Category: Fantasy - READING STYLE GUIDE

Small World

12/6/2018

Firefly Forest by Robyn Frampton ill Mike Heath

Whatever you need is what you will find among the green ferns and the fireflies.

When this magical little book arrived, it immediately elicited oohs and ahhs from an appreciative audience. Firefly Forest draws readers into a world of wonder and possibility.

We placed the book among the twinkling lights in our garden. It is the perfect book setting.

Frampton's rhyming text, often in the form of couplets, offers reassuring messages of hope and inspiration.

However, it's her fantastical creations: miniature homes and furnishings, created from natural elements and placed throughout the woodland setting that capture the imagination.

Firefly Forest existed in an Overland Park, Kansas. The author anonymously developed the gnomish village, one house at a time.

Heath's ingenious design and adroit photography give Firefly Forest a storybook quality. His use of light is particularly effective. Readers will linger over the images featuring numerous tiny details. Enchanting!

Small Wonders

Love the magic of woodland miniatures? Here are more elfin marvels.

Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand.

Purchase one of Robyn's miniature doors from her website.

Visit the delightful Garvin Woodland Gardens located in Arkansas.

Enjoy the New York Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: March 13, 2018 Publisher: Imprint ISBN: 978-1250122636

Do You Believe in Magic?

9/13/2018

Smoke and Mirrors by K. D. Halbrook

...making up stories doesn’t make me a liar...It makes me a storyteller

Weaving a tale of wonder filled with pain, regret, resolve, hope, and a generous dose of magic is difficult. K. D. Halbrook's words seem to flow effortlessly, creating an illusion that is enchanting, while simultaneously heartbreaking.

Sasha and Toddy are children of Cirque Magnifique performers. From infancy, their lives have revolved around the wonder of daring aerial acts and dazzling costumes. People come from afar to marvel at these performances. Everyone, that is, except for the residents on the other side of the island. They will have nothing to do with this strangeness

Sasha is devastated when their parents decide that the siblings must attend school with the island children. She believes that she won't fit in. She doesn’t.

The Cirque kids were color in a gray world, they were many languages and strange accents, they were children of bizarre grown-ups who didn’t have normal jobs or wear normal clothes or carry the same tired expressions in their eyes, like the other island parents did.

Then she notices the beginnings of something sinister. Tendrils of acrid gray mist, known as the Smoke are creeping into her world. She is both repulsed and intrigued by this shadowy presence. Then one day in an angry outburst to her mother she declares that she wants to disappear. She wants the Smoke to take them all away from the Cirque. Her fury causes her parents to make a fateful error. High above the ground, without a net, Smoke fills the tent and her father misses grasping the trapeze bar. She watches as her parents plummet to the earth, only to become birds at the last possible moment and fly away.

Stricken with guilt, Sasha takes Toddy and goes in search of the Smoke. To defeat the Smoke they must find the Magician at The Edge of the World, remove his curse, and rescue their parents. Their quest takes them sailing on a ship sprouted from a magic seed.. They encounter King Crab, the Sharp-Beaked Weasel, a Unimoose, and the Grandelion. The fantastical beasts are imbued with distinctive personalities and are a bit reminiscent of characters Alice meets in Wonderland. Like Alice, Sasha must use her wits and summon courage she didn't know she possessed. She makes friends in unexpected places and learns to forgive herself. She heals as she recalls and enumerates the good things in her life.

You remember every nice thing that's happened to you. The people who hugged you when you were sad. The ones who invited you to their birthday party and gave you nicest piece of cake. You think about the most beautiful sights on the island.

Sasha's journey brings closure and peace to her family, the Cirque Magnifique performers, a newly-found friend, a former enemy, and importantly, to herself.

Some book covers resonate with me. This one does. I loved the slightly Art Nouveau graphic design. Note the symmetrical image of the girl. The shapes on each half of the body are the same, but the coloring on each side is different, suggesting duality. What was with the entwined birds? Why was she holding feathers? Smoke and Mirrors had me intrigued before I even cracked the cover. Kudos to the case designer.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 4, 2018 Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books ISBN: 978-1534405042

UpLifting

8/7/2018

The Lifters by Dave Eggers read by Dion Graham

His only friend – – it was so odd to think of Catalina this way, given they’d only spoken once--
had disappeared down golden steps inside a hill.

