Tween Tuesday: Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky

3.5 pretty good peanut butter cookies.

Cover Love: Yes! I love the illustrations of the kids and it gives it a creepy feel for sure.

I Wanted to Read This Because: The cover really drew me in and the synopsis clinched the deal. Here it is from Good Reads:

Juniper's parents have not been themselves lately. In fact, they have been cold, disinterested and cruel. And lonely Juniper Berry, and her equally beset friend, Giles, are determined to figure out why.
On a cold and rainy night Juniper follows her parents as they sneak out of the house and enter the woods. What she discovers is an underworld filled with contradictions: one that is terrifying and enticing, lorded over by a creature both sinister and seductive, who can sell you all the world's secrets in a simple red balloon. For the first time, Juniper and Giles have a choice to make. And it will be up to them to confront their own fears in order to save the ones who couldn't.
M.P. Kozlowsky's debut novel is a modern-day fairy tale of terror, temptation, and ways in which it is our choices that make us who we are.

I Kept Reading Because: I really felt for little Juniper and really wanted her to have a happy ending!

What I Liked (& Didn't):
I adored the illustrations. They are just perfect. I love that the two most clear characters are Juniper and Giles while the other characters are kind of in shadows or only half shown.

The story moved along really fast. This made it a quick read. We met Juniper and her parents and Giles, then things got moving right along.

I love Juniper's quirk of having lenses with her all the time (binoculars, magnifying glass, etc...). It was a way for a lonely little girl to connect with the world.

The "deal" her parents made was really weird. I would have liked to have a character who knew a little more so we could see what happens to people who don't fulfill their end of the bargain or when their deal was up. Plus, that whole environment was really creepy.

Juniper was such a strong character. Her love for her parents and desire to have them back the way they used to be really motivated her. She was able to stay strong when being offered her hearts desire and she trusted herself to help the situation. A great role model!!

To Sum Up: A quick read with a wonderful main character. This one will be easy to talk up to middle grade readers.

Book requested and received from Walden Pond Press. Thanks Kellie!

Tween Tuesday is hosted by Sarah the GreenBeanTeenQueen. Thanks Sarah!