June Bug [Paperback]

Chris Fabry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 23, 2009

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.)
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Review

June Bug Chris Fabry. Tyndale, $13.99 paper (350p) ISBN 978-1-4143-1956-8

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.) --Publishers Weekly, June 15, 2009

While traveling by RV across the country with her dad, a young girl wanders into a Walmart and sees herself in a missing-persons poster. So begins a series of long journeys-physical, emotional, and spiritual--for both father and daughter as both try to sort out the puzzle of their past and build a future. Readers of Fabry's well-received novel Dogwood (2008) will recognize many of the same themes here: the search for home and family; forgiveness and faith; and the best way to navigate the repercussions of old choices and wrong turns. The publisher bills the novel as a "modern interpretation of Les Miserables," and readers who know that novel will enjoy spotting the parallels in this contemporary story. Familiarity with the Hugo classic, though, certainly isn't required to enjoy this involving novel, and once again, Fabry inserts enough plot twists and dramatic tension to keep readers turning the pages. Some clichéd prose may distract some, but the story of love's infinite power to shape and sustain will draw readers, particularly those seeking fiction with Christian themes. -- Gillian Engberg --Booklist, August 1, 2009

It has been said that there are only seven different stories in existence - the books you enjoy are all just variations on these seven different themes. I don't know whether this is true, but I do know that it's not uncommon for an author to copy old stories intentionally. Sometimes this is done well, and sometimes... not so well. I don't usually go for modern retellings of old stories. (Though I admit that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies does have a strange sort of appeal...) It seems to me that the best "copies" of this sort are those that are both good in their own right, and good in that they enhance an original work rather than try to re-create it. Sometimes new books are wonderful on their own, but sometimes they are most valuable when they help you read old books well. I just read a book that copied an old story loosely, and copied it pretty well. June Bug is Chris Fabry's newest book, due out in August 2009. (Thank you to the folks at Tyndale for providing me with an advanced reader copy!) June Bug is Fabry's modern interpretation of the classic Les Miserables. It's a somewhat loose interpretation, but Les Miserables fans will quickly recognize some key themes and plot points. The story is told mostly from the point of view of "June Bug", a young girl who travels the U.S. with her dad in an old RV. One morning, she is shocked to find a picture of herself on the missing children board inside a WalMart. The story follows her as she finds out more about her dad, her long-absent mother, and herself. It's a pretty good story even apart from its ties to Victor Hugo's classic book, but I particularly enjoyed the way it illumined the original work for me. It distanced itself from Hugo's book enough that it did not feel like a copy of a better book, but it also offered me a window into some of the original players. June Bug is not a Great Book in the way that Les Miserables (arguably!) is, but it does make for good weekend reading. I enjoyed reading June Bug, and now I can't wait to re-read Les Miserables. I think I'll appreciate it even more for having read Chris Fabry's book. I think Hugo would approve of this... and I bet Fabry would, too. Review by Rachel Motte --Evangelical Outpost, April 1, 2009

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414319568
• ISBN-13: 978-1414319568
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for stopping by my Amazon page. The new book is out, Not in the Heart. It's what I consider my most riveting, suspenseful, and yet relational book yet. A mystery within a mystery within an addiction. I dedicate this to all who have someone in their life who is addicted.

I was born in West Virginia in 1961. I read a lot, but not very fast, and wrote poems, songs, and transcribed Marx Brothers movies and memorized dialogue.

In 1984 I met Jerry Jenkins at Moody Bible Institute. He offered to help me learn to write and I took him up on the offer. In 1998, Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye hired me to help write the Left Behind: The Kids series. After that I worked on several other series for children and then published my first adult novel in 2008. It took more than six years to write Dogwood and find a publisher. It received a 2009 Christy Award.

My next novel, June Bug, drew its themes from the classic Victor Hugo tale, Les Miserables. Then, Almost Heaven released and also won a couple of awards.

In addition to my fiction, I have also collaborated on a couple of best-selling football biographies with Ohio State's Jim Tressel and, most recently, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

I graduated from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I have been married to Andrea since 1982. We have nine children. In October of 2008, our family evacuated our house in Colorado, leaving behind all our belongings because of a toxic mold exposure. Since then we have been living near Tucson, AZ in order to get medical help for the mold exposure.

Stop by my website at www.chrisfabry.com to learn more about my writing and radio endeavors, and be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter, the FABRYGRAM. I can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or you can e-mail me at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely, enthralling story, August 4, 2009

By 

Holly (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: June Bug (Paperback)

June Bug has spent her life driving the back roads of America with her dad in an old RV, often staying in Wal-Mart parking lots at night. Their nomadic existence is happy, but when June Bug walks into a Wal-Mart one day and sees her own face looking back at her from a missing child poster, she learns that there are secrets her father has never shared with her.

