Hurricane Child - Kacen Callender
Bibliography:
Callender, K. (2021). Hurricane Child. Scholastic.
Plot Summary:
Born on Water Island in the Virgin Islands during a hurricane, which is considered bad luck, twelve-year-old Caroline falls in love with another girl--and together they set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother.
Critical Analysis:
Hurricane Child is the story of a queer island girl, Caroline, learning about friendship, love, and where her mother went when she disappeared all those years ago. During this search, she falls in love, sees her parents in a new light, and grieves for the mother she lost. Add in a gorgeous cover, some magic, and a very emotional storyline written so beautifully and tenderly by an Own Voices trans author and you've got an amazing book. I really enjoyed this one. Queer identity, religion, grief, independence and freedom, island life, understanding the imperfections of people we admire.The audiobook was narrated by a Caribbean-accented woman which was not only the only fitting and appropriate voice for Caroline, but also atmospheric and well performed.
Review Excerpt:
Kirkus Review (starred review)
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.
School Library Journal (starred review)
Lush descriptions bring the Caribbean environment to vivid life...An excellent and nuanced coming-of-age tale.
Booklist
Set against the richly evoked backdrop of the Caribbean, Callender's novel captures the exquisite agony and pain that accompanies rejection and abandonment. Caroline's search for answers provides a steady through line for the story, but it's the deeper questioning and reflection that set this book apart.... Visceral, pensive, and memorable.
Connections:
Gender Studies
LGBTQIA+ Lesson
Adventure/Natural Disasters
No comments:
Post a Comment