My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer by Jennifer Gennari
Format/source: Hardcover/Library
Published: May 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Length: 119 pages
Genre: Historical fiction
Target Age: 8+
#OwnVoices: Unknown (lesbian rep)
★★★★
Twelve-year-old June Farrell is sure of one thing—she’s great at making pies—and she plans to prove it by winning a blue ribbon in the Champlain Valley Fair pie competition. But a backlash against Vermont’s civil union law threatens her family’s security and their business. Even when faced with bullying, June won’t give up on winning the blue ribbon; more importantly, she won’t give up on her family.
Review
This slim novel (119 pages) takes place in the summer of 2000, following Vermont’s passing of a law allowing same-sex unions. June’s mother hasn’t been in a serious relationship before, so June’s uncomfortable with her mom’s partner Eva becoming a stronger presence in her life – just as any kid might be when their parent plans to remarry. June also struggles with subtle and not-so-subtle expressions of homophobia directed at her and her family by their community. Initially, she wishes her mom and Eva would keep quiet and not draw negative attention to themselves. This public attention impacts June’s decision to participate in the very public pie contest at the local fair. The story explores how June learns to deal with her own feelings (including some internalized homophobia) and be a better ally.
I love that this story is told in a manner accessible to younger readers. I also love how June works her way through her confused feelings. There are a couple things I would have liked to see included, however. Exactly halfway through the story, June explodes at Eva. She repeats a homophobic comment she overheard elsewhere that devastates Eva (“Queers aren’t supposed to have kids anyway!”). I hoped that, after they reconciled, Eva and June would have a conversation about why that comment is hurtful and how ‘queer’ can have different connotations depending on the context. The comment isn’t explicitly referred to again. Although readers can understand that June at the end of the story would never have said something like that, I think such a conversation could have been helpful without being too didactic.
An author’s note may also have been useful. Technically, this story is historical fiction. Kids I would recommend this book to were born maybe eight or nine years after it takes place. Such a note could have helped to better situate the story within the historical context, and perhaps address how things have or have not change – a lot has changed since both 2000 and 2012, when this book was published.
The Bottom Line
A great summery chapter book for upper elementary/lower middle grade readers that explores how one young girl learns to manage her feelings and push back against the negativity of her community.
Further Information
- Author website
- Interview @ New-York Historical Society
- Review by Casey @ Goodreads
- Review by Sarah @ Puss Reboots
- Review @ Publishers Weekly
I really like your inclusion of further information with this review.
Thank-you! I enjoy looking for that information; I usually find interesting pieces like the New York Historical Society article that help me understand the book/author more.
Sounds like a worthy book that can make kids think about how different families can thrive, even if it wasn’t handled 100% perfectly. I agree with you that an author’s note would be helpful with a book like this, though I don’t know if kids read them? I wonder if there are resources available for teachers or adults.
(I’ve been looking at some of my older reviews and I’m realizing I missed replying to a bunch of comments, so I apologize for the delay here!) That’s true re: author’s notes. I don’t know how much this book is on anyone’s radar. Maybe there were some resources when it was first released.