Root Magic by Eden Royce
Published by Walden Pond Press on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 0062899570
Pages: 352
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Folklore
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Almost 11 yr old twins Jezebel and Jay are in for some big changes. It’s 1963 in South Carolina, and Jez and her brother are about to start school with a whole suite of new kids thanks to school integration. The local police won’t stop harassing Jez’s family about insignificant things, and Jez’s grandmother, the family matriarch, has just passed away. The biggest change comes when Doc, the twins’ uncle, tells them he’s going to begin training them in rootwork. They’ve always been fascinated by this African American folk magic and its long ties to their family, but things run much deeper and much darker than Jez or Jay expected.

This is a well-written and engaging historical ghost story with a side of magic. The writing is poetic, colorful, and really allows the reader to visualize the environment and feel the creepiness in the marsh on that foggy night. Recommended for readers 4th grade and up and for readers who enjoy a little fantasy and not a lot of scare.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME