Horn Book Review
Twelve-year-old Caroline Murphy, who lives on tiny Water Island near St. Thomas, is certain that she is cursed, and she may be right. Born inauspiciously during a hurricanea portent of bad luckCaroline was left behind with her father when her mother left without explanation. With the darkest skin and the thickest hair in the whole Catholic school, Caroline is bullied by classmates and teachers alike. She is also haunted by a spirita woman in black that only Caroline can see. Things finally begin to change for the better when new student Kalinda arrives from Barbados and instantly charms everyone, including Caroline. The immediacy of Carolines present-tense narration thoroughly immerses readers in an emotional tempest. Desperation to mend her broken family meets the rising tide of her crush on Kalinda as Caroline struggles to confront her feelings and the truth about her mothers departure. Callenders debut masterfully deploys the rich landscape of Caribbean life and is trenchant in its portrayal of the cruel reality of prejudice alongside the fragility and resilience of inner strength. Fans of Tracey Baptistes The Jumbies will find similar thoughtful exploration of island identities and nuanced themes of difference, belonging, and family. anastasia m. Collins (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Born during a storm, Caroline Murphy, a 12-year-old black girl, is convinced that she has been cursed with bad luck. The old ladies around her way say this is the fate of any child born during a hurricane. Recent events in her life seem to confirm this. Feeling unwanted by everyone, especially since the abrupt departure of her mom, Caroline leads a difficult life. She is bullied by those at her school in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, including her teacher, for her skin, which is darker than theirs. She is also followed around by a spiritthe woman in blackthat she is sure only she can see. The arrival of a new student from Barbados changes Caroline's life significantly. Also bullied, the exuberantly dreadlocked Kalinda becomes Caroline's first and only friend, and soon Caroline's feelings blossom into something more than platonic. This spells problems for Caroline, since feelings like these are considered sinful in Catholic school. Caroline now must deal with growing up without a mother and her feelings for Kalinda, all while trying to figure out why the woman in black will not leave her alone. Her journey to the answers to her most burning questions finds her discovering much about herself and those around her. Writing in Caroline's present-tense voice, Callender draws readers in and makes them identify with Caroline's angst and sorrow and joy and pain.Embedding her appealing protagonist in a fully realized Caribbean setting, Callender has readers rooting for Caroline the whole way. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
