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My Jasper June
The school year is over, and it is summer in Atlanta. The sky is blue, the sun is blazing, and the days brim with possibility. But Leah feels. . . lost. She has been this way since one terrible afternoon a year ago, when everything changed. Since that day, her parents have become distant, her friends have fallen away, and Leah’s been adrift and alone.
Then she meets Jasper, a girl unlike anyone she has ever known. There’s something mysterious about Jasper, almost magical. And Jasper, Leah discovers, is also lost.
Together, the two girls carve out a place for themselves, a hideaway in the overgrown spaces of Atlanta, away from their parents and their hardships, somewhere only they can find.
But as the days of this magical June start to draw to a close, and the darker realities of their lives intrude once more, Leah and Jasper have to decide how real their friendship is, and whether it can be enough to save them both.
Then she meets Jasper, a girl unlike anyone she has ever known. There’s something mysterious about Jasper, almost magical. And Jasper, Leah discovers, is also lost.
Together, the two girls carve out a place for themselves, a hideaway in the overgrown spaces of Atlanta, away from their parents and their hardships, somewhere only they can find.
But as the days of this magical June start to draw to a close, and the darker realities of their lives intrude once more, Leah and Jasper have to decide how real their friendship is, and whether it can be enough to save them both.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
127 people are currently reading
6390 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Snyder
39 books807 followersLaurel Snyder is the author of six children's novels, "Orphan Island," "Seven Stories Up," "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as many picture books, including "Charlie & Mouse," "The Forever Garden," "Swan, the life and dance of Anna Pavlova," and "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher."
A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a former Michener Fellow, she also writes books for grownups, and is the author of a book of poems, "The Myth of the Simple Machines" (No Tell Books) and a chapbook, "Daphne & Jim: a choose-your-own-adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and the editor of an anthology, "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes" (Soft Skull Press).
Though Baltimore will always be her home, she now lives happily in Atlanta.
A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a former Michener Fellow, she also writes books for grownups, and is the author of a book of poems, "The Myth of the Simple Machines" (No Tell Books) and a chapbook, "Daphne & Jim: a choose-your-own-adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and the editor of an anthology, "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes" (Soft Skull Press).
Though Baltimore will always be her home, she now lives happily in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
December 21, 2019
4 stars!
Despite a some very heavy topics, I really enjoyed this book. At its core, it's a story of healing, and a powerful one. Would recommend for upper aged middle graders, probably ages 10 and up.
Despite a some very heavy topics, I really enjoyed this book. At its core, it's a story of healing, and a powerful one. Would recommend for upper aged middle graders, probably ages 10 and up.
May 16, 2020
4.5/5 stars
"Sometimes fighting the sadness is worse than the sadness itself, because you just can't win. And at those times you play the Sad Game, which is just trying to let yourself be sad. To be okay with being sad."
I have to say: this was quite the unexpected emotional journey... So much wisdom and emotional punch. This is one of those books that prove that middle-grade is not just for children. Even though the words to convey the message might be simpler, these messages can be read by readers of all ages out there.
"Sometimes fighting the sadness is worse than the sadness itself, because you just can't win. And at those times you play the Sad Game, which is just trying to let yourself be sad. To be okay with being sad."
I have to say: this was quite the unexpected emotional journey... So much wisdom and emotional punch. This is one of those books that prove that middle-grade is not just for children. Even though the words to convey the message might be simpler, these messages can be read by readers of all ages out there.
July 21, 2020
This middle grade book is very sweet and touches on some very tough situations. Leah and her family live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Leah makes a new friend and finds that Jasper helps her to start to live again after a tragedy struck her family. Highly recommend to young students as well as adults.
July 25, 2019
A summer story soaked in magic, My Jasper June is a beautiful exploration of friendship, loss, and family. Feeling neglected by her parents and lost in her own sadness, Leah finds an instant kindred spirit in Jasper and for the first time, begins to see the luster in life again. Jasper also knows a thing or two about abandonment, and as the girls bond over one magical summer, they realize they can't hide from reality forever. Luckily, Snyder is the perfect writer to tackle these tough subjects and does so with astounding grace and brilliance. My Jasper June is soon to be a beloved classic of book clubs everywhere.
