The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky

by Holly Schindler

August “Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest. Using the kind of items Gus usually hauls to the scrap heap, a broken toaster becomes a flower; church windows turn into a rainbow walkway; and an old car gets new life as spinning whirligigs. What starts out as a home renovation project becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they had—and redefine a whole town’s perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Art, Friendship, Family, Childrens

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Holly Schindler’s work has received starred reviews in Booklist and Publishers Weekly, has won silver and gold medals in ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year and the IPPY Awards, respectively, has been featured on Booklist’s Best First Novels for Youth and School Library Journal’s What’s Hot in YA, and has been a PW Pick of the Week. She can usually be found consuming large quantities of coffee and working on her next book. She can also be found at hollyschindler.com.

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Love the premise and theme. Love the cover art, especially the back and inside. Hope lots of kids and classroom teachers love it. But, I've read so many MG books over the decades that it takes a standout to capture me, and this just felt too familiar and therefore easy to put down.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I scowled at Victoria and wondered how her teacher could get her get away with the way she was acting. Auggie and Gus pulled at my heart and I cheered for them all throughout the book. Do yourself a favor and read this book as soon as you possibly can.

[Scott Fillner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes books come along at just the right time, and sometimes books no matter when they come along leave a lasting impact on your soul. This book was all of that for me. What a wonderful book. This is for sure to be a read aloud in our room.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little gem of a book that I can't wait to pass on to my students.

[Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who hasn't wanted to spruce their house up a bit? I know I have! But August Walter Jones takes this to a new level, in order to save her little neighborhood from being bulldozed in this middle-grade work of fiction.

This is is bothering me so much: I just can't help tinning that this book deserves 5 stars!! But for now, it's getting 4.

But it really was an excellent story. The protagonist was interesting and realistic, and the entire vibe of the main setting made me want to go love there!

August Walter Jones and her grandfather, Gus, the main characters of the book, where very enjoyable.

I noticed many similarities between this book and "Because of Winn-Dixie". For example: Young girl main character lives alone with father/grandfather while her mother has moved away (although in this book, the mother-moving-away part was revealed to be false).

I wanted Victoria to be punished in some horrible way for all the mean stuff she'd done, and Ms. Byron was so oblivious it was infuriating!

I feel like Weird Harold could have gotten a bigger role, but it's fine.

Around the middle-of-the-end of this book, it was kind of a stand still, with Auggie and Victoria both making jabs at eachother. But that soon ended and rolled into a nice and satisfying ending.

I feel like I sound waaaaay too happy in this review. Maybe I'll redo it later. But overall, it is a very good book.

Alternate rating: A-

[Shannon O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been caught in the fantasy genre for such a long time, I think I forgot what it was like to read a story with such real and familiar elements. The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky is a wonderful story--the middle grade voice of Holly Schindler, equally as powerful and beautifully written as her YA novels. I loved it so much that when I finished, I gave it to my daughter to read. She loved it too, which is a big deal since she primarily reads animal and dragon stories right now and needed to be convinced to give this book a chance. Once I told her about Auggie and her grandpa, though, she was all in. Truthfully, I can't remember the last time she read a book that had people as the main characters!

I loved Auggie. She is spunky and brilliant and creative and full of all things delightful. The relationships between Auggie and her grandpa and the neighbors and the "Beautification Committee" are powerful and full of subtle lessons about what's truly important in life and what "true beauty" is all about. I highly recommend this book for fans of all genres and readers of all ages, because Auggie should be met and loved by everyone!

[B.A. Malisch · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is like a boxer, constantly punching you in the face, with little regard for the lives and emotions of all the surrounding characters.

The main character speaks like a wearied time traveler, six-years old in one moment, and thirty-six the next.

The plot of this story is like a groundhog, well-hidden, muddied up, and afraid of shadows.

I hate this book like some people hate cilantro, slowly, and one leaf at a time.

If you survived and enjoyed all 4 similes in this 8 sentence review, then you are now well-prepared to go read this novel and enjoy a very similar reading experience. Good luck to you. You’re going to need it.

Pages: 240

[Caitlin Litz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third read: kids loved and picked up so much more. Plus junk projects. ♥️♥️

We all rooted for Auggie and hated on Victoria. And gave side eye to Lexie. The mystery of Auggies mom was really well done. The figurative language was incredible and I alone appreciated it. Great YA read.

Reread Summer 2018

[Delia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow and I really enjoyed this.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet, little story. I absolutely adored, spunky little Auggie. She commands control of an entire community and stands up to classism and elitism in such a brace and fantastic way.

This cute tale centers around a neighborhood that is economically poor, but rich in soul. They're being bullied by wealthy councilmen to update their properties or incur fines that they cannot pay. Auggie gets the brilliant idea to create art out of the found items from her Grandpa Gus' junk collection.

