The Jumbies

February 9, 2015
Baptiste (Angel’s Grace) mines Caribbean folklore for her second novel. The jumbies are ancient, shape-shifting spirits living amid old-growth mahogany forests, feared and whispered about by humans. Eleven-year-old Corinne and her father, Pierre, don’t care; they live in a cottage under the forest eaves and tend the richest garden in the village, which is dominated by an orange tree planted by Corinne’s mother before her untimely death. It’s a happy household despite their loss, and Corinne’s fearless energy and can-do attitude are celebrated throughout. Her father, though, is lonely, and gradually falls under the spell of Severine, a jumbie in human disguise, embittered and seeking revenge. The storytelling pace is slow and descriptive—Baptiste takes seriously the job of familiarizing readers with what, for many, will be an unfamiliar setting and culture. It’s not until Severine appears in Pierre’s cottage, a quarter of the way through the book, that a plot begins to takes shape. What the story lacks in page-turning momentum, however, is made up for in its vivid evocation of Corinne’s island home. Ages 8–12. Agent: Marie Lamba, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.

August 1, 2015
Gr 3-5-Eleven-year-old Corinne lives a fairly peaceful existence with her father, spending much of her time growing and selling the oranges that remind her of her late mother. That is, until an unplanned visit into the forbidden forest changes her perception of the "jumbies," which she thought were mythical creatures created by adults to scare children into behaving but which turn out to be all too real. Severine, a jumbie in disguise, loathes the humans that have taken over her island home. Corinne must stop her before Severine destroys all that she loves, especially her beloved father, Pierre. Corinne is strong and brave and with the help of her friends attempts to foil the jumbie's plans, along the way discovering the power within herself. Robin Miles's lyrical narration enhances the mood and feeling of the story. This folkloric tale will give listeners a glimpse into Haitian culture, one they don't often see in children's literature. VERDICT The strong characters and unique sitting make this a worthwhile listen.-"Theresa Horn, St. Joseph County Public Library, South Bend, IN"

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2015
A fantasy based in Caribbean folklore.Corinne La Mer is a brave 11-year-old growing up on a Caribbean island. On All Hallow's Eve, when a pair of troublemaking brothers tie her deceased mother's prized necklace to a wild animal, Corinne chases the animal into the forest to retrieve it. However, this is no ordinary forest: It's known for being the abode of "jumbies," creatures "hidden in the shadows, always waiting for their moment to attack." Though Corinne doesn't believe in them, a jumbie follows her out of the forest. The third-person narration tells the back story-in bits and pieces-of this jumbie, who reveals herself to be Corinne's mother's sister. It's never satisfactorily explained why Severine (as Corinne's jumbie aunt calls herself) seeks out her niece, nearly a decade after her sister's death. In order to fight Severine-who, sympathetically, only wants a family but is bent on turning humans to jumbies to get one-Corinne must rely not only on her own strength, but that of newfound friends. The novel is based on a Haitian folk tale, according to the author's note, and it's refreshing to see a fantasy with its roots outside Europe. Baptiste never quite manages to control the story's pacing, though, and certain elements in the ending feel arbitrary. Despite flaws, this is a book worth reading simply for its originality. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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March 15, 2015
Grades 3-7 What's a jumbie? Corinne and her friends know. In Trinidad, where Corinne lives with her widowed papa on the edge of the forest, a jumbie is an evil spirit that comes out at night to suck blood, steal children, or lure people into peril, the kind of creature parents tell stories about to frighten their children. Corinne knows they are not real, but when a beautiful woman suddenly takes an interest in Papa, she starts digging deeper. With the help of her friendsDru, of South Asian descent; Malik, who never says a word; and Boukishe discovers something deeply sinister going on. Structural elements similar to those of classic European fairy tales (brave girl, evil stepmother, magic amulet, and so on) look fresh, lively, and no less scary in the Caribbean setting. Readers will thrill to the werewolflike lagahoo and the creepy little douens, who have backward-facing feet. With a diverse cast of multidimensional characters, a swift plot, and a unique setting, this book will delight many.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-A middle grade twist on a traditional Haitian folktale. Corinne and her father don't believe in jumbies, malevolent creatures that come out of the island's dark woods to prey on people. Then one day a strangely beautiful lady named Severine walks into Corinne's house and takes over, her Papa begins acting weird, and evil creatures attack the village. Corinne and her friends approach the white witch for help but she can't assist because it would affect the ancient balance between creatures and humans. However, the white witch does tell Corinne that she has a special power that can help. Readers will find Corinne engaging and her determination authentic. Corinne's friends, Dru, Bouki, and Malik are also fully formed and believable characters whose loyalty and bravery help save the day. Even the evil Severine is drawn well enough to evoke empathy in readers. The story builds nicely to the inevitable confrontation between Corinne and Severine. Though the denouement seems a little too good to be true, the themes of fairness, justice, and retribution meld into a better than average evil witch story. VERDICT This is a well written tale full of action with enough scary elements to satisfy fans of Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm (Penguin, 2010) or Laura Amy Schlitz's Splendors and Glooms (Candlewick, 2012).-Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.