June 2, 2019
There are good stories and then there are perfect stories, @laurelsnyder's new middle grade book is one that will sit in my heart for a long time and one that I hope others will find and love as well. Perhaps we all just need more stories to not feel broken, perhaps we all need to find our very own Jasper so we can remember how to live. Adding this to my best books of year list #pernillerecommends
June 14, 2019
I LOVED this book. Check out my video review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSHOh...
September 12, 2019
I won this book in a giveaway from Goodreads and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
This is the first YA novel I have read in awhile so it was refreshing. It talks about things that might be a little bit more taboo for kids including death and a child being homeless. This wasn't something where there were twists and turns, but the book really came all together at the end. I guess if I really had thought about it, this would be something that would be very predictable, but I was okay with that.
It's a cute read about friendship, hard times and trying to get through those things.
This is the first YA novel I have read in awhile so it was refreshing. It talks about things that might be a little bit more taboo for kids including death and a child being homeless. This wasn't something where there were twists and turns, but the book really came all together at the end. I guess if I really had thought about it, this would be something that would be very predictable, but I was okay with that.
It's a cute read about friendship, hard times and trying to get through those things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2021
A tender story about friendship, family, and grief. I wanted to hold everyone in this book, and smooth their hair. I am always so frustrated in books where no one is talking, no one is saying the things they need to say. But this time there's a good reason. This time what isn't being said is the point of the story, and I loved how it resolved. The book had almost a fairy tale feel, while being very firmly grounded in the real world.
April 22, 2020
Leah, a white Jewish 13-year-old, has been going through a mountain of different emotions. Her friends seem to have pulled away from her ever since her little brother drowned last summer, while attending the same camp she was attending. Leah is drifting through the world like a ghost, with no help from her equally broken parents. With all her friends off enjoying their summer plans, Leah first enjoys the depressive nothingness of a plan-free summer vacation. Severe boredom finally is what drives her out of the house. She comes across on an overgrown farm hidden near her corner of the city, and that is where she first meets Jasper, who's 14. Jasper, an almost magical-seeming white redhead is washing her clothes in the creek.
Eventually Leah learns that Jasper is living In an overgrown and rundown cottage and she is living alone.
Jasper slowly reveals that she is on the run from a terrible home situation, which is why she has chosen to be homeless.
Leah comes to understand that Jasper's overgrown encampment is her desperate reality.
I'd love a sequel. Reminds me of the Bridge to Terabithia.
Eventually Leah learns that Jasper is living In an overgrown and rundown cottage and she is living alone.
Jasper slowly reveals that she is on the run from a terrible home situation, which is why she has chosen to be homeless.
Leah comes to understand that Jasper's overgrown encampment is her desperate reality.
I'd love a sequel. Reminds me of the Bridge to Terabithia.
May 28, 2019
I stayed up late reading this one because I could not put it down! Leah and her parents have struggled through the past year after he brother’s accidental death. Leah feels alone, with her friendships fading and a feeling of being mostly ignored by her parents. A few days into summer break Leah meets Jasper, who quickly becomes a friend and fills that deep dark hole that rests within Leah. She quickly finds that Jasper’s living situation is horrible, as she is staying in an old abandoned house. It becomes Leah’s mission to help Jasper, although Jasper insists that her circumstances must be kept secret. As time passes, this secret becomes difficult, even impossible, to keep. When does truly helping a person take precedence over keeping your word?
Early digital copy provided by Edelweiss.
Early digital copy provided by Edelweiss.
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July 9, 2019Snyder's summery offering is another middle grade winner. In MY JASPER JUNE, two girls with problems much bigger than them find that the bonds of friendship empower them and enrich their lives. Snyder writes a unique kind of fiction that straddles the line between realism and fantasy, and this book is sure to please both kinds of readers.