It's just Auggie and her grandpa in their home, and the way they work together to fight to keep it, using non traditional folk art, is amazing. You'll be rooting right along.

Solid 3.5 stars.

[Maddie Paulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed, a heartfelt read. Great book for grades 3-5th although older would enjoy the great writing and heartfelt enjoyable read.

[Jennifer Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book read with my youngest for school. She said it was worth 4.5 stars.

[Aeicha · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing I love more than an excellently written middle-grade novel that both amuses and moves me, and Holly Schindler’s The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky is definitely one of those books!


Fifth-grader, Auggie Jones, lives with her beloved Granda Gus, a trash hauler, in the poorer side of their small town. Auggie loves her neighborhood, but when the newly founded House Beautification Committee is formed and Auggie’s house is deemed an ugly eyesore, she starts to think maybe she and Gus are as rundown as their neighborhood. But Auggie is determined to prove the Committee wrong and with a little imagination, pluck, and hardwork, she and Gus begin to create beautiful sculptures and artwork from trash. Auggie and Gus discover a wonderful talent they never imagined they had and the whole town discovers the true meaning of beauty.


There’s so much to love about The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky: the superb storytelling, the heartfelt message, the endearing heroine. Holly Schindler has spun a truly special story that is as entertaining as it is poignant. That shimmering, captivating spark I always look for in middle-grade is definitely present within this book! Schindler’s writing style is smart, yet accessible, warm and delicious, without being too sugary and over the top. Young readers especially will love Schindler’s vivid, colorful word choices and way of describing things.


With her heroine, Auggie Jones, Schindler captures that refreshing, pitch-perfect middle-grade voice fantastically! Auggie is truly an unforgettable, genuine character and I loved everything about her: her courage, compassion, can-do attitude, unique perspective, and so much more. Grandpa Gus is a wonderful, equally lovable character and the relationship between he and Auggie is just so beautiful and sweet. By the end of this book, Auggie, Gus, and all their neighbors felt less like simple characters, and more like long lost friends to me.


Schindler’s message of love, friendship, hope, and true beauty is a heartwarming and inspiring one. Readers of all ages will feel their hearts and courage swell as they root for Auggie and her neighbors. There’s also such mesmerizing magic in the artwork from trash Auggie and Gus create.


MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Holly Schindler’s The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky is a thoughtfully and beautifully written middle-grade contemporary that will uplift and move readers and leave you smiling for days.


MY RATING

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It is a book about hope, about what you believe it, about what is right and wrong, and about friendship and forgiveness. I found myself cheering for Auggie and for being upset for her situation. I wanted to jump into the pages and give the adults a piece of my mind! I wanted to use my teacher voice and talk to those girls who were being mean. I think a book that makes you think, react and want to do something should go to the front of your TBR pile!

Updated:
I wanted to add some "Lines That Stick to Me"
pg. 36 "Courage... can sometimes be like when you're dying for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but there's only a skiff of peanut butter left on the side of the jar, and no matter how much how scrape, you begin to wonder if you'll ever get enough on your knife to cover an entire slice of bread."

pg. 40 "What I really wish is that friendship didn't have to be so slippery, so hard to keep hold of."

pg. 186 "The word - poor - scratches. 'You wear it like a badge,' she goes on. 'Because being poor means you don't have to play by the rules.'
'The rules?' I say. 'The rules should work for everybody, Victoria. No matter how much money you might have in the bank. Otherwise, the rules aren't right.'"

pg. 191 "March feels like a fragile blue egg - only, instead of a bird that's crawling out, it's spring."

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet, heart-warming story for upper elementary/lower middle school readers. It provides such wonderful messages in believing in yourself, the importance of family and friends, not giving up when things are tough, and accepting others who may be different from you.

Fifth grader, Auggie, lives with her grandfather, a welder and garbage collector. Her mother left when she was a baby and she never knew her father. Her neighborhood school has closed and she is forced to attend the newer, nicer school where all of the rich kids go. Immediately, there is an obvious difference between the "haves" and the "have nots". Things get worse as a storm hits Auggie's neighborhood and the "Beautification Committee" begins enforcing city ordinances and issuing fines.

This is such a wonderful coming of age story that would spark great conversations between classmates and families.

[Quasar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book covered so many topics in so little time, AND was on about a 4th grade reading level! I was blown away by this book, my 3rd and 4th grade kid book club were blown away by it, and I'd recommend it to anyone. The themes were presented in such a way as to spark discussions of beauty, self-image, socioeconomic class, art, city planning politics, and all of these were initiated and sustained by the 9 and 10 year olds at my table. I had to ask a few questions to focus what they were trying to say, but really, this book gets 10 stars from me for the growth it inspired in my kids. I am not sure why the author saw fit to have the mother's narrative be the way it was, but I liked how her story showed an adult friendship with Chuck, and one that sounds like it was really deep. Overall, I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm glad that my KBC decided to read it!

