Junie

Junie is a work of historical fiction by Erin Crosby Eckstine. Published by Ballantine Books in 2025, Junie is Eckstine’s debut novel. In 1861 in Selma, Alabama, 16-year-old Junie is enslaved on Bellereine Plantation. When she realizes that her enslavers’ daughter Violet McQueen’s impending marriage will tear her away from her own family, Junie takes drastic actions to secure her safety. However, her actions have unexpected consequences that launch Junie into the unknown. The novel explores themes including the Pursuit of Autonomy and Self-Emancipation, the Power of Sisterhood and Ancestral Guidance, and Love Within Enslaved Communities.

This guide refers to the 2025 Ballantine Books hardcover edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of illness, death, death by suicide, graphic violence, rape, sexual violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, racism, substance use, and sexual content. In particular, the source material interrogates the antebellum American South and enslavement.

Plot Summary

In 1861, 16-year-old Junie is enslaved by the McQueen family on Bellereine Plantation in Lowndes County, Alabama. Despite her circumstances, Junie cherishes her friendship with Violet McQueen, the daughter of her enslavers, Innis and William McQueen. She and Violet grew up together, and now Junie works as her housemaid. When they’re alone, Violet lets Junie read her books, as she taught Junie to read years before. However, Junie realizes that everything at Bellereine is about to change when Beauregard “Beau” Taylor III and his sister, Bea, visit from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Beau is a potential marriage match for Violet. He is a merchant, and marrying Violet would secure him a hold in the cotton industry. Innis and William are desperate for this arrangement because Beau’s money will help them save the plantation from its imminent financial ruin. However, Junie distrusts Beau as soon as he arrives. Despite his good looks, he is cruel to everyone around him, particularly to Junie and the other enslaved people.

Junie is also terrified because if Violet gets married, Junie will have to accompany her to her new life in New Orleans and leave her own family behind. After Junie’s sister Minnie’s death last winter, Junie can’t bear the thought of having to part with her grandmother Muh, grandfather Granddaddy, aunt Marilla, or cousin Bess. She barely remembers her parents, both of whom died when she was young.

Determined to stop Violet from marrying Beau, Junie comes up with a plan. She will steal Minnie’s silver necklace from her grave, sell it, and give the money to Violet to remedy her parents’ financial woes. However, as soon as Junie retrieves the necklace, Minnie’s ghost appears. Junie is terrified and temporarily gives up on her plans.

Over the following weeks, Junie tries to decide what to do. Violet seems to be falling in love with Beau. Meanwhile, Minnie’s ghost has been giving her confusing directives that Junie fears will get her into trouble. In particular, Minnie wants Junie to find a box that she hid inside the house. Once Junie finds it, however, she can’t open it because she doesn’t have the key.

Eventually, she discovers that Minnie’s necklace opens the box. Inside, she finds a letter that reveals that William raped Junie’s mother, Charlotte, and that Minnie is their child. Other papers reveal that William gave Minnie her freedom. Junie is devastated, now convinced that Minnie was going to leave her all along.

Meanwhile, Junie develops a relationship with Beau’s coachman, Caleb. Caleb becomes a good friend, and the two start climbing trees, discussing poetry, and reading stories in secret together. Then, one day, Beau announces that he and Bea are returning to New Orleans. Junie is relieved that he and Violet aren’t getting married but devastated to part with Caleb.

In December, the Taylors return unexpectedly. Junie and Caleb reunite and profess their love for each other. Not long after, Beau and Violet announce their engagement. Junie wishes that Violet wouldn’t go through with the marriage—in reality, Violet is in love with Bea, and the two have been involved in a secret tryst. Violet is convinced that the only way for them to be together is for her to marry Beau.

One night, Junie catches Violet and Bea in bed together. Junie promises to keep their secret, but an altercation breaks out between the three women, inciting Beau’s attention and wrath. He forces his way into the room and beats Junie. In the wake of this incident, Junie stops working as Violet’s housemaid. She also realizes that she and Violet aren’t friends and that she must exact her freedom at whatever cost.

Junie realizes that she misunderstood Minnie’s intentions and seeks her help once more. With Minnie’s direction, she poisons William on Violet’s wedding night. She hopes that William’s illness will distract the McQueens and Taylors so that she, Caleb, and her family can escape. However, William dies, and Junie, Caleb, and her family are stuck at the plantation.

Over the following months, conditions worsen at Bellereine. One night, after Beau lashes out in violence at Bea and Junie’s cousin Bess, Junie and Violet decide to flee. They light the house on fire and run. Violet thanks Junie for everything, apologizing for her cruelty. She then leaves to go and find Bea. Meanwhile, Junie says goodbye to her family—none of whom is coming with her—and meets up with Caleb.

At the river, Junie and Caleb plan to catch a boat to freedom. However, they run into Beau on the riverbank with a gun. Caleb faces off with him so that Junie can get on the boat. Junie doesn’t want to abandon Caleb, but Minnie’s ghost urges her to save herself. On the river, Junie studies the land and dreams of the life she’ll make for herself.