August 28, 2020
Uplifting and heartbreaking. I have read other books by Laurel Snydwe (Any Which Wall, Penny Dreadful) and this story of friendship and a memorable summer between Leah & Jasper is her best by far.
January 4, 2020
I really liked this book when I started it. I mean, the main character is a relatable, kind of moody new teen, who really just feels like she needs to be heard. There's something beautiful in a book that addresses real problems as this one did, and I really appreciated that. I also really loved how real this book felt. Not many things were overdramatic, it just felt like a real girl's life. Leah is likable, even with her faults, and Jasper is delightful if a bit serious for her age. I loved all the things they did together, from the dollar store shopping (one of my favorite things), to painting, roasting marshmallows, and just hanging together. They were awesome together. Also, I loved Leah being Jewish. We don't have enough of that in books.
Unfortunately with all of the positive, the negatives outweighed them. Leah keeps some really big secrets from her parents, and there are no long term problems with that. There are some temporary punishments, but nothing that lasts. God's name is taken in vain at least three times, which I was very sad about, along with the minor cussing. When Leah doesn't come home for the night, . There were a LOT of mentions of alcohol, there was a gay couple in a movie, and Leah lies with no consequences.
I understand that not everything in this life has obvious consequences, but I think it sends a bad message to say that you can lie and keep secrets with no problems down the road. I also understand that a lot of people will not agree that the things I mentioned were negative content, but I simply was not comfortable with that kind of content in the book.
So this book had an awesome premise, but I just couldn't love it.
Unfortunately with all of the positive, the negatives outweighed them. Leah keeps some really big secrets from her parents, and there are no long term problems with that. There are some temporary punishments, but nothing that lasts. God's name is taken in vain at least three times, which I was very sad about, along with the minor cussing. When Leah doesn't come home for the night, . There were a LOT of mentions of alcohol, there was a gay couple in a movie, and Leah lies with no consequences.
I understand that not everything in this life has obvious consequences, but I think it sends a bad message to say that you can lie and keep secrets with no problems down the road. I also understand that a lot of people will not agree that the things I mentioned were negative content, but I simply was not comfortable with that kind of content in the book.
So this book had an awesome premise, but I just couldn't love it.
July 3, 2019
A feel-good, magical story about a family’s experience with grief and all of the emotions that loss can exhume.
Leah is a young girl trying to find her way after experiencing a devastating loss that she never thinks her family is going to come back from; and then she meets Jasper, a girl who becomes a sliver of light in their world of darkness.
Jasper’s life isn’t typical in any way to Leah, but Leah slowly learns that normal is not a label she aspires her family to withhold. After her families loss she becomes aware that everything is forever different, and Jasper is the friend she needed to ensure her life is lived.
A story of hope, friendship, and family.
Leah is a young girl trying to find her way after experiencing a devastating loss that she never thinks her family is going to come back from; and then she meets Jasper, a girl who becomes a sliver of light in their world of darkness.
Jasper’s life isn’t typical in any way to Leah, but Leah slowly learns that normal is not a label she aspires her family to withhold. After her families loss she becomes aware that everything is forever different, and Jasper is the friend she needed to ensure her life is lived.
A story of hope, friendship, and family.
September 27, 2019
My Jasper June is such a special middle grade book about how relationships change and we evolve after losing a loved one. This book is an intimate look at grief through the eyes of a teen (Leah) who feels somewhat invisible until she meets her new friend, Jasper.
Jasper has her own hardships and the bond her and Leah form helps them both get through incredibly trying times in their lives.
The ending was somewhat predictable as an adult but it might not be so clear cut for a middle grade reader. I definitely recommend My Jasper June and can’t wait to read other books by this author.
Jasper has her own hardships and the bond her and Leah form helps them both get through incredibly trying times in their lives.
The ending was somewhat predictable as an adult but it might not be so clear cut for a middle grade reader. I definitely recommend My Jasper June and can’t wait to read other books by this author.
