June Bug believed everything her daddy told her. That is, until she walked into Walmart and saw her face on a list of missing children. The discovery begins aa quest for the truth about her father, the mother he rarely speaks about, and ultimately herself. A modern interpretation of Les Miserables, the story follows a dilapidated RV rambling cross-country with June Bug and her father, a man running from a haunted past. Forces beyond their control draw them back to Dogwood, West Virginia, down a winding path that will change their lives forever.
June Bug believed everything her daddy told her. That is, until she walked into Wal-Mart and saw her face on a list of missing children. The discovery begins a quest for the truth about her father, the mother he rarely speaks about, and ultimately herself. A modern interpretation of Les Miserables, the story follows a dilapidated RV rambling cross-country with June Bug and her father, a man running from a haunted past. Forces beyond their control draw them back to Dogwood, West Virginia, down a winding path that will change their lives forever.
Chris Fabry (Dogwood)—evangelical fiction author of more than 60 titles and coauthor of Left Behind: The Kid series—offers a lovely, moving, present-day account of sacrifice linking to the famed novel Les Misérables. It all begins in a nondescript Wal-Mart parking lot where nine-year-old June Bug sees an artist's rendition of herself on a missing child poster in the store where they've parked their broken-down RV trailer. With questions galore, June Bug starts pestering her “dad” about their RV vagabond life and where they're headed next. Johnson, little June Bug's father, is obliged to face his past in short order as a series of unexpected media events force his hand and reroute his life. Afraid and emotionally battered, Johnson returns to the “scene of the crime” and discovers what he thought was lost forever. Fabry's retelling of the world-renowned Victor Hugo tale is a stunning success, and readers will find themselves responding with enthusiastic inner applause. (Aug.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Julieanne Miller (Roseburg, Oregon), February 02, 2010
June Bug is a modern-day take on the captivating story of Les Miserables.
I was very curious to see how Chris Fabry would interpret Les Miserables into his own story. While the modern story, June Bug, has some differences from the old French tale, it also has many similarities.
I found the story to be captivating. I couldn't wait to finish the book! I even read for several hours one Saturday to reach the final page in the book; this is a luxury for me as I rarely read during the evenings or weekends. You'll find me reading while the girls are at their violin lessons or at youth orchestra rehearsals, and that is about all I allow myself to read for pleasure. Maybe that is going to have to change! After finishing June Bug last Saturday, I had this great feeling all day, clear 'til bedtime, about the book and about being able to sit and read while it was fairly quiet in the house.
My daughters, ages 10 and 12, read this book before I did. They really enjoyed the book. My 10-year-old finds it difficult to read books that really capture her attention, but she is now begging me to purchase some of Fabry's other books. The character development was excellent; the twists and turns in the story kept me captive. I was surprised up to the end of the book, and I shed a few tears when I finished the story. I wish one or two events at the end of the book had resolved in a different manner, but I suppose that was because I didn't want to cry, LOL.
If you enjoy books with good character development, jerks and twists, and that allow you to become very emotionally tied with the plot and characters, you will enjoy this book. It has a pro-Christian theme, which I enjoyed, instead of people's religions always being slammed as in many modern day books. I am looking forward to reading this author's other works.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Megan (Pittsburgh, PA), January 30, 2010
This one had me in tears, so it definitely engaged my emotions. June Bug is a story that focuses on a little girl and her daddy, John. They have been living on the road in an RV for years. One day June Bug sees her face on a missing children's poster in Walmart and all of a sudden her questions about who her mama is take on new meaning. She starts wondering... The story follows the two of them on their journey home to find closure and new beginnings. The narrative is mostly written from June Bug's perspective, but it does switch to other characters along the way. June Bug is an endearing and inquisitive little girl, and I enjoyed her voice.
I actually really liked the ties to Les Miserables, although I would not describe it as a retelling exactly. The flashbacks added beautifully to both the story and the character development. I also enjoyed Fabry's use of language. At one point I read a paragraph out loud to my husband stating that it sounded like the narration of a movie (in a good way). It is written in a way that I could hear it while I was reading it. I liked it, and I would recommend it to others.
