Short and Sweet:

This spooky, Caribbean folklore middle grade is a great pick.
To Elaborate…

Corinne La Mer knows the stories of the jumbies: creatures of all sorts that live in the dark forest. When Corinne runs into the forest to save her dead mother’s necklace, she thinks she sees eyes that are watching her. The next day, Corinne sees a beautiful and mysterious woman at the market, a woman who later shows up at her house. The woman, Severine, has dark plans for the island and the jumbies she commands. Corinne will have to find inner strength, help from her friends, and maybe even a little assistance from magic to save her beloved home.

I’ve heard so many good things about this book, and I’m so glad I decided to buy it. I didn’t know anything about Caribbean folklore before reading this, but Tracey Baptiste has written a spectacular fairy tale with a dark forest, oranges that taste so good they must be magic, and friendship. The different jumbies are fascinating, and the author’s note at the end that discusses them in a little more detail is fascinating. As someone who loves fairy tales and folklore, I’ve been trying to read more outside of the European tradition, and if anyone else is looking to do the same, this is a perfect book to read.

The chapters are usually short, and with all the intense action, THE JUMBIES reads quickly. I wanted to devour this in one sitting, but I tried to pause and soak in the brilliant atmosphere of the story periodically. The tension throughout will make your heart race, and Severine is a special kind of villain. She is a jumbie, but she is also capable of love, though that doesn’t mean she’s ever inclined to kindness.

With a spooky premise, powerful magic, strong friendships, and a beautiful atmosphere, Baptiste’s THE JUMBIES is a Caribbean fairy tale you don’t want to miss.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/07/review-jumbies-tracey-baptiste/