May 18, 2019
Holds interest
-family dynamics post death in family
-children fending for themselves
-community
-friendship
-trying to fill a broken cup
-
-family dynamics post death in family
-children fending for themselves
-community
-friendship
-trying to fill a broken cup
-
September 17, 2019
Loved this book!
December 16, 2019
Leah and Jasper are such vivid, REAL characters. I adore them and I adore this book.
June 23, 2020
Summer begins and nothing is the same for Leah; not since her brother died last year. Her friends feel like strangers. Leah even feels like a stranger to herself. Then she meets Jasper, a mysterious girl who’s hiding secrets. The two girls connect and help each other. But sometimes helping a friend means breaking a promise.
MY JASPER JUNE is a story about grief, family, friendship, homelessness, substance abuse and the healing power of love. Laurel Snyder gave Leah a sympathetic, sometimes heartbreaking voice. The naïveté of youth allows her to think she can solve adult problems, while also giving her the inspiration to think outside the box.
If the ending had been more realistic and less Pollyannaish I’d have given MY JASPER JUNE five stars.
MY JASPER JUNE is a story about grief, family, friendship, homelessness, substance abuse and the healing power of love. Laurel Snyder gave Leah a sympathetic, sometimes heartbreaking voice. The naïveté of youth allows her to think she can solve adult problems, while also giving her the inspiration to think outside the box.
If the ending had been more realistic and less Pollyannaish I’d have given MY JASPER JUNE five stars.
December 6, 2019
I had been anticipating this gorgeous book since Laurel told me about it over a year ago. Her gift as a writer is making you believe that magic is just as real as anything. The exploration of loss, accepting and challenging the imperfections of family, and doing our best by our family and friends though it might take the most bravery is authentic and revealing. Sometimes we have to do hard things for the ones we love...we keep secrets, protect secrets, and ultimately reveal those secrets when they no longer serve. As always, a beautiful and meaningful story. Plus #OwnVoices for Jewish representation in the main character’s family.
January 14, 2020
I was so caught up in this book. Flowed from beginning to end.
January 9, 2020
My Jasper June by Laurel Synder is a touching story that you must read. This book is about a young girl named Leah who has lost her brother and nows seems that she has lost herself too, along with her parents. Ever since the day of the tragedy, everything has changed for her. Until one day Leah meets a girl named Jasper who also has had a hard life. Together the girls become best friends, hide away from all of their problems, and conquer challenges that will end up changing both of their lives.
I loved this book because of the characters that Syder created and especially the personalities she gave them. When I read this book it made me feel like I was in the character's place and not many books have done that to me before. The characters also felt real because of the dialogue Synder used. I also really enjoyed the plot of the book because it was a story that could actually happen and it had many things to relate to in the book. For example, the strong friendship Leah and Jasper have together reminds me of the friendship I have with my best friend. Overall, this book was heartwarming, relatable, an adventure, and had an amazing ending.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading realistic fiction and books about friendship, and concurring challenges. Lastly, I would recommend this book to people who like books that you can relate to.
I loved this book because of the characters that Syder created and especially the personalities she gave them. When I read this book it made me feel like I was in the character's place and not many books have done that to me before. The characters also felt real because of the dialogue Synder used. I also really enjoyed the plot of the book because it was a story that could actually happen and it had many things to relate to in the book. For example, the strong friendship Leah and Jasper have together reminds me of the friendship I have with my best friend. Overall, this book was heartwarming, relatable, an adventure, and had an amazing ending.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading realistic fiction and books about friendship, and concurring challenges. Lastly, I would recommend this book to people who like books that you can relate to.
July 8, 2025
My Jasper June features the same gorgeous writing as Snyder's Orphan Island (which I love), but the plot is much slower and sadder. I was expecting more magical realism (there is none) and less grieving and heavy topics (there is a lot--this pushes almost into YA territory). Feeling pretty mixed on this one.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that this also portrays lifeguards (or lack thereof?) poorly. Minor thing, maybe, but a personal pet peeve of mine since I'm a lifeguard.
