The Jumbie God's Revenge

August 1, 2019

Gr 3-7-In this third installment in the inspired "Jumbies" series, Corinne and her steadfast friends Malik, Bouki, and Dru once again face folktales come true. Corinne has managed to appease Mama D'Leau, the jumbie of the oceans, and force her mother's sister, Severine, into the far oceans, well away from where she can harm Corinne or her friends and family. All seems well until the island is suddenly pummeled by a violent storm, followed by another and another. The people are forced to flee into the mountains where Corinne and her friends discover a hidden village. There they learn about Huracan, an ancient, almost-forgotten jumbie god. Corinne begins to understand that during her adventures with Mama D'Leau she upset the natural balance and that Huracan, god of all jumbies, is upset and trying to force the jumbies and humans into submission. Corinne must use her ingenuity and newly discovered abilities, along with help from her friends, to put Huracan to rest. These intriguing stories derived from Caribbean culture never fail to entertain. VERDICT Purchase for fans of the series and lovers of folktales everywhere.-Gretchen Crowley, formerly at Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
After defeating her vengeful jumbie aunt, Severine, to save the island children and out-dealing the treacherous water jumbie Mama D'Leau (in Rise of the Jumbies, rev. 3/18), Corinne can't stop worrying that trouble will return. An off-season hurricane seems to confirm her fears, wreaking havoc on her Caribbean island home with all the hallmarks of Mama D'Leau's cruel mischief. When a second, more violent storm nearly destroys the island and forces humans and jumbies alike into the mountains for safety, Corinne learns from forest jumbie Papa Bois that Mama is not to blame?the storms are the work of an angry god called Huracan. Despite being half-jumbie herself, Corinne has no idea how to stop a god's wrath, but she will need once again to turn to her friends (and enemies) and to her own flourishing power if she is to uncover what has infuriated Huracan and save her island. Baptiste continues to successfully blend fantastical and realistic elements, punctuating the plot with true and terrifying details, such as the speed and level of a hurricane's physical destruction, without impeding the Caribbean folktale motifs that underscore the series. Packed with action, the narrative sacrifices not an ounce of emotional authenticity; readers will be as enthralled by the heartening tenacity and perseverance of friendship and community as by the jumbies and humans confronting a dangerous deity. Considerations of the struggles of refugees and the importance of standing up for the vulnerable are especially timely in this propulsive and engaging story. anastasia m. collins

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2019
After defeating her vengeful jumbie aunt and out-dealing the treacherous water jumbie Mama D'Leau (�cf2]Rise of the Jumbies�cf1]), Corinne worries that an off-season hurricane has the hallmarks of Mama's cruel mischief. But this is the work of an angry god, and half-jumbie Corinne has no idea how to stop a god's wrath and save her Caribbean island. Baptiste successfully blends fantastical and realistic elements, punctuating the plot with true and terrifying details.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from July 1, 2019
Several months have passed since the events of The Rise of the Jumbies (2017), when Corinne La Mer faced her mother's sister, Severine, and the mighty Mama D'Leau, the jumbies of forest and sea. Corinne anxiously awaits her father's yellow fishing boat every day, scanning the sea for trouble, afraid that Severine will come back for revenge. Her friends encourage her to keep her mind on land rather than the waters. One day, an out-of-season hurricane suddenly turns the island upside down. As the hurricane rips the island apart, the villagers take to the mountains for shelter. There, Corinne finds Papa Bois, guardian jumbie of the forest. He tells her the storm is the work of the jumbie god, Huracan. Even though she's half jumbie herself, Corinne isn't sure how to stop the mighty god from destroying the island. What could cause such fury? With the help of her friends, human and jumbie, Corinne sets out to fix things once and for all and to face Huracan himself. With this strong return to the Jumbies series, Baptiste engages all the senses, from the taste of sweet oranges to the scent of salty air. Corinne strengthens her relationships with the island, the people, and all the creatures within. Her determination, compassion, and bravery will inspire readers to face down any challenges crossing their paths.Baptiste carefully represents Caribbean diversity; most characters are Afro Caribbean like Corinne, but friend Dru's heritage is South Asian. A tremendous return. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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