River Crossing

Under Water by J. L. Powers

"The eye crosses the river."
If I wanted it, I would make it happen, no matter how hard or seemingly impossible.

After the death of her beloved grandmother, seventeen-year-old Khosi and her nine-year-old sister Zi must face the world alone. Her aunt, accusing Khosi of witchcraft, has stripped the girls’ family home of its contents. They have only mattresses, a cracked plastic chair, and an ancient T.V.

Working as a sangoma, a traditional Zulu healer, Khosi abandons her studies in order to support herself and her sister. This should have been her last year of school prior to university. She wanted to study nursing, practicing modern medicine along with traditional healing.

Circumstances impel her to break the two promises she made to her grandmother: that she would complete her schooling and that she would not get seriously involved with her longtime boyfriend, Little Man.

Tensions rise when her boyfriend becomes enmeshed in the local tsotsi's (gangster) taxi war and the body of a murdered Somali shop owner is left on her property. Destitute, pregnant with Little Man's child, her home destroyed by fire, Khosi knows that she must take her sister and flee.

One of the fascinating aspects of this novel is Khosi's intimate and ongoing relationship with amadlozi (ancestors). They remain near, influence her decisions, and are essential to her work as a sangoma. They come and go. Sometimes they are close, advising her. At other times they are silent, leaving Khosi to puzzle things out.

"What do you suppose Gogo is doing right now on the other side?" Zi asks.
I shake my head. I don't have to suppose. I already know. "She and the other amadlozi are sitting around gossiping about the funeral," I say. "Gogo is laughing about how many people came for a free meal, people who never visited when she was alive."
Zi shakes her head. "That isn't funny,"
...
​"The things that matter to us when we are alive are not so important when we are dead," I say. "Gogo is glad they had a good meal. And she's touched by how many of them brought money to give to us."

Like her plan to blend traditional healing with modern medicine, Khosi's belief system is an intricate mix of Zulu worship and Christianity. A goat is sacrificed for her deceased grandmother's cleansing ritual. A Catholic priest speaks at the funeral. She uses a cell phone and watches T.V. but cooks on a wood-burning stove.

The world of the Zulu may be unfamiliar, but the heart of the story is universal. Khosi’s constant struggle with what she wants versus the reality of her life, her sense of  right, and her willingness to do hard things make her a compelling character. A miraculous healing brought me to tears. The heart-pounding escape from the gang will leave readers breathless.

Under Water is a tale of terror, violence, desperation, survival, fear, faith, and tremendous love. A moving story, impossible to forget or put aside.

Powers includes an Author's Note and a very helpful reference character list as well as a glossary of Zulu words and idioms. 

The world is my ocean. I will find my way in it.

Getting Acquainted with South Africa

Introduce students to the history and culture of South Africa and the Zulu People. These resources may serve as a starting point for further exploration.

Disclosure: I have limited knowledge of South African life, past or present. I can't speak to the authenticity of the experiences described in this novel. I can only address my personal reactions to this incredible work of fiction.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 12, 2019    Publisher: ​Cinco Puntos Press    ISBN: 978-1947627048