As Juniper's parents become more and more famous as movie stars, they seem to change. They no longer treat her like their beloved daughter, becoming mean and thoughtless, only caring about themselves. Juniper thinks that fame has done this to them until she meets her neighbor, Giles. His parents have also become famous and thoughtless, but he believes there is more to it than just fame. He has found a tree in Juniper's yard and swears that his parents disappear inside it. Giles and Juniper decide to investigate, but what they find scares them and tempts them more than they could have imagined.

The metaphorical theme in Juniper Berry is clear, the lure of "the easy way" to people's desires can devour their souls. The tree and the raven add realistic elements to the story that lead to a more sinister, supernatural power beneath. Overall, an interesting story, but definitely written for a younger audience. ( )

Children's fiction - part Coraline (spooky!), part Mysterious Benedict Society (spying! secrets!), part cautionary tale against drug addiction (the drug in this case comes out of sinister balloons; upon inhalation users get a temporary high followed by desperate lows). Juniper's character is instantly likable and her environment interesting and full of intrigue. ( )

If you like a book that is on the scary side, then you will certainly enjoy Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky. Fans of Coraline will be thrilled to find another book about a world that is off kilter and eerie. I would recommend this book to kids at the end of elementary school through middle school. Some kids might be too terrified by it, but anyone that likes stories that make their knees knock will find it to be a unique read. I thought it was a fast paced book, and I was definitely curious to see how everything would turn out in the end. Juniper is a girl who believes in being kind to others. I also liked that she was brave and clever throughout the book. I must say the cover first drew me to this book, but the interesting storyline kept me reading. ( )

Love the cover and artwork. Love the name Juniper Berry. Love a good moral lesson. Be happy with who you are. Don't make a pact with the devil, or whatever creature lurks underground beneath a creepy tree.

Juniper Berry's parents are first rate celebrities and they have a huge mansion with fans drooling outside the gates to prove it. The problem is that they haven't been the loving parents they once were for quite some time. A little sleuthing and a chance meeting with a boy suffering the same fate with his parents, leads to a mysterious tree in the woods. Together Juniper and Giles enter the tree to discover what it is that draws their parents there. It's a classic case of 'You help me. I'll help you'. But as stories have foretold for centuries, these bargains always end up one-sided.

Poor Juniper is a lonely child. She has no life. Her once loving parents can't seem to stand her anymore. They brush her aside like a spect of dust. All she wants is her family back. You have to feel sorry for this poor soul. She is such a sweet girl and doesn't deserve such crappy parents. In the end, when she can have or be anything, she chooses only to have her parents back as they were. And then, instead of choosing to do this the easy way, as her parents did, she chooses the more dangerous, but ultimately, better way.

Not sure how kids will react to this book, but do know kids are always looking for creepy, scary. ( )

Coraline meets Alice in Wonderland is the best way to describe this book. Juniper Berry is the daughter of two famous Hollywood actors who completely ignore her, and she has no idea why until she follows them one night. Its a quick read filled with supernatural worlds and situations. ( )