Junie    by Erin Crosby Eckstine Order:  USA  Can Ballantine, 2025 (2025) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Enslaved since she was born, Junie longs for freedom. But life keeps getting in her way. First her sister dies, and Junie just knows it was her fault. Besides that, everyone is always having to correct her because she often daydreams and is easily distracted. Junie is special to Violet, her white master's daughter. Together they giggle about many things, and Violet helps Junie learn to read. But Junie's heart belongs to her family, and their life is definitely not easy. She even begins to see how her family has to work to protect her from her own foolishness. Eckstine's goal for this story was to portray life from a slave's point of view. She does an excellent job. We learn much about the behind-the-scenes running of a plantation and being subservient to owners whose demeaner ranges from unkindness to outright cruelty. How Junie finally takes control of her life and in the process helps Violet to do the same makes for a very interesting story. I'm hoping to see more from this author. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews