📖 Overview
The Juniper Game follows Juniper, a teenage girl with psychic abilities who can enter other people's dreams. Her powers grow stronger when she meets Peri, a new student at her school who seems to share her supernatural gift.
The two girls experiment with their dream-walking abilities, pushing boundaries and testing limits. What begins as an exciting shared secret evolves into something more complex as they discover unexpected consequences of their actions.
Their journey becomes intertwined with elements of Celtic mythology and ancient dream lore. The story examines friendship, responsibility, and the space between reality and dreams.
The novel explores themes of power and its ethical use, while questioning the nature of consciousness and connection between minds. Through supernatural elements, it considers universal adolescent experiences of identity and belonging.
👀 Reviews
Readers highlight this book's exploration of psychic abilities and the complex relationship between the two main characters. The story resonates with young adult readers who enjoy supernatural elements mixed with coming-of-age themes.
Liked:
- Character development between Juniper and Dylan
- Jordan's approach to depicting psychic powers
- Realistic portrayal of teen emotions and insecurities
- Atmospheric writing style
Disliked:
- Slow pacing in the middle sections
- Some found the ending unsatisfying
- Certain readers felt the psychic elements weren't clearly explained
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.7/5 (based on 120+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.2/5 (limited reviews available)
Reader comments:
"The relationship between the characters felt authentic" - Goodreads reviewer
"Needed more development of the supernatural aspects" - Amazon reviewer
"Memorable for its unique take on teen psychic abilities" - LibraryThing user
Note: This book has limited online reviews compared to Jordan's other works.
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Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause A teenage werewolf navigates romance, pack dynamics, and her dual nature in a contemporary setting.
The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley A girl poses as a boy to become a Folk Keeper, guarding her community from dangerous fairy creatures while discovering her own supernatural identity.
Tithe by Holly Black A modern teen uncovers her true nature as a changeling and becomes entangled in the dark politics of rival faerie courts.
Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones A young woman recovers supernatural memories of her childhood encounters with the faerie realm and a mysterious musician.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌿 Author Sherryl Jordan was born in New Zealand and worked as a pottery teacher before becoming a full-time writer
✨ The book explores astral projection, a phenomenon where people claim their consciousness can leave their physical body and travel through space
📚 Published in 1991, The Juniper Game was one of Jordan's earlier works, helping establish her reputation for writing young adult fantasy with mystical themes
🌙 The novel delves into Celtic mythology and traditional herbal lore, particularly focusing on the juniper tree's historical association with protection and psychic abilities
🎨 The story's protagonist, Juniper, shares her name with the tree that's long been used in various cultures for purification rituals and to enhance psychic awareness