Pre-read:
Ooh, I love the cover! The Orphan Island vibes are strong!
EDIT: Forgot to mention that this also portrays lifeguards (or lack thereof?) poorly. Minor thing, maybe, but a personal pet peeve of mine since I'm a lifeguard.
Pre-read:
Ooh, I love the cover! The Orphan Island vibes are strong!
December 3, 2019
I put off reading this because I've read too many children's books about death this year. But then the audiobook became available and I needed something to listen to on a long flight. So I was prepared to dislike this and pick apart how similar it would be to the many other works of grief fiction I've read. (To be fair, it's not the author's fault there are so many middle grade novels about the death of a family member.)
In some ways, this book did irritate me (particularly this plot device of keeping the reader in suspense over who the main character is grieving). But mostly I was surprised by how the book weaved together two different sad stories, two kinds of grief, two ways of experiencing loss. There's the main character Leah who comes from a stable middle-class family and has lost her sibling in an accident. Then there's Jasper the 14-year-old manic pixie dream girl who pops into Leah's life with a mysterious vagabond vibe. Jasper has clearly experienced serious poverty and neglect, which sort of opens up this connection between her and Leah. They are both emotionally traumatized. They are both feeling alone. They're both able to offer what the other needs (Leah needs companionship, Jasper needs material help). I was almost uncomfortable with the way they were kind of using each other, but then I thought that's how a lot of friendships begin, particularly for young people when they are thrown together by circumstance.
I'm a fan of Laurel Snyder's writing -- it's brilliantly clear and clean, sometimes almost like poetry. In the end I was surprised by how much I liked this given how I really really don't want to read any more books about children dealing with the death of a family member.
In some ways, this book did irritate me (particularly this plot device of keeping the reader in suspense over who the main character is grieving). But mostly I was surprised by how the book weaved together two different sad stories, two kinds of grief, two ways of experiencing loss. There's the main character Leah who comes from a stable middle-class family and has lost her sibling in an accident. Then there's Jasper the 14-year-old manic pixie dream girl who pops into Leah's life with a mysterious vagabond vibe. Jasper has clearly experienced serious poverty and neglect, which sort of opens up this connection between her and Leah. They are both emotionally traumatized. They are both feeling alone. They're both able to offer what the other needs (Leah needs companionship, Jasper needs material help). I was almost uncomfortable with the way they were kind of using each other, but then I thought that's how a lot of friendships begin, particularly for young people when they are thrown together by circumstance.
I'm a fan of Laurel Snyder's writing -- it's brilliantly clear and clean, sometimes almost like poetry. In the end I was surprised by how much I liked this given how I really really don't want to read any more books about children dealing with the death of a family member.
September 27, 2019
This is a well-written story about a family falling apart due to grief, guilt, and loneliness. I'd highly recommend it for upper grade elementary students.
Faced with a summer of isolation and boredom, the thirteen year old daughter, Leah, can barely make it out of bed in the mornings. Fortune (or is it magic?) intervenes when she finally ventures outside and makes a new friend, Jasper. Together, the girls find happiness, adventure, and true friendship despite the underlying fear and sadness each is suffering. The emphasis is on the strength of connections with others, how it heals us, motivates us, and helps us figure out who we are.
The character of Leah is written perfectly - her despair, her guilt, and her confusion about the way life has changed since the death of her brother - it all rings true. The supporting cast is strong and the author does a great job of showing, not telling, how her parents have been damaged by the past. I really loved the characters, the hidden emotions, and the hopeful tone. There are some parts that are a little far-fetched, but they didn't detract from the overall positive feeling I had after reading this story.
Faced with a summer of isolation and boredom, the thirteen year old daughter, Leah, can barely make it out of bed in the mornings. Fortune (or is it magic?) intervenes when she finally ventures outside and makes a new friend, Jasper. Together, the girls find happiness, adventure, and true friendship despite the underlying fear and sadness each is suffering. The emphasis is on the strength of connections with others, how it heals us, motivates us, and helps us figure out who we are.
