Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

It was a close vote once more, but our BOTM for December is the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste.

Please leave your comments and discussions here, and remember the code: respect, tolerance and good vibes :) Also, if you are going to reveal a plot point, include the information in spoiler tags do as not to spoil it for people who may not have read that far!

Irritatingly, my library has a later one in the Jumbies series in audio, but not this one in print. They did, however, have the runner-up, and I may read that instead :)

Maybe we simply ought to have two books of the month...

But this thread is for The Jumbies!

I read this at the start of the year. I enjoyed it as it’s set in a part of the world I’m not familar with. It reminded me of other books like Hoodoo and The House with Chicken Legs.

I just finished listening to The Jumbies today, and I absolutely loved it. Baptiste did an amazing job of balancing the tension in the story without it becoming too overwhelming, and I couldn't help but picture this being a great story to listen to when camping.

I loved each of the characters - even Severine, despite her being the antagonist. I could see her point of view regarding the island being taken from her, and though I can't agree with her methods of trying to take it back, I don't think she was necessarily wrong to do so.

My favorite character, though, ended up being Malik. I absolutely enjoyed the close bond he and Bouki have, and how well Malik is able to communicate without saying a word. Or maybe it would be better to say how good Bouki is at translating Malik's silent communications? Either way, he reminded me a lot of the silent guru who is there to offer guidance without forcing you to take it.

Finally, I thought that Robin Miles did a great job with the narration, and her singing voice was absolutely beautiful. After finishing this story, I have now added the rest of the series to my TBR list, though I don't know when I will get to them. LOL.

I read The Jumbies a couple years back. I really enjoyed reading about Caribbean folklore. The characters were lovable and the peril was exciting. I think there is a second book too but I have yet to read it.