In a story at once harrowing and touching, Kozlowsky enlivens the narrative with a deft hand, melding imagery that recalls the work of Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, and Hans Christian Andersen. With a terrifying villain, a relentless pace, a cinematic story, and a satisfyingly happy ending, this compelling read promises to draw reluctant and avid readers alike. - ALA Booklist
In a story at once harrowing and touching, Kozlowsky enlivens the narrative with a deft hand, melding imagery that recalls the work of Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, and Hans Christian Andersen...This compelling read promises to draw reluctant and avid readers alike. - ALA Booklist
The quirky plot (who knew brightly colored balloons could represent such dire consequences?) is nicely accented with a slightly out-of-time feel (cell phones mark the era as contemporary, but the language and occasional formality lend a more period flavor to the story) and characters who are charming but all odd in various ways. Kozlowsky wisely builds toward a rich and complex climax worth these often-splendid characters, one that allows for the happy result that they deserve, but the book also acknowledges the inevitable somberness of a situation wherein a child, ill-equipped but defiant, acts as the only real combatant against someone who is powerful enough to coax individuals into slowly giving up their souls. Occasional black-and-white illustrations emphasize the darkness that seems constantly ready to consume Juniper and those she loves. - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
The quirky plot (who knew brightly colored balloons could represent such dire consequences?) is nicely accented with a slightly out-of-time feel...Kozlowsky wisely builds toward a rich and complex climax worth these often-splendid characters. - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
