June's Song

by Inger Margaret Foster

What if someone, or something, stopped a person who was about to fix a temporary problem with a permanent solution? So begins the tale of one seventeen year old girl, stuck in a hopeless situation with no apparent end in sight. It is the Bicentennial year, in the fictional town of Beauville, NY and her story rings as true in the past as it does today. It often takes more than a village, and in this case, it needs the mysterious assistance of the unknown as well.

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2024

About the author

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Inger has lived in the US for most of her life. She grew up in a small town in Northern New Jersey, where the passion for reading led to a lifetime of writing. Inger has always thought of herself as a storyteller, rather than an author. To her, the story itself is the most important part of a book, and she avoids penning excessive pages filled with unnecessary detail. With short, easy to read chapters, and concise descriptive passages, she hopes to rapidly draw readers into the worlds that she has created.

Inger holds a Masters Degree in Arts and Education. She has written ten books, in nine volumes, for The Circles of the Soul series. In addition, she collaborated with Cathlyn A. Driscoll to create two children’s books (available only in print), both derived from the storylines set in two of the books in the series. Sitting outside of the series is the romantic ghost story, Always Just Beyond. This book-within-a book presents a whole new cast of characters, with a storyline connected to the 1850s house that she and her husband recently renovated in New England. Inger is a mother and a grandmother, and is currently involved in the creation and development of screenplays with JNAK Productions.

Inger's Y/A novel, Elke's Magic, is now a screenplay, beautifully written by Daina Ann Smith. It is currently in pre-production.

Reviews

[Karen K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading June's Song, I identify with June, her family issues and struggles to cope as a teenager. When a friend, young or old, appears in your life to show compassion and encouragement, it can make all the difference. I'm going to take this book to my teenage granddaughter on my visit.

[Marcha Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this beautiful story. If you have (or are) a teenager, this is a book I recommend very highly. It's important to note that it takes place in the 1970s, a time I remember well, yet is ancient history to kids today. Things have changed, a lot, and much of it for the good in recognizing how people are traumatized and how they can be helped.
June Adams is a 17 year old who is overwhelmed by numerous unfortunate events in her life which ultimately endow her with way too much responsibility. While she considers ending it all, fortunately this is averted and June steps up to what she must do. A good friend as well as a very special friend where she works help her hang in there. She finds time to pursue her talents and being a normal teen in spite of her many challenges.
This story is powerful on so many levels. Accepting things the way they are and just dealing with them while maintaining a positive attitude is so important, yet seldom easy. Dealing with loss is difficult, no matter what your age or experience.
One thing I love about this author's books is the way they blur the boundaries between life and death. This book is part of her "Circles of the Soul" series, which I intend to explore in its entirety. Those on the "other side" are still there, caring about those they left behind. They are now in a better place and as much as they may be missed, the best way to honor them is to continue to embrace the life you have.
If I were a high school teacher I would make this story required reading, which would fit well for either English or Social Studies classes. Highly recommended for all ages.