Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom by Nina Varela

This book is a finalist for a 2023 Cybils Award in Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction.

What worked:

June’s anxiety over being the new kid in school will be relatable to many middle-grade students. Unlike many books for this age group, bullying isn’t a big issue. June doesn’t understand how to approach classmates so she avoids interactions with potential friends. A lack of confidence is holding June back but her supportive mother convinces her to take chances and everything changes once she attends the school dance. Sam and Ollie immediately accept although they have no idea of the adventure they’ve gotten themselves into.

Princess Galatea appears in June’s room and thinks June is a goddess. June has no godly powers and has never heard of Kypros, the world where Galatea lives, so the whole thing sounds absurd. However, both girls have been having similar dreams for the past month and June has been drawing sketches of Galatea from her visions. June has feelings for Galatea so she develops uncomfortable thoughts whenever they’re together. It’s uncertain if Galatea feels the same way so the situation remains June’s internal conflict for much of the story. Middle-grade readers are just beginning to explore their relationships with the different genders so many of them will be able to relate with June’s emotions and confusion.

Kypros is slowly vanishing so the main conflict finds Galatea trying to save her kingdom. She needs to find the Crown of Horn in order to return to her world. June’s dream of a Kypros goddess being stabbed is cryptic since June never sees the face of the robed assailant. Galatea is certain it must be the Dreamtender. The image comes to June while she’s asleep and the Dreamtender wants to get revenge by retrieving her Crown of Horn. This plot appears to be straightforward there’s more of a mystery involved. Readers may notice clues along the way but the entire true story isn’t revealed until the climax.

What didn’t work as well:

There’s a bit of a disconnect in the plot since the main conflict is happening in another world. The story doesn’t directly address saving Kypros until the book nears the end. Most of the book finds the characters gathering pieces of the Crown of Horn but that will only allow Galatea to return to Kypros.

The final verdict:

Much of the story concerns the issues within June’s mind as she learns to deal with different relationships. The quest to save Kypros connects the overall story and it becomes a bit of a mystery. I recommend you give this book a shot.