Gran, short for Granite, and his family have moved to Carousel, living in his great grandfather's old home. Everything seems lonely and a bit off balance. No one at school speaks to him. It's as if he doesn’t exist. One day he comes upon classmate Catalina entering a hidden door in the ground. Gran is intrigued and follows her. He discovers a series of subterranean tunnels, crisscrossing the earth beneath the town. He watches as Catalina labors underground, propping up the tunnels with all manner of items to keep the town from sinking. The two join forces, working to defeat The Hollows, powerful winds which sense sadness and threaten to tunnel deep underground, blowing away the foundations of Carousel.

This fantastical story is based on the metaphorical premise that young people can help to lift and save their community and also perhaps the world. Enchanting and heartwarming tale.

From the outset, Graham delivers. He is the master of the thoughtful pause. Each paragraph is given proper consideration without rushing on to the next chapter. The narrator creates a fluid narrative that moves the tale forward seamlessly. Individual voices are distinctive and imbue each character with a unique personality. From excitable Maisie, to self-assured and slightly sarcastic Catalina, to The Duke from Cuba, Graham's golden voice brings every individual to life. He handles tongue twisters such as "marauding mass moose" with aplomb. There is plenty of humor is his presentation. As he approaches the final chapters of the book (there are one hundred thirteen chapters) his voice hints at his increasing astonishment at the number of chapters, as he announces each subsequent number.
I enjoyed every sequence, every scene. Gran, his family, Catalina, and the residents of Carousel with their endearing quirks won my heart. Thank you, Dave Eggers and Dion Graham for this delightful adventure.

Listen Up

I could listen to Dion Graham read literature indefinitely. His range is impressive and his body of work extensive. He delivers a superb performance in all genres and for every age of listener. Listen to a portion of his narration from The Lifters. Give your ears and your imagination a treat with these samples of his narrations. Click on the cover to hear an audiobook snippet.

Bonus

The credits mention an aspect of the book that I missed: the art. The stunning cover is the work of the remarkable Fan Brothers. I know Aaron Renier from his Unsinkable Walker Bean graphic novel series. I was pleased to see his illustrations liberally scattered throughout the text. After listening to Graham’s brilliant narration, it was interesting to compare the pictures that I painted in my mind with Mr. Renier's interpretation of the story.

Release date: April 24, 2018 Publisher: Listening Library

Audiobook accessed via Overdrive

Swept Away

7/30/2018

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

You made my heart wake up

Welcome to the world of Victorian England’s chimney sweeps. Jonathan Auxier has created a tale that is part historical fiction, part fantasy, part social commentary, and pure magic.
Nan Sparrow has only known life as a chimney sweep. From infancy she was nurtured by a man she calls the Sweep. Together they did more than simply survive a grubby, demanding life of toil and deprivation. Instead he taught Nan to find joy in what others might deem a joyless existence.

The Sweep had never understood how a person could sleep through the sunrise. 'It's like Heaven itself is offering you a gift you're too lazy to open,' he used to say. Then he'd wink and add, 'Ah, well. More for us.'

One night the Sweep disappears. Nan is left companionless, stranded in a cruel existence of climbing through gritty chimney flues. Bullied and browbeaten by her pompous, evil overseer, Master Crudd, Nan soldiers on with the few meager items bequeathed to her: the Sweep’s hat and a small chunk of char.
Then a miracle occurs. Nan becomes trapped in a cramped flu. A conniving chimney sweep sets a match to the bottom of the chimney, causing a huge explosion. Nan is painfully expelled to the rooftop and in the process, the lump of soot comes to life.

And yet, here in the dusty crawl space, she held a miracle in her hands.

She names this sooty lump Charlie. Perhaps he is a monster, or maybe a Golem. Nan is not sure. Whatever. It becomes evident to her that there is a purpose to his existence. Her destiny is entwined with his.

"A sage or rabbi-- that is, a Jewish priest— forms a body out of mud or clay and then brings the creature to life with a sort of magic word called a Shem"...
"In your stories, why did the rabbi make his golem?"
"Why does a person create anything? Out of necessity... The golem is made to help people who fear for their lives.”

