Just Juice

Realistic Fiction
By: Karen Hesse
Reviewed By: Cassie R.
Rated 4 Out Of 5 Stars

Juice Faulstich is a nine year old girl who lives with her Ma, Pa and four sisters out in the hills. Her oldest sister, Markarita, Markey for short, is 13 and Charleen who is 11 attend school regularly. But Juice isn’t book smart. She likes to stay with Pa and go for walk all day so he doesn’t get sad and lonely. Pa and Juice are very close, they are together all the time, neither of them can read and they are both trying to find a job for Pa.

When Juice finds a letter in the mail she tells Pa they should have somebody read it, so they go to Markey and she says that the letter says they are going to lose their house. They haven’t paid their taxes so their house is sold. If they don’t pay the taxes back they will have to move out and they only have a year to come up with the money. But they can’t tell Ma because they don’t want her to worry. Ma is pregnant again and doesn’t need any more stress. On top of all that, if Juice doesn’t go to school, they will have to go to court and pay money. Pa needs to find work… fast, or else his family will lose everything. Will he be able to though? Will they be able to support the baby? Will Juice go back to school so Ma and Pa don’t have to go to court?

Just Juice is a short, easy read. It teaches that even when things are hard in life, you need to stay positive and keep going. Both boys and girls would most likely enjoy reading it.