By Noah G. Schmidt
Are you looking for something new to read? You may be surprised to learn that 4Cs Department of Language and Literature has a published author in its midst. Daven McQueen, the department’s newest member, is the author of the 2020 novel “The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones,” published by Wattpad Books.
The novel focuses on themes of family, friendship, and growing up. However, its central theme is race relations in the Southern United States during the summer of 1955, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Coincidentally, the book was released during the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in 2020. It also came out just a month before the passing of civil rights activist Representative John Lewis.
“The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones” tells the story of Ethan Harper, a biracial boy who is forced to spend the summer in a predominantly white town in Alabama. Raised by his white father in Washington State, Ethan soon discovers that his mixed-race background is not accepted in the South. However, he finds an unlikely ally in Juniper Jones, the town’s free spirit, who sees beyond his skin color and befriends him. Due to racially charged language in the story, reader discretion is advised.
As a reader, I found this book incredibly engaging. It quickly became one of my favorites, and I finished it in just a day and a half. McQueen’s story is not only captivating but carries a powerful message about acceptance, belonging, and standing up for oneself. Despite that this story is set nearly 70 years ago, the novel’s themes remain relevant today, as people of color continue to face prejudice.
The final act of the story delivers an emotional and intense twist that makes it impossible to put the book down. McQueen’s storytelling kept me hooked from beginning to end.