.
June 28, 2021
What an exciting and uplifting story! With every word I can fully envision what each character looks like and see it all play out. I cannot wait to read more about Juniper’s adventure!
December 22, 2021
Kids Adventure Story
It's a great adventure story for younger audiences. But it has a moral and values that adults will love. Thumbs up!
It's a great adventure story for younger audiences. But it has a moral and values that adults will love. Thumbs up!
May 4, 2021
Beautifully written adventure book! I loved meeting all of the characters and going on Juniper’s journey to understand where she comes from. I can not wait to read more!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews