Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Is there a book you see often on social media that it feels like everyone is reading and enjoying? Sweetness in the Skin was one of those books for me. Inescapable between my mutuals and my explore page on Bookstagram. 

In Jamaica, 13 year old Pumpkin lives with her granny and Aunt Sophie in a small home in downtown Kingston. Pumpkin and Aunty Sophie have dreams of moving to Paris on day and granny encourages them to move up their family's social standing. Pumpkin's mother Paulette dips in and out usually choosing not to stick around for long. However plans change when Granny dies. Sophie gets a job with the embassy in France while Pumpkin must stay behind until she's able to bring her over. Pumpkin's mother Paulette moves into the house bringing the father she never knew, Akil with her. Pumpkin peddles her baked goods at school and at local shops with the hopes to raise enough money to take the French exam and move in with her aunt.

This book almost felt like a checklist of commonly referenced topics in lauded Caribbean literature. The topic of colorism came up with Granny, Sophie, and Pumpkin being lighter than Paulette who was seen as the darker skinned less pretty one. However we never get a sit down between Paulette and Sophie to address this even though colorism divides the sisters. The author uses it as weak motivation for why Paulette is abusive and neglectful to Pumpkin. Abusive mothers often appear in acclaimed Black Literature not just in Caribbean stories but in other diaspora as well. However Paulette and Akil are downright evil towards their child and we never got good explanation why. There are plenty of neglectful parents out there who never wanted children. However many neglectful people simply stay away from their children and would be happy to have someone taking care of their child. These two both didn't want her but didn't want anyone else to want her and were jealous of her. 

There were plenty mentions of the uptown vs downtown dynamic that is present in Kingston which needed to be explored more. Reading this book it felt like an uptown author writing a story about downtown living via hearsay. We get glimpses of the dynamic via the school Pumpkin attends with her wealthier peers but nothing feels quite fleshed out. And it doesn't help that Pumpkin's environment is a stereotype of what "ghetto" life is. 

Even the conclusions Pumpkin comes to at the end seemed based off moments that happened off page because she suddenly had this open-minded outlook based upon how everyone else's lives had been going but not one solid conversation happened on page to warrant that conclusion. The ending felt too neat and tidy for the journey the story took readers on and this reader was left feeling unsatisfied. This type of story has been done before and better with more complexity. 

Until I Met You by Amber Rose Gill

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Hope you're staying hot during this heatwave! I started reading from my vacation books TBR this month and Until I Met You has been sitting on my shelves for some time so after my own little Caribbean vacation it was the perfect time to pick up this vacation romance.

Until I Met You follows Samantha who is in Tobago performing bridesmaid's duties for her childhood best friend after a breakup. It's tough being the only single one in the group and after a rough first meeting she ends up hooking up with one of the groom's friends named Roman. Roman is living in Tobago helping his grandparents with their shop after leaving a lucrative career on Wall Street.

This was a cute read but it did take a little time for me to really get invested because at the start you're placed right into this situation and all these names are getting thrown at you and the breakup has already happened off page. Then after an initial clash Samantha and Roman get together quickly. But when they  found their groove they were very cute. However when I thought the book was hitting it's peak that's when the drama really amped up. So secrets were being spilled and people came to the island to shake things up and it made it hard to see how things were going to wrap up. Especially since Roman refuses to share anything about himself and Sam is basically pulling teeth to find out why he up and decided to move to Tobago with no clear plans. It got frustrating when she asked him for the umpteenth time and he was still trying to be vague. I think if the drama was spread out a little bit more instead of jammed packed into the last few days of the trip it would've flowed better.

The depictions of Tobago were pretty spot on. They went there as a vacation destination as do many people including people from Trinidad and they did the touristy things like visit the beaches and the Nylon Pool.

Samantha ultimate learns a lot about herself like the fact that she and her friends are growing up and growing apart and  they don't share as much with each other as they should. She's also learning to figure out what she wants to do in life. She starts a travel blog to document the trip but ultimately it ends up becoming a more personalized account of everything going on between her and her friends. 

Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Josephine Against the Sea is one of my favorite middle grade books so of course I was eager to see what Shakirah Bourne had next.  Cue her MG horror novel Nightmare Island featuring some of the creepiest creatures in Caribbean mythology. Thank you to Scholastic and Shakirah Bourne for providing me a copy for an honest review.

Serenity is an aspiring filmmaker who is obsessed with horror films. Lately she's been having recurring nightmares but she keeps quiet about them to not cause trouble. When "perfect" child Peace starts having issues with the dark her parents whisk him off on a vacation without her. But not one to sit still and feeling like they're hiding something from her, Serenity jets off to the mysterious Duppy island behind them. There Serenity discovers that Peace is receiving treatments that have him acting different. Dr. Whisper's clinic isn't what it seems and her parents seem to be brainwashed. 

Shakirah Bourne makes a unique choice to have Serenity narrate as if she's in the process of filming the movie based on this tale. She even brings her camera along for the adventure, capturing footage along the way. As she goes through different events she mentions how she would score the film or where she would pause for dramatic effect.  Her knowledge of horror stories to help her figure out the plot but there are still plenty of twists. I thought that was something cool the young horror lovers would enjoy.

There's a great deal of work put into describing the different settings and characters. I enjoyed how she weaves mythology and history together. The descriptions of the douens are especially spine-tingling. And while it takes a little bit of time to set up the payoff is worth it. 

The God of Good Looks by Breanne Mc Ivor

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I always get excited when I hear about a book by a Trinidadian author. But I get extra excited when I hear the book is set in Trinidad. I don't think Caribbean Fashion Week is still a thing anymore but I remember at one point there was a big push to highlight people making moves in fashion in Trinidad and other islands. So I was intrigued by The God of Good Looks being set amongst the landscape of the Trinidadian fashion industry. I was ecstatic when I saw the audiobook was included as a May Influencer ALC as a part of Libro FM's Audiobook Listening Copies program.

Bianca Bridge is currently struggling for work as a model after her reputation is ruined when it's revealed she had an affair with the married Minster of Planning and Development. Bianca has dreams of becoming a writer and believes writing an embellished version of her mother's life will get her recognition on the literary scene. In the meantime she accepts a job from Obadiah Cortland, a ruthless makeup artist and entrepreneur who runs a local fashion magazine. 

Soon Bianca starts to become more confident and find her voice wanting to push the boundaries of what types of stories the magazine can tell. Obadiah's tough demeanor also starts to change when working with Bianca makes him realize that the persona he's build to survive in the competitive fashion industry is also hindering his ability to connect with the people around him.

First I would like to say that this audiobook was well cast with Varia Williams and Alexis Rodney. They actually got the accents right instead of some the Jamaican wannabe mixes that I've heard in some audiobooks. It added a lot to this story and made the characters come alive and hearing the measured cadence in their voices when it came to certain sections. 

Usually two widely different povs styles don't always work but they did here as we get Bianca's voice through diary entries while hearing Obadiah's real time account of events. These felt like real and very relatable people. I could see pieces of people I know in both characters and this novel does a great job painting a very real reality in Trinidadian society. These felt like the very real conversations about the various issues people don't necessarily want to bring out on a world stage. It wasn't sugar coated but it wasn't completely grim either. It's explored in a way that doesn't feel overly preachy.

I can see people have a problem with the romance between Bianca and Obadiah because he is very rude and nasty to her at first. But then when you hear more of his backstory and see the relationship with his sister you start to understand how he became the way he is. And you see how he does take steps to be a better communicator. 

There were parts of this book that made me laugh, cry, and made my jaw drop in disbelief at the audacity. 

Zo and the Forest of Secrets by Alake Pilgrim

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I can't even remember how I heard about this book. I know it was via Twitter where I follow quite a few Black British authors who write young adult and middle grade. Alake Pilgrim and I ended up connecting and she offered me a copy of her book which made me ecstatic! I had never read a Trinidadian set fantasy before. I have read and adored The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste which is inspired by Trinidadian folklore so it's nice to see more stories out there.

Zo is a young Trinidadian girl who has recently moved from Port of Spain to Samaan Bay with her mother, stepfather, and baby brother. She misses the big city and more importantly she misses when her parents were together. So she decides to run away as a part of a ploy to have her dad who is away on business return to the island to search for her. Her hope is that her parents reunite. But as Zo gets deeper into the forest she discovers things aren't as they appear. She meets a lost boy named Adri and they find themselves on the run from strange creatures.

This story reminded me a little bit of Hatchet mostly because of the surviving the forest alone aspect and having divorced parents. Though unlike in Hachet, Zo already has the survival skills she needs because of her Da. Using information she learned previously about the landscape, Zo alongside Adri attempts to find her way out of the forest. The forest is a character of itself, with vivid descriptions.

Alake Pilgrim's love language must be food like mine and all of it made my mouth water. While she touches on popular local dishes, she also teaches readers about the vegetation within the forest. And she has an important discussion on human impact on the forest with the looming enemies from "The Zoo" present throughout. 

This story also addresses the issue of blending families with ease. Zo has experience a lot of change that she's struggling to cope with but she starts to understand that her mother's happiness also matters. And she slowly comes to realize her stepfather does want what's best for her.

Zo and the Forest of Secrets uniquely blends science, fantasy, and Caribbean mythology for an action packed adventure tale that will have you anticipating book 2.

Caribbean Picture Book Recommendations

Welcome Back, Booklovers! As a Caribbean-American child I didn't see a lot of books for children like me on the shelves. We didn't have access to the books the children in the islands and there wasn't a big push in US Publishing either. But in the past couple of years I've been seeing a little bit more and It makes me because I share them with my nieces and godchildren. Special shout out to the indies out here doing it big! So here is my list of recommended picture books by authors from the Caribbean and Diaspora.

                                                Under the Mango Tree (St. Vincent)

Under a full mango tree, they play, dream, and plan for a future spent together, always. However, life can change quickly, and the girls must face the challenge of separation when Vee moves away.

Join Vee and Sanaa as they learn how powerful friendship can be and how far it can reach.

The Ocean Lives There (Haiti)

Imane is a curious young girl with a big question. What is behind the magic door inside her house? Her sister Caroline says it’s a door that goes everywhere and nowhere. Sometimes it’s red. Sometimes it’s blue, and it smells like coffee beans and the ocean. Imane can only imagine what’s on the other side: a beautiful Caribbean Island full of magic, music, and fun. But Momma keeps the door locked tight, and no one is allowed to open it!

The Legend of the Spirit Serpent (Dominica)

This modern retelling of a traditional Kalinago legend from the Caribbean island of Dominica recounts the story of a huge serpent who once guarded the indigenous.

To Carnival!: A Celebration in Saint Lucia (St. Lucia)

The sights, sounds and tastes of vibrant Saint Lucia come to life in this cumulative tale of a girl’s journey to Carnival. When a series of unexpected delays disrupts her journey to the big parade, Melba must adjust both her expectations and her route to the festivities. Who will she meet and what will she learn along the way?

Plátanos Go with Everything (Dominican Republic)

Plátanos are Yesenia’s favorite food. They can be sweet and sugary, or salty and savory. And they’re a part of almost every meal her Dominican family makes. 

Stop by her apartment and find out why plátanos go with everything—especially love!

Taíno Tales: The Legend of Coquí (Puerto Rico)

It's been said...

The son of a Taíno chief would fish late at night and while he did, he'd sing a special song to Caguana, the spirit of love. The goddess grew fond of him and his daily visits brought her great joy...but everything changed when Juracán, an evil spirit, grew jealous of the pair. And so begins the Taíno legend of how the coquí frog came to be.

A Grand Place (Grenada)

While Zora waits for Grandma to return, she explores what it means to have a home away from home. This nostalgic love letter to Grenada is a joyful celebration of Caribbean culture and all the forms it has taken over generations. Join Zora on her journey through this heart-warming tale of love, family and home.

The Carnival Prince (Trinidad and Tobago)

It's Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago! Come join the stubby antlered boy as he explores and frolics and befriends animals and mythical creatures alike. Young readers will be taken on a magical adventure to save Carnival season for everyone!

Granny's Kitchen (Jamaica)

Shelly-Ann lives with her Granny on the beautiful island of Jamaica. When Shelly-Ann becomes hungry, she asks her Granny for something to eat. Granny tells her “Gyal, you betta can cook!” and teaches Shelly-Ann how to get in touch with her Jamaican roots through the process of cooking.

The Masquerade Dance( St. Kitts and Nevis)

Would you like to dance to the drum drum drum of the masquerades? 

Well, it is carnival time in St. Kitts-Nevis’ carnival and Saulo is excited to see the masquerades perform and dance, and to hear their music. He dreams of dancing the masquerade one day but when the masquerades get too close for comfort, Saulo isn’t sure he is ready for his big debut. 

Compromised into a Scandalous Marriage by Lydia San Andres

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Though I do like reading Historical Fiction I usually stay away from Historical Romance. Mainly because publishing has very strict ideas about the types of stories they'll consider for historical fiction and if it doesn't fit the imagery of European colonial with pretty ballgowns it's not considered valid. With race-bent Bridgerton being so popular right now it's nice to see some genuine diversity appear more in mainstream historical romance. The Spanish Caribbean is the backdrop for this romance stemmed from a forced marriage. I recieved a finished copy from Harlequin in exchange for review.

Paulina may live in a once lavish house but she's far from the wealthy society girl she appears to be. Her abusive brother Antonio controls every aspect of her life right down to how she dresses. And while he's a penny pincher when it comes to spending on her he has no problem blowing money on gambling debts. In an attempt to exort their neighbor Sebastation in to giving him money. Using the power he has over the magistrate and local guardsmen he forces Sebastian and Paulina into marriage.

Sebastian and Paulina settle into a routine with Sebastian spending much of his time a the sugar mill he owns and Paulina helping make his house feel like a home. But Antonio's threats are still looming and the couple must keep their guards up as they fight their attraction to each other.

I really did enjoy reading this book. I thought it was very well developed and I had a great sense of how they lived in the country vs the contrast of how life was in town. Sebastian has a good relationship with the mill workers as well as his housekeeper. And you can really tell he cares so much for his community and made sure to not only improve work conditions but raise wages. He also looks out for Dillia who is a widowed family friend.  

Paulina doesn't have those familial relationships has to do a bit of adjusting now that she's finally away from her brother. We really see her growth as a woman who is able to finally speak her mind and make her own decisions.

Paulina and Sebastian had great chemistry that made their slow-burn romance worth the journey. 

And for those looking for pretty gowns we still do get some pretty clothes moments but they're also moments that add value by moving the plot. 

Don't Go Baking My Heart by N.G. Peltier

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Last year's Sweethand was a breath of fresh air for me and it was nice to read a Caribbean set romance not about some white people on vacation but local people. And by an author born and raised in the islands. And I'm a little biased because of my connection to Trinidad and Tobago and it's always nice to see one of your internet friends succeed. I received an arc from N.G. Peltier in exchange for review.

Devon and Reba couldn't be more opposite. Reba is younger, louder, and bolder. It's hard to miss her bright pink hair, outfits that show off her curves, and her penchant for taking selfies. She's the life of any fete. Devon is a workaholic, prefers nights in to nights out, likes classic music, and keeps to himself. With a goal of becoming partner at his architectural firm, he needs to make more an effort to participate in team building activities. The office baking competition is the perfect way to show off his commitment. The only problem is that he doesn't bake. But he's hoping his brother's girlfriend can help him. When she's busy, Reba offers her services. Not only does she plan to help him bake the perfect cake, but she also wants to help him loosen up and enjoy life.

Don't Go Baking My Heart is a fun romance, perfect for a beach read. I liked this one even more than Sweethand. Reba and Devon had a great dynamic and I also enjoyed how their family was incorporated into the mix. And I like how they get to known each other as friends first and how patient Devon is with Reba. He doesn't put any pressure on her to be his girlfriend even though he wants more from their relationship. And I liked seeing his defenses get broken down and watching him stray from his strategies and lists.

Readers also get to see more of Trinidad as the Reba and Devon visit different parts of the island. I think she incorporated some of the local sites in a way that makes sense for the local readers familiar with those places, but also explains them to readers outside of the country without coming across like a guidebook for tourists. 

The Ocean Lives There by M.J. Fievre

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's always exciting to discover more indie publishers putting out amazing stories and Mango Publishing is doing just that. They sent me The Ocean Lives There by M.J. Fievre, so let's dive in!

The artwork is both beautiful and nostalgic, blending bright colors together to bring this story alive. Imane is curious about what's behind the door inside their house that momma always keeps locked. Behind the door is a world she feels so familiar with that holds a large piece of her mother's heart. Inane is transported from Miami to Haiti where they ride the multicolored tap-tap bus, gather shells on the beach, and drink fresh coconut water. It shows the side of Haiti that we don't really see portrayed in the media.

This is a great story for Caribbean diaspora children especially those who are not able to frequently visit the islands. I could easily see this story being taught in schools. It felt like a story that belongs in a school anthology.

Also I wanted to highlight that this picture book is more affordable than some of the ones on the market, has a lot more pages, and dialogue! There's more than a line or two on page and the story feels whole. You see the relationship between a Black mother and her child on full display. Definitely a must add to your child's shelf!

A Comb of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow

Welcome Back, Booklovers! There's a new Caribbean-inspired MG on the market and this one features a dark mermaid. I received an arc of A Comb of Wishes from HarperCollins Children in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set on the Caribbean island of St. Rita where Kela lives with her father. It's been three months since her mother passed away in a care accident and it feels like she and her father are just going through the motions. They used to go on weekly diving excursions but she no longer has the urge. Her best friend Lissy wants to know why Kela has pushed her away.

One day while collecting sea glass near a coral reserve, Kela discovers a mysterious box. She secrets sneaks it into her bag and discovers an ancient comb inside. The owner of the comb appears to her through a portal through her mirror and reveals herself as the mermaid Ophidia. Ophidia wants her comb back and offers Kela a wish in exchange for it's return. There's only one thing Kela wishes for. But magic comes at a price and what happens when Kela doesn't hold up her end of the bargain?

Fan of The Jumbies and Josephine Against the Sea will enjoy this story. While it has similar vibes at the start being Caribbean set and incorporating local folklore, A Comb of Wishes focuses more on the grief of losing a parent as the loss Kela is experiencing is more recent. And unlike those stories Kela's relationship with her father is strained as they both try to navigate the loss they've experienced. Much of the focus is her coming to terms with the grief and realizing she doesn't need to push her loved ones away. 

It also includes themes of environmental protection and cultural preservation. Not only is importance stressed on protecting the local beaches and reefs but Kela also makes jewelry out of sea glass but never shells as they help stabilize the beach and local ecosystems. Her mother's job was to document and preserve history around the islands and Lissy's grandmother is a storyteller.

Magic is sprinkled in alongside local lore of seafolk that has been passed orally for generations. There are some creepy moments with the mermaid Ophidia who has a distain for humans after a previous encounter. I like how Lisa Stringfellow managed to tie in bits of history while crafting a tale of a grief stricken girl and a 300 year old vengeful mermaid.

Climb On! by Baptiste Paul

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm always looking for Caribbean set picture books for the children in my family. So I was happy to see Climb On! from North South books and I was able to receive an advance e-copy for review. This book releases in February 2022.

Climb On! It is set in St. Lucia and follows a mountain hiking trip between parent and child. There are enthusiastic and encouraging words in French creole peppered throughout the pages. The vibrant illustrations are perfect for young readers. I've done a mountain hike myself in St. Lucia and thought the illustrations perfectly captured the majestic views. My only gripe is I wish there were more story. There doesn't seem to be any particular motive behind the hike as the hike is considered to be the story but dialogue is sparse. Even just more description of what they encounter like other hikers or flora and fauna. There just isn't much to follow along with so when the story ends it feels abrupt. This book is described as for ages 4-8 but I can't see it really holding the older children's attention. 

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with a read for the younger crowd. This Middle Grade book is great for all kids but the ones from Caribbean backgrounds will especially appreciate it. I interviewed the author Kereen Getten earlier this year. I was lucky enough to receive an arc from Random House Children in exchange for review.

Clara lives on an island  in a tight knit village with people who feel so familiar. It's small and seaside so no one ever visits and no one really leaves. There's the grouchy old woman whom seems to dislike everyone but everyone does what she needs without question. There's the pastor that's overly judgmental. Clara's cousin Gaynah who she gets along with one minute and is at odd's with the next. And there's her ostracized uncle who everyone calls a witch doctor. 

So much of this book feels like a love story to growing up in small Caribbean villages surrounded by neighbors who all know each other.  

It's a slow starter but an easy to read book about friendship with a bit of mystery mixed in. Clara is suffering from memory loss and has trouble recalling the events of last summer which have left her shaken. She once loved the water but now has a fear of it. Clara's whole neighborhood seems to be judging her until one day a new girl comes to visit from NY.  The new girl Rudy doesn't judge her for her behavior or make her feel inferior. 

This was a beautiful story with an unexpected twists that starts out quiet but leaves a lasting impression. 

Holding Myself Accountable: A September ARC TBR

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

It's about to be a very BLACK September. Your girl may have gone a tad bit overboard with the arc requesting and accepting for the September books. But best believe when I put my mind to something I do it. And I plan on reading and reviewing all of these books so get ready for a content heavy September. I'm reading Black books across the spectrum!  I've got YA Fantasy, YA Contemporary, Fantasy, Mystery, MG Horror, MG Contemporary, and MG Fantasy. 

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston

 

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn 

 

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon

 

And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall

 

Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron

 

 Everybody Looking by Candice Iloh

Ties that Tether by Jane Igharo

The Girl with the Hazel Eyes by Callie Browning

I picked this up during the month of June because the cover had been catching my eye for about a year now. And it's always nice to read about the Caribbean experience from someone straight from the islands.  

Lia has traveled from Barbados to the US for the first time to write the memoir of the infamous Susan Taylor. She's not a known writer but Susan sees something in her that she deems worthy of telling her story the correct way. It was very interesting the way some parts would flash back to the Barbados in the 1960s. 

Susan Taylor lived in a much different time then now when women were expected to birth babies, cook, and clean all day. Her father didn't even want to pay for her to go to school as she started to get older because he believed her place was in the kitchen and she didn't need to go to school for that. She has aspirations bigger than most women in her village and her light skin and light eyes give her an advantage. Her mother is her biggest advocate and puts away money quitely to save up for her schooling. 

Much of this story takes place around the time when Barbados was moving towards independence and Susan gets involved with a man name Winslow after taking a secretary job. She's acts like what we'd call in 2020 a pick-me.  She plays housekeeper cleaning and cooking for his business meetings. She and his assistant who he also sleeps with engage in petty games for his affections.  She's so sprung off the sex she throws self esteem out the window. And then she convinces herself she will become first lady by playing the role of wife for him. So many times I wanted to slap her but I had to remember the role women had during that time and how some women still are today. 

I do wish we would've gotten a little more into Lia's life in Barbados. We did receive her POV but it was in relation to Susan mainly. I wanted to know more about who Lia was and what she went through and how it compared to Susan's life. There was a twist interesting twist included which I did end up guessing but still left me satisfied.

It's a slow starter but once you get into this story it really captures you. It touches on poverty, race, class, mental illness and colorism in Barbados during that 60s. 

Caribbean Booktubers to Follow

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

In honor of Caribbean Heritage Month I wanted to highlight some Caribbean booktubers/Caribbean diaspora booktubers. I sent the word out to Twitter and people delivered with many recommendations. So if you're looking for some new booktubers to watch check them out.

Giselle Mills

ONYX Pages

Minimal Bookie

mynameismarines

KJ Reads Pages

Strangeshereads

Liselle Sambury

Books are my Social Life

Jessica Nicole Dickerson

bookrokosmos

 Luxurious Blu

throneofpages

Comfycozyup

LucieReads

Read Caribbean During June Pt 2

Welcome Back Booklovers!

Despite the chaos going on in the world right now I am truly enjoying getting to spread my love of books and have great discussions with other readers. Reading books, interviewing authors, chatting with readers are all the little things keeping me sane during this time.

Putting together these lists has introduced me to some new author's I'm excited to read while also having me reflect on the ones I have read. It's also a reminder of how resilient my people are. This time I'm highlighting some books by the children of Caribbean immigrants.

'Til the Well Runs Dry: A Novel

A glorious and moving multigenerational, multicultural saga that sweeps from the 1940s through the 1960s in Trinidad and the United States.

In a seaside village in the north of Trinidad, young Marcia Garcia, a gifted and smart-mouthed sixteen-year-old seamstress, lives alone, raising two small boys and guarding a family secret. When she meets Farouk Karam, an ambitious young policeman (so taken with Marcia that he elicits help from a tea-brewing obeah woman to guarantee her ardor), the rewards and risks in Marcia's life amplify forever.

'Til the Well Runs Dry sees Marcia and Farouk from their sassy and passionate courtship through personal and historical events that threaten Marcia's secret, entangle the couple and their children in a tumultuous scandal, and put the future in doubt for all of them.

With this deeply human novel, Lauren Francis-Sharma gives us an unforgettable story about a woman's love for a man, a mother's love for her children, and a people's love for an island rich with calypso and Carnival, cricket and salty air, sweet fruits and spicy stews-a story of grit, imperfection, steadfast love and of Trinidad that has never been told before.

The Haunting of Tram Car 015

Cairo, 1912: The case started as a simple one for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities ― handling a possessed tram car.

Soon, however, Agent Hamed Nasr and his new partner Agent Onsi Youssef are exposed to a new side of Cairo stirring with suffragettes, secret societies, and sentient automatons in a race against time to protect the city from an encroaching danger that crosses the line between the magical and the mundane.

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

Alaine Beauparlant has heard about Haiti all her life…

But the stories were always passed down from her dad―and her mom, when she wasn’t too busy with her high-profile newscaster gig. But when Alaine’s life goes a bit sideways, it’s time to finally visit Haiti herself.

What she learns about Haiti’s proud history as the world’s first black republic (with its even prouder people) is one thing, but what she learns about her own family is another. Suddenly, the secrets Alaine’s mom has been keeping, including a family curse that has spanned generations, can no longer be avoided.

It’s a lot to handle, without even mentioning that Alaine is also working for her aunt’s nonprofit, which sends underprivileged kids to school and boasts one annoyingly charming intern.

 

 

Frying Plantain

Kara Davis is a girl caught in the middle — of her North American identity and her desire to be a “true” Jamaican, of her mother and grandmother’s rages and life lessons, of having to avoid being thought of as too “faas” or too “quiet” or too “bold” or too “soft.” Set in a neighbourhood known as “Little Jamaica,” Kara moves from girlhood to the threshold of adulthood, from elementary school to high school graduation, in these twelve interconnected stories. We see her on a visit to Jamaica, startled by the sight of a severed pig’s head in her great-aunt’s freezer; in junior high, the victim of a devastating prank by her closest friends; and as a teenager in and out of her grandmother’s house, trying to cope with the ongoing battles between her unyielding grandparents.

A rich and unforgettable portrait of growing up between worlds, Frying Plantain shows how, in one charged moment, friendship and love can turn to enmity and hate, well-meaning protection can become control, and teasing play can turn to something much darker.

Halsey Street

Penelope Grand has scrapped her failed career as an artist in Pittsburgh and moved back to Brooklyn to keep an eye on her ailing father. She’s accepted that her future won’t be what she’d dreamed, but now, as gentrification has completely reshaped her old neighborhood, even her past is unrecognizable. Old haunts have been razed, and wealthy white strangers have replaced every familiar face in Bed-Stuy. Even her mother, Mirella, has abandoned the family to reclaim her roots in the Dominican Republic. That took courage. It’s also unforgivable.

When Penelope moves into the attic apartment of the affluent Harpers, she thinks she’s found a semblance of family—and maybe even love. But her world is upended again when she receives a postcard from Mirella asking for reconciliation. As old wounds are reopened, and secrets revealed, a journey across an ocean of sacrifice and self-discovery begins.

An engrossing debut, Halsey Street shifts between the perspectives of these two captivating, troubled women. Mirella has one last chance to win back the heart of the daughter she’d lost long before leaving New York, and for Penelope, it’s time to break free of the hold of the past and start navigating her own life.

Unconditionally Mine

Event planner Sofia Silva is hiding a big secret. No one can know that her engagement to her lying, cheating fiancé is over. Until she meets gorgeous, wealthy newcomer Jonathan Gunther. Jon moved to Miami for a legally sinful life of waterfront property, convertibles and no emotional entanglements. When he invites Sofia to lie low at his house, their undeniable attraction explodes…but will her dilemma ruin their chance at forever?

Oh My Gods

She's just moved in with her dorky dad and self-absorbed older siblings - who happen to be the ancient Greek gods, living incognito in London!

Between keeping her family's true identities secret, trying to impress her new friends, and meeting an actually cute boy, Helen's stress levels are higher than Mount Olympus.

She needs to rein in her chaotic family before they blow their cover AND her chances at a half-normal social life.

Allegedly 

Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer’s Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it?

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?