The character of Leah is written perfectly - her despair, her guilt, and her confusion about the way life has changed since the death of her brother - it all rings true. The supporting cast is strong and the author does a great job of showing, not telling, how her parents have been damaged by the past. I really loved the characters, the hidden emotions, and the hopeful tone. There are some parts that are a little far-fetched, but they didn't detract from the overall positive feeling I had after reading this story.
December 10, 2019
Amazing book that wrenches the heart. On the one hand there is 13-year-old Leah whose family is numb with grief over the death of her nine-year-old brother Sam the year before. On the other hand there is 14-year-old Jasper whose home life is so terrible that she chooses to live alone in a shack hidden in kudzu with no water nor electricity rather than stay with her sister and her violent husband.
The two girls find each other on one of Leah’s walks near the shack, and a fast friendship is formed. The deep lonely place in each girl is immediately filled with their association. For several weeks time is joyous, but reality sets in. The fairytale world behind the kudzu couldn’t last forever.
How a family struggles through grief is very real and very touching in My Jasper June. And the very real world of a child abandoned by family because of their own problems is shown so poignantly and so touchingly. You root for Jasper all the way. It’s a book in which the parents try and are not the bad guys. And Leah is one terrific kid.
The two girls find each other on one of Leah’s walks near the shack, and a fast friendship is formed. The deep lonely place in each girl is immediately filled with their association. For several weeks time is joyous, but reality sets in. The fairytale world behind the kudzu couldn’t last forever.
How a family struggles through grief is very real and very touching in My Jasper June. And the very real world of a child abandoned by family because of their own problems is shown so poignantly and so touchingly. You root for Jasper all the way. It’s a book in which the parents try and are not the bad guys. And Leah is one terrific kid.
July 19, 2020
an amazing book that just gave me so many feelz <33333
Ok, but seriously, this book is SO sweet and just warmed my heart SO much when I was reading it. The characters are so loveable and you really get to know the struggle the main character is going through and relate to them. The friendship between the two girls is awesome and I just love this book! I would most likely read it again <3
(Also, staying up until midnight finishing this... might not have been a very good idea? But it was for a good cause ;D)
Ok, but seriously, this book is SO sweet and just warmed my heart SO much when I was reading it. The characters are so loveable and you really get to know the struggle the main character is going through and relate to them. The friendship between the two girls is awesome and I just love this book! I would most likely read it again <3
(Also, staying up until midnight finishing this... might not have been a very good idea? But it was for a good cause ;D)
April 26, 2024
4.5 stars
This book was not what I was expecting it to be about but in a good way. I loved it.
I loved this book, but I felt like it was too short. I need more of their story. I liked the characters, and I thought we were going to get a character arc focusing on why Jasper's name is Jasper, like the reason she ran away is because she came out as trans and her parents were like homophobic or something. But nope, my theory turned out to be false.
Yeah I liked this book :)
It gives "some kind of happiness" by Claire Legrand vibes and that's one of the best kind of book vibes for me
This book was not what I was expecting it to be about but in a good way. I loved it.
I loved this book, but I felt like it was too short. I need more of their story. I liked the characters, and I thought we were going to get a character arc focusing on why Jasper's name is Jasper, like the reason she ran away is because she came out as trans and her parents were like homophobic or something. But nope, my theory turned out to be false.
Yeah I liked this book :)
It gives "some kind of happiness" by Claire Legrand vibes and that's one of the best kind of book vibes for me
July 19, 2019
I read this book in record time. What a beautiful story of loss, of grieving, and of love.
January 27, 2020
Teenagers Leah and Jasper meet in the suburbs of Atlanta. Each girl is in need of a friend to help them deal with the harsh realities of their lives. But sometimes making a promise to keep a secret isn't the best way to be a friend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews