Name: Root Magic
ISBN: 9780062899576

Eden Royce

Root Magic

This was so atmospheric and spooky! Better atmosphere than half of those spooky grown-up books honestly. I recommend this to everyone though look up the content warning. It is a middle-grade but wow.

Emily C Peterson

Deborah Kerr

Such a great read for the target audience! The story is beautiful, and the characters are wonderfully developed.

Kelsey Holtaway

Wow, i loved sinking into this book. The atmosphere, the characters, the community and their experiences. 

I especially loved learning about root magic through the eyes of Jezebel and Jay, seeing their mistakes and breakthroughs and confronting their own assumptions.

I also really appreciated the family aspect of this book. I find often in middle grade books, the way the main characters are typically able to navigate the conflicts, adventure, and story arcs of the book are due to an absent parent. Whether the parent is taken or missing, or just not very active in their kids lives. But i loved how strong the family is portrayed in this book, the adult characters are present, and it doesn’t get in the way of Jezebel and Jay finding out who they are or being able to navigate the various conflicts and having agency to problem solve. 

I loved how honest this book was, especially in depicting police brutality and discussing segregation. There were some very forthright conversations in this book, but it didn’t feel hopeless. I felt the love and the warmth and the hope.

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

This was not as paranormal/magical as I was expecting and I think that is why it looses one star (it should be just half a star but goodreads). Other than that, this was a beautiful story. It was emotional. Jezebel is a wonderful character and all the characters had very distinctive voices and the family relationship felt very natural and real. This also deals with what it means to grow up and what one looses and gains during that process and it is wonderfully written. It also deals with the place and the culture a person comes from and the importance and value of that, even when other people deny it. I would definitely recommend this to every children and adults!

Sarah Wood

"A poignant, necessary entry into the children's literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!"--Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation Debut author Eden Royce arrives with a wondrous story of love, bravery, friendship, and family, filled to the brim with magic great and small. It's 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won't stop harassing her family. With school integration arriving in South Carolina, Jez and her twin brother, Jay, are about to begin the school year with a bunch of new kids. But the biggest change comes when Jez and Jay turn eleven-- and their uncle, Doc, tells them he's going to train them in rootwork. Jez and Jay have always been fascinated by the African American folk magic that has been the legacy of their family for generations--especially the curious potions and powders Doc and Gran would make for the people on their island. But Jez soon finds out that her family's true power goes far beyond small charms and elixirs...and not a moment too soon. Because when evil both natural and supernatural comes to show itself in town, it's going to take every bit of the magic she has inside her to see her through.

Root Magic

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