Auxier's storytelling abilities excel in this fantasy filled with richly-drawn characters. Nan, Charlie, as well as her friends and foes, are painted with deft strokes. Like the lump of char, they come to life through his dexterous prose.
The premise of a Golem is intriguing. The story thread maintains its tension until the tale reaches its inevitable conclusion. Auxier manages to weave the realities of life for the poor and under-privileged into a saga of wonder and magic. It is a story of pain and death, sorrow and disappointment, redemption and possibility, enchantment and wonder. It is a tale to read again and again. There is magic infused into each paragraph, each chapter. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster is destined to be a timeless classic.

Stories to Tell. Stories to Share.

It is an ancient need to be told in stories. But the story needs a great storyteller. Alan Rickman

I distinctly recall attending a book launch at Books of Wonder for debut author Jonathan Auxier. I can still picture the jacket he wore and his demeanor as he cradled his very first book in his hands and described the premise for Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. I was enchanted. From that day forward, I believed that he would go on to create more magical characters and compelling adventures. My belief has become a reality. Thanks Mr. Auxier, for filling my soul with story soup.

Sometimes on nights when there was no food to eat, the girl and her Sweep used to make Story soup. The girl would fill her pockets with trash she found on the streets - scraps of paper or trampled strings or bits of colored glass. At the end of the day, she would present these things to The Sweep. “Make Story soup!” she would tell him.’
”Oh-ho!” The Sweep would always exclaim, rubbing his belly with both hands. ‘You’ve brought us ingredients for a right feast!’

Have you noticed that all Auxier book covers feature silhouettes set against a richly variegated sky? Each story is a beautifully wrapped gift. Each is an enticing invitation to enter the fantastical worlds of Jonathan Auxier.

It's a very private thing to open a present and a person deserves to do it on his own way.

Bonus: The Wit and Wisdom of Sweep

What is a year?
A year is a bunch of days put together.
Oh, it's much more than that! ...A year is a little lifetime.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 25, 2018 Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419731402

Stories for All

7/2/2018

The Book Tree by Paul Czajak ill Rashin Kheiriyeh

Books are dangerous! I don’t trust them. They act like seeds, which grow into ideas, and ideas turn into questions.

Imagine a world without books. Paul Czajak invites youngsters to visit the fantastical world of Arlo, a boy who loves to read. One day, while nested in the branches of a tree with his book, misfortune strikes. The volume slips from his hands and lands upon the head of the mayor. Furious, the mayor immediately calls for the destruction of all books, as he deems them dangerous.

Arlo is bereft when all books are torn apart and the pages float away. He is not the only one missing books. There are no more stories for children at nap time. Meals become dull, as there are no cookbooks to consult. The theater ceases to perform as there are no scripts to enact. Arlo determines that perhaps he can create stories of his own. His writing germinates a torn book page, buried deep within the earth. A book tree begins to grow, nourished by the stories Arlo writes and shares. Eventually the book tree is filled with books and the town springs back to life.

Illustrations underscore the universality of stories. Kheiriyeh chooses to use a collage of text images from a variety of alphabets and languages as books contents. The fanciful residents of the town are depicted with different skin tones. The limited color pallet of a strong red, soft aqua, and muted ochre yellow span multiple cultures.

People grew hungry for stories again. Some wrote their own stories and became book gardeners themselves.

Meet the Author

Paul Czajak began his professional career as a chemist. Making the shift from science to children's book author seems like a quantum leap. Czajak neatly refuses this supposition.

"When it comes to science people have this idea that it is all numbers and equations, but in fact science is filled with creativity. Go look at a picture of the Hadron Collider and try to tell me that didn’t take some serious imagination."

He is the author the Monster and Me series. Monster Needs Your Vote might be an appropriate selection to read during this national election cycle.
Paul has created coloring pages, which may be downloaded from his website.

Meet the Illustrator

Iranian-American artist Rashin Kheiriyeh brings her distinctive style to fine art as well as children's book illustration. She is the recipient of numerous international awards including 2017 Sandak Fellow Award, six-time winner at the Bologna Book Fair, and Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia.

Review based on an electronic copy.

Pub date: September 30, 2018 Publisher: Barefoot Books ISBN: 978-1782854050

Yes to the Dress

1/2/2018

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Ah, the stuff that fairytales are made of: a handsome young prince, overbearing parents who seek to marry off the heir to the throne, a glittering ballroom filled with all manner of royalty, and a shy young commoner with a heart of gold.
But wait. Things take an unexpected turn. The prince, it seems, enjoys wearing gorgeous gowns. He covertly employs Frances, a lowly young dressmaker with a flair for the spectacular to create custom creations for him. When she learns the identity of her employer, the dressmaker is nonplussed and continues her work, making stunning works of couture for her client.
Eventually his private passion for dazzling attire becomes public and his parents must come to terms with this aspect of their son's identity. Wang injects a humorous conclusion at the story’s reveal that is fanciful and immensely satisfying.
Cross-dressing is only one aspect of The Prince and the Dressmaker story line. For me, the development of the relationship between the prince and the dressmaker is at its heart.

Initially Frances is Sebastian’s employee, designing his fetching fashions. Soon she becomes his co-conspirator, helping to hide his secret. Gradually a compatible relationship begins to blossom. There comes a point when the dressmaker realizes that she wants more for herself. She wants the opportunity to expand her skills and explore her own passions. This is the moment when Sebastian must decide. Will he protect his image at the expense of Frances’ opportunities for artistic expression and professional recognition? The consequences of his choice weigh heavily on him. His decision will significantly affect the future of each. However, this is a fairy tale and readers are rewarded with a “happily ever after.” The prince realizes that the only way to true happiness is to consider Frances' dreams as well as his own. I love this image: two young dreamers, sitting beside one another as equals. Now that's a happily every after!

Let's talk Coulture

Can we talk about the gowns for a moment? They are fantastic! Frances, AKA Jen Wang has a style that is fresh and exciting. The clothing serves to complement the wearer, not overwhelm or overpower. From the first glance, readers notice the full effect of each ensemble paired together with the unique personality of the individual. This is how clothing is meant to be. Jen gets it right. Brilliant costume design.

Wait... There is More to Love

I finished reading the fairytale romance with a satisfied sigh and turned what I assumed was the final page. Not so. Wang gives the readers a glimpse into her process. The bonus material is instructive and inspirational. She describes in detail the tools that she uses. A step-by -step guide chronicles her approach as well as offering a glimpse into her decision-making thinking. This peek into the method used to spin the story’s magic is a superlative bonus. Thanks Jen for this most excellent back matter.

On the Wings of a Lion

11/30/2017

Journey Across the Hidden Islands by Sarah Beth Durst

”Stories are never just stories. They are as essential to life as water.”

A story of two sisters. A story of a lion. A story of a dragon.
The sisters are twins. Princess Seika and Princess Ji-Lin are daughters of the emperor of the Hundred Islands of Himitsu. At the age of eleven they were separated. Seika, the older sister remained in the palace and was trained in royal protocol, taught to be a ruler over the kingdom. Ji-Lin, the younger twin was sent far away from the palace to the Temple of the Sun to train as a protector and warrior.
The lion is not just any lion, but instead a magnificent beast with massive wings who serves as Ji-Lin's companion and transport.
The dragon resides of the volcanic island of Kazan and safeguards Himitsu with a magical protective barrier. The sisters must unite to find the dragon and renew a bargain to protect the Hundred Islands. This venture proves more difficult than either girl anticipates and is fraught with unexpected dangers: some serious disturbances in the earth as well as creatures in the form of wild unicorns, mer-minnow, terrifying valravens " and a hundred other monsters, each probably worse than the one before."

Journey Across the Hidden Islands is an adventure full of interesting twists. I enjoyed the witty exchanges between the siblings. They reestablish their relationship, building on their connection from childhood while recognizing the realities of their evolving roles within the kingdom.

Seika "Princesses don't panic. All right, maybe they do a little bit."
Ji-Lin "You can't die of embarrassment. Trust me. I've tested it out."

"All right. Not going to argue with you about this. But -"
"You can't say you aren't going to argue, then say 'but,'" Ji-Lin said.

Durst weaves a tale of two girls who discover what it means to be a hero: "we have to be our own heroes now." This story of a story celebrates siblings who face the unknown and together succeed. Young readers will be enchanted.

Hand in hand, the sisters stepped forward and said together, "We have come to tell a tale."

Heart of Her Art

11/26/2017

Deborah Marcero: Author and Illustrator

Take a look at three picture books. Each is a little gem filled with creative storytelling, endearing characters, and inventive design. Deborah Marcero is the author of two and the illustrator for all three. And here’s the amazing thing: all have been published within the past eighteen months. That's one prolific artist! Let’s take a peek inside these enticing covers.

Ursa's Light by Deborah Marcero

"There were all the other bears...
and then, there was Ursa."

Ursa's Light, written and illustrated by Marcero, introduces readers to a charming little bear aptly named Ursa. From the beginning the double play on words is readily apparent. While her classmates are busily engaged in playground amusements, Ursa is fixated on the heavens above. She has a dream: she wants to fly. Not one to be deterred, she observes, calculates, tries, fails, refuses to accept to defeat, and tries again and again. There must be a way to realize her dream. Eventually she finds a way. Not in the manner she initially envisioned. But she finds a way.

The pages are chock full of details: Ursa's eyes always seem to be looking up; inserts of pages from Ursa's notebook; a brother named Orion; and a shirt emblazoned with the message "Live Delibearately." The color pallet is bold, with plenty of black punctuated with strong shades of rust and gold. It fits Ursa perfectly.

Rosie and Crayon by Deborah Marcero

"Rosie's tears reflected all the colors that filled her world."

Meet Rosie and her beloved puppy Crayon. Once again Marcero has selected an appropriate name. This pet colors Rosie's days, making each one vibrant. Initial pages feature colors that reflect Rosie's relationship with the pup, "tickled greens and fluttering yellows." One day Crayon is gone. Text does not specifically mention death, but it is implied. Color leaves Rosie's world. With a tear-stained face, she puts away her crayons and the dog's collar. Eventually she sets aside her grief and helps locate a lost kitten. Color returns to her life in the form of friendship with the missing kitten and its owner. A tender story of grief and healing.

Rosie and Crayon effectively employs color to convey emotion. Layout design is equally important to the story. Life with Crayon is busy, filled with a plethora of details. When Rosie is bereft, there are vast amounts of empty space on the page. Observant readers will discover charming little details: R+C carved into a tree and letters for the title page formed from crayons.

Twinderella: A Fractioned Fairy Tale
by Corey Rosen Schwartz illustrated by Deborah Marcero

"Gadzooks, I must be dreaming!"

Who knew that Cinderella could become a foray into the world of fractions? Corey Rosen Schwartz knew. Twinderella: A Fractioned Fairy Tale is delightful little riff on the traditional story featuring not one, but two mistreated sisters: Cinderella and Tinderella. Chores are divided in half. They appear to share everything, from supper to a bed. But they do not share the same dream. Will their fairy godmom be able to extricate the girls from their life of servitude and grant each girl the wish of her heart? Will there be not one, but two "happily ever afters?" Well, this is a fairy tale, so some extraordinary magic on the part of this godmom makes it happen. Schwartz tells this fractioned tale in clever couplets. Double good. Double fun.

End papers feature halves of sandwiches and oranges as well as pairs of shoes and gloves. Marcero ups the fantasy element with vibrant colors, including the sisters' bright red hair. Handsome Prince Charming has some serious moves and dances the night away with both girls. Not to be outdone, Tinderella dips Charming, proving these girls can "dance with the stars."

More than a Game

11/7/2017

The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente Ill by Rebecca Green

Everyone has to get from the Page One to The End one way or another.

Ah, the Brontës. All four siblings: Charlotte, Emily, Branwell, and Anne are featured in this wildly imaginative, stunningly brilliant fantasy. Little known fact: stories of Glass Town were created by the young Brontës. The children fashioned a world with a set of wooden soldiers where elaborate schemes were hatched and played out in a world of their own creation. Valente uses these stories as the entry point into the fantastical world of The Glass Town Game. One day the foursome leave behind their home in Yorkshire and enter their own fictional country.
With echoes of Louis Carroll’s brilliant satire and wordplay, Valente adds her deft comedic and bitingly perceptive touch to Glass Town.
Compare this exchange between Humpty Dumpty and Alice in Through the Looking Glass to Branwell's reply to a valise named Bestminster Abbey.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that’s all.”

Branwell observes that in Glass Town "All the words here think very much of themselves! Back home, a word just sits in a book and behaves. It doesn't mean anything like it does here.

Valente employs the use of invented over-the-top verbiage in Crashey’s pompous speech which echoes the oft-quoted lines from The Jabberwocky. Who knows, perhaps someday bindles will join brillig in the lexicon of nonsense words

“Most munificabulous bindles! We are most grateful for your... salvatervention! Intervupption” Crashey was a brave sort. But he couldn’t manage to keep his vocabulary any tidier than his closet.

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

It was just like a story. It was the most interesting the truth had ever been!

Valente has created a magical world, filled with extraordinary characters and amazing adventures. Those familiar with history will discover Napoleon Bonaparte, The Duke of Wellington, and even Queen Victoria popping up throughout the narrative. There are numerous nods to literature including Alice in Wonderland, Lord Byron, characters from Brontë novels, and the medal-award scene from Baum's Wizard of Oz. However, it is not necessary to be familiar with these references to enjoy this fantasy.
At its heart, this is the story of four children who travel to a land of their imagining, seeking to escape the pain they experience following the deaths of their mother and two older sisters. A tribute to imagination and the power of stories.

"You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another one. And another.
And another, until you found the right one at last, the one that ends in joy."

The Game of And

Whenever life was unpleasant, the Brontë children played The Game of And. One of the older sisters would begin with an extraordinary tale and conclude with the word "and." In turn, each would continue the story and signal it was the next sibling's turn with the word "and." Read this sample from The Glass Town Game. Then try creating The Game of And with a group of friends.

What if someone came along while we weren't looking and swapped the lye for powerful goblin powders and the washing water for Water of Life and...
AND made all of our dresses and Branwell's Sunday suit come to life and take us away to the Kingdom of Clothes where they use thimbles for shillings and buttons for pounds...
AND

Bonus Images

Map of Glass Town and Angria, created by the Brontë children.

1943 editions of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre with wood engraving illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg. A 1946 Christmas gift to my mother from my father.

Jumbified!

9/18/2017

Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

Everyone has the power to be the thing they most want.

Rise of the Jumbies continues the spellbinding adventures of Corinne La Mer. Baptiste draws on rich Caribbean mythology to create this island inhabitant, daughter of a human father and a jumbie mother. Jumbie? What is a Jumbie? Jumbies, along with witches and douens are figures in Caribbean folklore. Lurking within the forest, often these spirits can be terrifying. The Jumbies is a book that will send shivers down the backs of youngsters.
I don't want to give away what happens to Corinne in the first volume, but strongly encourage you to give it a read. This gives context to the extraordinary circumstances that await Corinne and her friends in the companion story.

Attentive readers will quickly deduce a few clues about what is in store for our intrepid heroine. First there is Corinne's last name: La Mer. Big hint there. "I feel the pull of the sea, not just because I love it, but because this is where your grand-père taught me everything I know."
Then there is the stunning cover which features an imposing mermaid with a massive tail that encircles Corinne within its scaly corkscrew. It's Mama D'Leau, a powerful jumbie who "rules the water." Corinne, daughter of a jumbie, is uniquely qualified to meet with Mama D'Leau and bargain for assistance in locating island children who have mysteriously disappeared.
Rescuing her playmates will not be an easy task.
Our brave young adventurer is heading into deep waters. Deep. Deep. Waters.
She's in an ocean full of mysterious mythological creatures including a giant squid-like monster, a water goddess, mermaids, and of course, a jumbie.
Her exploits have their share of frightful moments. One incident that made my blood run cold was the scene featuring snakes. Yes. There are snakes. Writhing snakes. Snakes. Snakes everywhere.

During her underwater travels Corinne encounters a vessel on the ocean floor. She makes a horrifying discovery when she uncovers what she assumes to be a rock. Instead Corinne has discovered chains that once enslaved the mermaids, her underwater companions. Their bodies still bear the marks left by these cruel iron bands. Recent reading of Shackles from the Deep brought these scenes to my mind with a fierce intensity. The reality of enslaved people trapped within a sinking ship is indelibly seared into my consciousness.

"They took us." "The captured us from our homes." "The chained us."

Baptiste's book is also a testament to the power of friendship and affirms the enduring bonds which connect family members. "All families are connected, Corinne. It's true. We don't get to choose who we share blood with. But we do get to choose how we are with each other."

Read this book for the flavorful Caribbean setting. Read it for the fantastic mythology. Read it to meet one very brave girl. Read it if you like the thrill of a good scare. Read it to discover more about a shameful past hidden in the depths of the sea. That's a tall order for one middle grade book, but Baptiste delivers on all counts.

Companion Books

The book that started it all. Read The Jumbies to learn more about Corinne, her life, her heritage, and her tremendous courage.

Shackles from the Deep: Tracing the Path of a Sunken Ship, a Bitter Past, and a Rich Legacy is Cottman's journey to learn the truth about shackles buried on the Carribean Ocean floor.