Junie

"Eckstine combines the lyricism of Jesmyn Ward and Toni Morrison with the speculative historical fiction of Tananarive Due and Leslye Penelope in a stunning debut that will also appeal to fans of Percival Everett's James."-Booklist, starred review

"A compelling portrait of the psychological, emotional, and social degradations of slavery ... Eckstine is a talented writer to watch. Featuring a spirited protagonist, this compelling mix of the historical and the supernatural will resonate."-Kirkus Reviews

"Bringing elements of magical realism that will remind readers of Janelle M. Williams and Jesmyn Ward, Junie is a stunning debut novel about resilience and ancestral power that is both haunting and inspiring."-She Reads

"[A] finely crafted debut ...The complex plot and righteous protagonist will keep readers turning the pages. Eckstine evokes the earthly and supernatural to equally powerful effect in this richly layered tale."-Publishers Weekly About Erin Crosby Eckstine

Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she's in the mood for. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Eckstine grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to... More about Erin Crosby Eckstin

"Junie ... has such a raw beauty that absolutely captivated me.... Junie's quiet strength comes from the stark, uncompromising truth of enslavement, creating a tension that kept me completely immersed in her world. Eckstine crafts a narrative that is both haunting and profoundly moving, and her prose is wildly vivid."-CityBeat (Cincinnati)

"The richly textured prose quickly pulled me into the protagonist's treacherous yet magical world. I was drawn to the story of Junie, an enslaved teenager with a love of books and nature who must navigate difficult truths about her family and friendships in order to survive her times."-Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake