From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
*
2022 ALA John Newbery Medal and Honors
By Kristen · 9 posts · 202 views
By Kristen · 9 posts · 202 views
last updated Mar 30, 2022 12:00PM
showing 1 of 1 topics
view all »
Other topics mentioning this book
What Members Thought
Junie is having a hard time in middle school. Her brother has gone on to high school and there's no one to protect her from a persistent bully. Her school has been vandalized with racist graffiti and her friends are mad at her because she does not want to participate in a anti-racism organization. This book has too much! Both grandparents' stories of Northern Korea, middle school transition, cliques, bullying, racism, vandalism, mental health, and death.
...more
This book made me cry which earns it 5 stars. Great addition to any middle school classroom or library. I placed it in realistic fiction, but it could also fit into historical fiction as it gives a clear picture of life during the Korean War. Good messages about pushing back against racism with education.
I so wanted to love this book, but it was very slow. I loved getting to know more about the Korean War, but it just felt very preachy. The author wanted to have more diverse literature, and I agree, but this one was trying too hard to teach a lesson.
Excellent blending of past and present stories: the racist occurrences happening at Junie's school and her difficulties with her friends on how to respond, plus the video interviews she does with her Korean grandparents, both children during the war there. Rare to have such a child's perspective of the Korean War in middle school literature, and portrayed so well. A wonderful addition to our collection.
...more
I really enjoyed this book. It did a good job of tackling depression and racism. I especially enjoyed the family history aspect and learning the stories of Junie's grandparents and their experiences during the Korean War.
...more
Jan 05, 2021
Rachel
marked it as to-read
Jan 26, 2021
J.j.
marked it as to-read
Mar 20, 2021
Alison
marked it as to-read
Apr 04, 2021
Dan
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2021
alisonwonderland (Alison)
marked it as paused
Oct 08, 2022
Wendy Garland
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade,
middle-school
Oct 03, 2021
Melissa
marked it as to-read
Nov 20, 2021
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Dec 28, 2021
Meagan
marked it as to-read
Jan 30, 2023
Brandi
marked it as did-not-finish
