Review by Booklist Review
It's the summer of 1963 when Gran dies, leaving 11-year-old Jezebel and her twin brother, Jay, to learn and master the family trade--working roots. A practice of healing, protecting, and conjuring magic, working roots holds deep ties to the Gullah Geechee people of South Carolina and their African ancestors, as well as to Jezebel's family and community. Despite her excitement around root work and the thought of protecting her family from the racist policeman terrorizing them, Jezebel knows that it'll only make her more of a target at school, unlike her popular brother. But soon, after a number of run-ins with mystical and spiritual beings, the family finds that the tween's inclination for root magic is stronger than they'd suspected, sparking a confidence and maturity in Jezebel that will resonate with anyone who has been teased for being different. This title adds nuance to textbook lessons about Jim Crow and broadens conceptions of Blackness with rich histories and customs that predate slavery. All the while, themes of friendship and acceptance, family, and the very real pains of outgrowing childhood tether this title to the seams of the heart. Readers will revel in the magic of root work, but, perhaps more important, they'll develop a deep reverence for the practice as they come to understand its groundedness in healing, restoration, and respect for all beings. A must-read for leisure and learning, sure to leave readers wishing for more after the final page.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
1960s South Carolina comes to life in this middle grade debut filled with magic and heart. Eleven-year-old twins Jezebel and Jay Turner have just lost their grandmother when an unexpected visit from a racist police deputy spurs their uncle, Doc, to begin teaching them how to engage with their heritage through root magic, which offers healing and protection. Jez must also contend with a new school year: she's been placed in the grade above Jay and must weather her classmates' taunts alone. It's only the presence of her doll, Dinah, who is more than she seems, and a strange new girl, Susie, that help Jez navigate the growing distance she feels with her brother and the otherworldly occurrences going on in the marsh behind their house. If Royce occasionally meanders, her depictions of the kids' daily life and inner strength more than makes up for it. Ages 8--12. Agent: Adriann Ranta Zurhellen, Foundry Literary + Media. (Jan.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Eleven-year-old Jezebel's family has done "rootwork" for generations. In 1963, many of the people on their South Carolina island frequent her grandmother and uncle's cabin for the healing potions they make, while others, including "other Negroes," ridicule them as old-fashioned and ignorant. Deputy Collins, a white police officer, has made it his mission to harass and terrorize the root workers. When Gran dies, Jezebel and her twin brother, Jay, begin lessons in rootwork with Uncle Doc. As Jezebel begins to learn "root magic," she also begins to notice more about her own powers. After hearing a voice in the marsh, Jezebel discovers that her spirit can fly free from her body and begins to take nightly trips around the island. But those trips come at a cost. Over time, Jezebel learns how to use her powers to protect those she loves. Royce sets her novel during a time of social change (the integration of South Carolina schools, the assassination of JFK) while introducing readers to centuries-old Gullah traditions. For fans of Tracey Baptiste's The Jumbies, this book, with its rich language and evocative setting, is a great addition to the literature based on folklore that has sustained many people of color in their island communities. Nicholl Denice Montgomery March/April 2021 p.99(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An African American tween learns about her family's connection to conjure magic--and human evil--in 1960s South Carolina. Jezebel and her twin brother, Jay, know their family will never be the same following their Gran's death. Their father's unexplained disappearance a few years back is another loss that has yet to heal. Gran was a talented Gullah rootworker whose abilities were sought by some and reviled by others. The local White deputy harasses families who use rootwork even as they are needed for the healing denied by segregated hospitals. Now, Jezebel and Jay are about to learn these skills from their uncle to keep the legacy alive. For the first time, the twins will not be in the same class since Jezebel will skip fifth grade. She becomes the target of bullies but manages to make one friend, a girl new to the school. As the rootwork lessons proceed, the twins become more aware of change all around them, from whispered voices in the marsh to the strange actions of Jezebel's doll. It becomes clear that they have inherited connections to the spiritual world and that they face a very human threat. This richly detailed narrative offers elements of magical realism against a backdrop of social change, presenting a convincing family story and exploring community differences. Although Jezebel is a spirited narrator, Jay and other characters are fully realized. A strong coming-of-age story grounded in a vibrant cultural heritage. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