That discovery fills her with questions and ultimately sends them both back to Dogwood, West Virginia where June Bug finds answers and her father finds himself. June Bug's voice is almost too mature for a 9-year old girl. But, her narration is compelling and sprinkled with rich, wonderful details and observations. Full of strong, often delightful, characters, this is not a predictable story and it's certainly one that you will be reluctant to put down.

I've seen this novel compared to Les Miserables, and I have to agree with that comparison. John is the Valjean character: a good man who has had his share of difficulties. Mrs. Linderman takes the role of the Bishop, presenting John with something valuable to help him start a new life. Little June Bug is Cosette, rescued from a tragic situation to become a beloved daughter.

A lovely, enthralling story. Christian without being preachy. Definitely recommended.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 3/4 Stars, December 2, 2009

By 

Lynn ODell "Red Adept Reviews - A Blog" (Carolinas) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: June Bug (Kindle Edition)

Plot/Storyline: 2 1/2 Stars

With an interesting twist on the child abduction theme, June Bug is a watered-down tale of a girl who has been kidnapped, but never suspected it until she saw a "Missing Poster" with her face on it. This is a feel-good novel without much basis in reality when it comes to the main plot.

There are some very tense moments included that do keep the storyline rolling along. Also, the backstories for characters like the sheriff make for some interesting reading.

I really just had a problem with the main premise of the book. It's hard to pinpoint without giving away spoilers. I can say that the actions taken by June Bug's father both in the past and the present are simply unbelievable. The actions taken by Sheila, someone June Bug and her father meet in their travels, are also pretty far out there. Basically, one minute she is wondering if he is a child molestor or worse, then, just because she sees him teaching the kid to ride a bike, she decides he is the world's most wonderful father, except for when she thinks that it is okay to give a lecture on how much the girl needs a mother, which, frankly, sounded like she was looking for a proposal.

There was an underlying message that a father could not raise a daughter alone. I found that to be a very sexist message to pass on in this day and age. The ending was so forced and unrealistic that I was left feeling as though I had read some kind of fairy tale as opposed to a book about real people.

Character Development: 3 Stars

June Bug was a pretty well developed character right up until the end of the book. In the end, she just took events way too `in stride' for me to even imagine. Up to that point, she was immature and precocious in turns as you would expect from any child her age.

The father was far less developed and remained an enigma througout the novel.

The Sheriff was a well-rounded character that evoked plenty of empathy. However, again, his character fell flat in the end.

The grandmother was my favorite character. I cried for her at one point during a scene with her daughter. I wish there had been one more scene from her point of view in the end so I could have found out more about her feelings. I wondered if the author avoided that on purpose as I didn't feel condoning the others' actions would have fit into her personality.

Writing Style: 5 Stars

This was some of the best writing I have seen from a child's viewpoint. Mr. Fabry had June Bug's voice reaching out to the heart of the reader. Amazingly, he was able to switch to the adults' voices easily without breaking the flow of the novel.

The dialogue was excellent. I especially enjoyed the wonderful metaphors contained within this story. Even June Bug's metaphors fit her personality. This gave the descriptions a wonderful flavor.

Editing/Formatting: 5 Stars

Both were of professional quality.

Rating: PG for light Adult Situations.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book reminds me why I love a good story, August 1, 2010

By 

Jonathan Hetzel - See all my reviews
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This review is from: June Bug (Paperback)

It's rare for me to find a book that captures my attention with a single sentence:

"I believed everything my daddy told me until I walked into Walmart and saw my picture on a poster."

And it's even more rare for me to find a book that not only lives up to its potential but also surpasses my expectations. It's books like June Bug that touch my heart and remind me why I love a good story.

For as far back as she can remember, June Bug has driven around the country in an RV with her dad. There's never a destination, only an adventure to where the road leads. At night they park at Walmart. During one stop at Wally World, June Bug pauses to look at the Missing Children posters hanging at the entrance. To her astonishment, she sees a girl named Natalie who looks just like her. This discovery starts June Bug on a journey of discovery and truth. If this man in the RV is not her father, who is he? And where is her family? From the very beginning, this book captured my imagination. I fell in love with the characters, cared for them, and felt their joy and pain.

This is the second book I've read by Chris Fabry. Last year, Dogwood mesmerized me and became one of my favorite books of all time. I liked this one even more. And I'm not the only one. This book was nominated for a Christy Award this year. I read about 25 fiction books a year. This is the first one I've rated a 5 out of 5 in the past three years. I can't wait to read Fabry's newest book coming out this fall.