106 pages 3 hours read

Tracey Baptiste

The Jumbies

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste follows 11-year-old Corinne La Mer, who accidentally awakens a jumbie—a malevolent spirit—in the forest. With her friends, she learns to use folk magic to subdue the jumbie and save their island. The group encounters various magical and dangerous obstacles, ultimately defeating the jumbie, Severine, and restoring peace to their community. The book includes themes of slavery.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Tracey Baptiste's The Jumbies captivates readers with its rich Caribbean folklore and compelling storyline. Praised for its vivid imagery and strong female protagonist, it stands out in middle-grade fantasy. Some critics noted pacing issues and occasional predictability, but these do not detract significantly from its charm and cultural authenticity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Jumbies?

A reader who enjoys the eerie, folk-tale atmosphere of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman or the mythological richness of Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi would find delight in The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste. This middle-grade novel combines West Indian folklore with spine-tingling adventure, ideal for readers aged 8-12 who love magical realism and cultural tales.

RecommendedReading Age

8-12years

Lexile Level

680L

Book Details

Genre

Fantasy

Fairy Tale / Folklore

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Relationships: Mothers

Life/Time: Coming of Age