The Journeys of John and Julia, by Aurelia, is the first novel in a series about two thirteen-year-old kids that have been thrown together by a group called The Twenty-Two.  The group is working to fulfill Julia’s unknown wishes, after the divorce of her parents.  I found the beginning of the book a bit difficult to get into.  The best way I can describe it is that it lacked literary fluidity. I felt that the author described each person and situation, but it didn’t transition well from scene to scene.

While the story changes point of view rapidly, I did enjoy getting to know the thoughts of individual characters and seeing their side of the story.  The relationships in the story were interesting to read about, and there was a wide range of them.  As an adult, the idea of this series is not something I particularly love, but I do know some middle graders that will love it.  Where the ages of the main characters are ‘young adult’, I’m not sure that teens over the age of fifteen will really get into the series and relate to it.

I’m at an impasse and want to give The Journeys of John and Julia 2 books on the bookshelf… Although, I have a feeling that my daughter (who is 9) might read this novel and like it enough to give it 3 books on the bookshelf.  I’ll let you read it and decide for yourself!

Book Synopsis:

The Journeys of John and Julia begin. The Twenty-Two are watching. Reality is about to change. 

It all starts when Julia’s parents totally mess with her summer. First Julia’s dad takes off to start a whole new family. Then Julia’s mom yanks Julia from cheerleader camp to spend the summer with her grandmother in the land of no signal, no mall, no best friend Kellie. Julia’s only hope for human contact is geeky John Freeman, who is six months younger than she and about a million
years behind her idea of cool.

If only Julia knew that her mom plans to dump her at Grandma’s not just for the summer,
but for a whole year. If only Julia knew that a collective of wondrous beings called The Twenty- Two are watching over her and trying to make contact. If only Julia knew that they could tell Julia every thought she never knew she had and bend her reality in any way they choose. And that she’d be with John Freeman when it happened. He’d think that was way cool.

And that is just the beginning. For this seemingly mismatched pair have cracked open the
door to another reality. And their enemy-to-be, the beyond evil Niem Vidalgo Oten, is about to enter the picture.