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Janett Roach (Pearl, MS), October 08, 2009
If there were 10 stars, I would have given Chris that many. I was absolutely spellbound, and could not put June Bug down. On a whim, I emailed Chris Fabry to tell him how much he is appreciated (and to get a heads up on when his next would be published). His answer? Late 2010 or 2011....I can hardly wait, I'll buy it as soon as I can!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle (Paranaque City, Philippines), September 10, 2009
June Bug, 10 years old, has always believed everything her dad told her. She knew that their family is different - she and her Dad live in their old RV and travel around the United States, never staying at a place long enough to establish relationships and put down roots; she has never met somebody related to her or her dad; but she also knew and relied on her confidence that her Dad loved her very much.
Until that fateful day in Walmart when she sees her picture on the Missing Children’s poster with a different name on it. She strives to know everything about herself and her dad.In the process, her dad, John, faces his past and confronts the pain that he has run away from as she herself discovers her own roots.
A beautifully written story by Chris Fabry, June Bug, is a story about families – the love, the pain, the hope, the disappointments. It drives home the truth that family is not just those who are related by blood, but family is there as long as you have love, faithfulness, forgiveness and hope. June Bug’s young faith in God carries her through all the events happening in her life as the truth about her past is revealed. The characters created by Chris Fabry are very realistic. The story is humorous, dramatic and heartwarming. Make sure that you have plenty of time when you start reading this book because it is hard to put down. And have some tissue paper beside you because the ending is heart-wrenching.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Donna Wooley (Yucaipa, CA), August 31, 2009
Great, couldn't wait to get time to read it. The book has some twists I wasn't expecting!
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Janna Ryan (North Platte, NE), August 30, 2009
Chris Fabry is a wonderful wordsmith, he has a way of delving into the culture and mindset of his subjects and bringing them to life. He does that in June Bug as he brings June Bug and her dad to life as they travel (or rather sit in the Wal-Mart parking lot) in their RV. We get inside the mind and life of a 9 year old little girl as she tries to figure out what is going on around her and who she really is.
One day as June Bug and her dad are stranded in the Wal-Mart parking lot waiting for a part for their RV to come in, she sees a missing child poster with an aged picture that looks just like her. She doesn't know what to do with that information as she tries to figure things out. The book is about the journey to truth and it is not an easy road. We see two sides to the story - June Bug and her dad and then also back in Dogwood where a little girl went missing 7 years ago and Grandma and the sheriff have not forgotten.
I loved this story. I was just distracted by the many references on the cover of the book that kept comparing June Bug to Les Miserables. It is called "a retelling" of Les Miserables, so what did I do as I read June Bug? I kept analyzing it and trying to find the similarities as I went. I wish I hadn't read the cover of the book first so I could've just enjoyed the story. I think it does Chris' writing a disservice to compare it instead of just letting a good story stand on its own.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deborah Bell (Sylvania, OH), August 11, 2009
This story grabbed my heart from the first chapter!! Well told and I hope this author will keep them coming!!!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christy Lockstein (Oconto Falls, WIsconsin), August 10, 2009
June Bug by Chris Fabry is a fresh take on the classic tale Les Miserables. Nine-year-old June Bug is mostly content with her life on the road with her dad, Johnson, until she sees her own picture on a poster for a kidnapped child. The poster says she was kidnapped seven years ago, and that her real name is Natalie Ann and has an age-progressed photo that looks just like her, down to the small birthmark on her cheek. Her discovery sets a chain of events in motion that will change her entire life and may just give life to her deepest dreams of stability and a home. As a narrator, June Bug is precious and just a bit precocious. She tells the story of her life with wonder and honesty. Alternating chapters depicting the frustration and heartbreak of searching for a long missing little girl are moving and devastating. It's a terrific read with a message of how God can turn the worst evil into good for his purposes.
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