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:

✱ Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
✱ A Snicker of Magic
✱ The Wig in the Window
✱ A Hundred Horses
✱ Tupelo Landing series

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something about this book rubbed me weird. I liked the morals and idea behind the book, it just didn't come together in a way that I found all that enjoyable. Most things that happened were very cliche and the ending was super predictable. The worst part about that was how long it took to get there. This book is nominated for the Bluestem award geared towards third graders and I'm not sure if it will captivate any nine year old enough to have them read all 230 pages. It was about one hundred pages more than it should have been and some parts seemed to drag along. If I saw someone reading this book I wouldn't run up and tell them to stop, but for what you get out of it I don't think it is worth the time to read.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is touching to the heart. I couldn't believe how Victoria called those sculptures junk. They are beautiful works of art made from trash. This book reminds me of the quote " one man's trash is another man's treasure. This quote ties in to this book because Auggie makes sculpters of of stuff from a dumpster but they still are beautiful in an eye that sees this quote in understanding eyes. This book is one big story of a cat trying to scare the mice away but the mice keep standing up for themselves even when the cat makes life so unfair, and it ends up that the mice win the battle. The House Beautification Committee is very cruel. it is forcing people to give up their true broken up ways to make the houses brand new.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is fitting that I finished this book on Christmas. This story was the best gift. As I work with Language Impaired older students, I always try to read books they are reading to work on our language goals. I am so thankful for the young girl who introduced me to this novel. My first impression was how wonderfully the author uses words to paint a picture. I started thinking about all the ways to make this book come alive for my students. Then the book became alive to me. It touched me so deeply. I am honored to share a hometown with Ms. Schindler. Auggie's story is one of the most inspirational, touching, and heartfelt stories I've read. I love that it can be enjoyed by adults and younger readers alike. Just. Beautiful.

[Michelle Willms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book impressed me on many levels. The writing was beautiful. The characters came alive. I fell into the story and emerged dazed. This is a book that should be read in every classroom. There are so many lessons taught within these pages, but the teaching is done with such delicacy and beauty, the learning occurs without the recipients of the lessons realizing it until later. This is such a great way to teach about the differences in the definition of "beauty," as well as showing the treatment of those in the various classes. The author also demonstrates the value of kindness. This book is simply beautiful.

[Carley Hromowyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this book! It is the story of a young girl who unites an entire community, allowing the characters to develop beautifully before the reader's eyes along the way. The main character, Auggie, and her gang of misfits pull on the reader's heartstrings throughout until the very end. She is a character that you silently cheer for in your head as you read and you can't help but crack a smile each time you finish a chapter. Auggie makes the reader ask the question, "what is beauty?" and helps them to understand that it truly is in the eye of the beholder.

[Kayla Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the delightful tale of a young girl with a gift far beyond her years - the ability to see the beauty in everything. She sees it in her house, in discarded items, and even in the people around her. Her determination in the midst of so much hardship is nothing short of miraculous and I very much admire her tenacity. This is a wonderful example of a good children's novel. It's easy to relate to and inspiring for young readers. A fun read I'll be recommending to my kids!

[Leigh Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a debut middle-grade novel for this author and it is wonderful! Auggie wandered into my heart and stayed there. She is one of those spunky, under-dog characters where you sit back and say "You go girl!."

So many themes and lessons can be taken from this story, as well a ton of examples of descriptive language. Great story!

[Catherine Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for not only its intended age group but for adults who enjoy good middle grade fiction. The writing is top-notch, and Augie's voice alone is worth the price of admission. If all books fell into such categories on merit alone, this would be a children's classic.

[Maria Caplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Absolutely going to use as a read aloud - possibly first one of the year. Great writing. I feel like I know Gus and Auggie and every student has a Victoria in their life. Creativity is my favorite part.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this outloud to my two older girls. It took a long time for them to get into the plot, and the author uses WAY too many metaphors. (Seriously, like every other sentence!) But the message is nice and very applicable to the late elementary, early middle school age group.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This tries to capture childhood with loads of descriptions, but they interrupt the story. Like a ref in a ball game who calls too many fouls. :) The writing feels forced and the plot is cookie-cutter. My favorite part is the conspiracy-loving boy. I'd read a book all about him.

[Ashley Wesner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book about being optimistic with what you have in life. I absolutely loved this story!

[Kristi Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, good read for middle schoolers!

Language: None
Violence: None
Sex: None