Just Juice (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

Hesse, Karen

ISBN 10: 0613230051 ISBN 13: 9780613230056

Publisher: Turtleback Books, 1999

Synopsis

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Realizing that her father's lack of work has endangered her family, nine-year-old Juice decides that she must return to school and learn to read in order to help their chances of surviving and keeping their house.

About this title

Review

Newbery Medal-winning novelist Karen Hesse--known for her painterly ability to re-create historical worlds for young readers--turns her attention this time to a contemporary family that lives as if in another era. The engrossing, eight-member Faulstich family, residents of an Appalachian hill village perhaps in Kentucky or West Virginia, has learned to endure impoverished conditions ever since Pa got laid off from the mine. Only the children are guaranteed a "sandwich" each day (bread spread so thin with jelly "you can hardly find the purple"); there are no regular doctor or dentist visits, even for Ma, who is carrying another baby; and the only surprise presents at Christmas are the ones the older girls make at school.

Smack in the middle of this brood is the narrator, 9-year-old Juice Faulstich, a sweet, resilient tomboy who likes to explore and learn. She gets along well with her big and little sisters, has talent as an apprentice metalworker in her Pa's makeshift shop, and forgets every worry when she's dancing to fiddle music. She's so capable, in fact, she's the family member all the little ones look up to the most. Yet it turns out that the highly skilled Juice, who can handle everything from power tools to her Pa's depression ("We all look out for him. But I look out for him best, even Ma says so") is plagued by an inability to understand letters and reading. "No one believes me. No one believes how hard I try. No matter what I do, it's never enough," she explains.

With wonderfully gentle narrative pacing, Just Juice weaves together a compelling plot that involves Juice's learning challenges, Ma's suddenly difficult pregnancy, and a pending foreclosure on the family house due to unpaid taxes. It may sound bleak, yet in Hesse's able hands the Faulstich clan remains hopeful, creative, and kind with one another throughout--almost even more so when things seem the darkest. This fine book abounds with memorable and true images of family love, personal perseverance, and unexpected, effervescent breakthroughs. (Ages 8 and older) --Jean Lenihan

About the Author

KAREN HESSE won the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust, and was recently named a MacArthur Fellow. Ms. Hesse and Ms. Watson previously collaborated on the picture book, The Cats in Krasinski Square, whichreceived three starred reviews as well as numerous awards and Honours. She lives in Vermont with her husband.

About this edition

• Publisher: Turtleback Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0613230051
• ISBN 13: 9780613230056
• Binding: School & Library Binding
• Number of pages: 144
• Illustrator: Parker Robert Andrew