emily_mh's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ericxcherish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tanzanite's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abbybarker's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mekeisha's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
lilacs4b's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mat_tobin's review
4.0
Set in Jamaica in 1668, the story follows fifteen-year-old Kemosha, a courageous Black girl who escapes slavery in search of freedom, ultimately becoming a pirate. Wheatle's work challenges historical imbalances by centring a strong black protagonist.
Wheatle's writing style is engaging, and Kemosha's vibrant Jamaican-style patois adds authenticity and charm to her character. The author expertly brings the brutal conditions of plantation life and the dangers faced by slaves to life, while injecting moments of fun and wit.
The central themes of Kemosha of the Caribbean revolve around resilience, identity, and the pursuit of freedom. Wheatle effectively conveys the message that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, one can find strength within themselves and their heritage. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities endured by enslaved people while celebrating the indomitable spirit that allowed them to survive.
Kemosha is a well-developed character. Her transformation from a naive and curious girl into a formidable pirate showcases her growth and determination. The book's supporting characters, including Ravenhide and the pirate ship's crew, contribute to the richness of the story. This book has the potential to inspire and empower young readers, opening their eyes to the often untold stories of marginalized communities and encouraging them to question and challenge societal injustices. KS4+
Wheatle's writing style is engaging, and Kemosha's vibrant Jamaican-style patois adds authenticity and charm to her character. The author expertly brings the brutal conditions of plantation life and the dangers faced by slaves to life, while injecting moments of fun and wit.
The central themes of Kemosha of the Caribbean revolve around resilience, identity, and the pursuit of freedom. Wheatle effectively conveys the message that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, one can find strength within themselves and their heritage. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities endured by enslaved people while celebrating the indomitable spirit that allowed them to survive.
Kemosha is a well-developed character. Her transformation from a naive and curious girl into a formidable pirate showcases her growth and determination. The book's supporting characters, including Ravenhide and the pirate ship's crew, contribute to the richness of the story. This book has the potential to inspire and empower young readers, opening their eyes to the often untold stories of marginalized communities and encouraging them to question and challenge societal injustices. KS4+
skylarkblue1's review
5.0
Content warnings: Sexual assault (a lot and also towards underage characters), sexual harassment, violence, death, murder, misogyny, racism, slavery, loss of a loved one
An empowering tale of a young kick-ass enslaved-but-now-free black girl. And boy is she a badass! Along with her new-found friends, Kemosha fights tooth and nail for the freedom of her friends and family back on the plantation she came from - and for her new found love.
I loved the writing, you could feel the emotions and actions. The characters' arcs felt good and made sense for the most part (even with Kemosha’s very fast learning, I feel like that is more than feasible in that kind of environment) and the progression of the story made sense. The ending felt good and solid though I would love to read even a short story about the events after that ending. The use of Creole and Spanish alongside the base English made the book feel unique and have a lot more character. It was certainly a surprise when I started to read the book, but was a very pleasant one nonetheless!
The morals and messaging of the book isn’t hidden even slightly. Kemosha comes from a Jamaican plantain, a slave who’s brutally treated alongside the other slaves there. She’s sold off to a man, who doesn’t try to hide the fact he’s wanting her *body* to make money with. This book doesn’t shy away from how horrific conditions were towards Black people back then, but that does make me minorly concerned about the fact this book is marketed towards children as young as 12 even. There is a lot of sexual assault that happens, on page and off and it’s nearly constantly talked about. Additionally with all the violence, death and severe grief, I can’t see how this can be suitable for children so young, even as an educational tool.
In short, I highly recommend this. Just make sure you’re aware of the content warnings before diving into this as it does get very heavy. It is not a story about a trauma-ridden black girl suffering through life, it’s a story of perseverance in the face of injustice, fighting for what you feel is right, fighting for love, friends and life.
An empowering tale of a young kick-ass enslaved-but-now-free black girl. And boy is she a badass! Along with her new-found friends, Kemosha fights tooth and nail for the freedom of her friends and family back on the plantation she came from - and for her new found love.
I loved the writing, you could feel the emotions and actions. The characters' arcs felt good and made sense for the most part (even with Kemosha’s very fast learning, I feel like that is more than feasible in that kind of environment) and the progression of the story made sense. The ending felt good and solid though I would love to read even a short story about the events after that ending. The use of Creole and Spanish alongside the base English made the book feel unique and have a lot more character. It was certainly a surprise when I started to read the book, but was a very pleasant one nonetheless!
The morals and messaging of the book isn’t hidden even slightly. Kemosha comes from a Jamaican plantain, a slave who’s brutally treated alongside the other slaves there. She’s sold off to a man, who doesn’t try to hide the fact he’s wanting her *body* to make money with. This book doesn’t shy away from how horrific conditions were towards Black people back then, but that does make me minorly concerned about the fact this book is marketed towards children as young as 12 even. There is a lot of sexual assault that happens, on page and off and it’s nearly constantly talked about. Additionally with all the violence, death and severe grief, I can’t see how this can be suitable for children so young, even as an educational tool.
In short, I highly recommend this. Just make sure you’re aware of the content warnings before diving into this as it does get very heavy. It is not a story about a trauma-ridden black girl suffering through life, it’s a story of perseverance in the face of injustice, fighting for what you feel is right, fighting for love, friends and life.
cakeandbooks1970's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5