Freedom Fire

Starred review from May 27, 2024
Three cousins come together to save the Caribbean Day Parade from dark forces in this exuberant series opener from Baptiste (the Jumbies series). Twelve-year-old Misty recently moved in with extended family in Brooklyn. Though she wants to explore, she’s forced to stay indoors while her mother looks for work and the rest of the adults prepare for the upcoming carnival. Her desire for adventure is soon met when Misty and her cautious cousin Aiden find a creature made of feathers and sequins in the basement. Misty, Aiden, and their older cousin Brooke quickly learn that their family are descended from magical beings called mokos, and each generation’s power is split between three people. As the cousins discover their own abilities—Brooke creates force fields, Aiden heals injuries, and Misty sees visions—they realize that their rapidly increasing magic portends disaster, and with trouble around every corner, the carnival is in jeopardy. Lively alternating third-person perspectives center immigrant and Caribbean experiences with humor and heart, culminating in an engaging mystery that emphasizes the high spirits of the festival season and its importance to the tweens’ Afro-Caribbean heritage. Ages 8–12. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

July 1, 2024
"Sometimes a legend is history that wasn't written down." It's late summer, and rising sixth grader Misty has just moved to Brooklyn from Trinidad, which, on a positive note, means two Carnival celebrations (her favorite!) this year. But it's undeniably a difficult and lonely transition; her mother struggles to find work, and her dad is back home. Misty and her Brooklyn cousins, Brooke and Aidan, despite being the next generation of their large, fairly tight-knit Trini American family, aren't particularly close--at least, not until supernatural elements force their hands. The frustration of having parents, aunties, and uncles keeping secrets from them is palpable as the young trio learn of the magical Afro-Caribbean heritage they've suddenly inherited as new mokos from a long line of legendary figures dating back to pre-colonial West Africa. Misty now has the gift of foresight and hindsight, Aidan can heal others with his touch, and Brooke can conjure protective shields. These hard-to-control powers will come in handy: They've manifested alongside a great supernatural threat that puts lives (and Carnival itself) at great risk. In this culturally rich and engaging series opener, the young mokos immerse themselves in the oral traditions of their culture and try to determine who can be trusted and who can't. All the while, they discover that their strengths--like the rich food, music, and folk stories detailed throughout--only grow when they're shared. The power of storytelling on full, colorful, exciting display. (author's note, glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2024
Grades 4-7 This launch title for Disney's new, Black joy-oriented imprint, Freedom Fire, hits the ground running: Misty has recently immigrated from Trinidad to Brooklyn, and as the local carnival season ramps up, she and cousins Aidan and Brooke quickly learn that they have inherited the ancestral power and responsibility of being mokos, a trio of magical guardians. Meanwhile, a local politician schemes to cancel the annual Caribbean Day Parade, and the three budding mokos become aware of a sinister presence that poses a much more dangerous threat to their community. Baptiste's (The Jumbies series) return to middle-grade fantasy leans deeper into the West African mythology carried on through the Caribbean diaspora. While a typical fantasy plot anchors the proceedings, the true magic of this book is found in its depictions of culture and community and the vibrant, joyful descriptions surrounding carnival. Whether it's calypso music or the various supernatural elements illuminating this world, readers will find something to be enchanted by. An exuberant homage to the culture, community, and spirit of the Caribbean.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 27, 2024

Gr 3-7-Misty and her mom have just moved from Trinidad to her cousins Brooke and Aiden's home in Brooklyn. After a series of strange occurrences, the three tweens discover they are the newest mokos (magic wielders) with special abilities that will be needed for a reason nobody can predict, and it's all happening around carnival celebrations. With a unique magic system, and extremely interesting magical creatures and abilities, Baptiste does an excellent job of making readers feel privy to something secret and previously unknown. The centering of Afro-Caribbean mythology keeps readers eager to delve deeper into the plot. Misty's loneliness and pain is often forgotten in the whirl of action happening around her. However, some tweens may struggle with truly connecting to the three main characters. The first half of the book feels a bit chaotic, jumping from incident to incident. Things pick up in the second half, sweeping readers up in the plot and immersing them in the mystery and magic of Baptiste's tale. VERDICT This is a slightly uneven yet fun addition to middle grade shelves, sure to attract readers of urban fantasy, as well as those who love non-Eurocentric mythologies.-Lauren Sullivan

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2024
It's the summer before sixth grade, and Misty and her mother have recently moved from Trinidad to live with family in Brooklyn. Despite Misty's outgoing and determined nature, she feels like an outsider, attempting to adapt to her new environment and missing her old home, particularly with her father still in Trinidad due to visa issues. One day, while searching for craft supplies in the basement, Misty and her cousin Aidan stumble upon a magical entity made from sequins, feathers, and other assorted materials. The discovery surprises the children but is less startling to the adults, who reveal that their family descends from a lineage of mokos: healers, protectors, and seers with special powers to safeguard their community. As the next generation of mokos, Misty, Aidan, and their cousin Brooke are assigned the duty of protecting the Brooklyn Carnival. Their new roles are soon challenged by a mysterious force threatening both the celebration and those who celebrate it. Baptiste's fast-paced narrative skillfully blends humor, history, and heart. Readers familiar with her Jumbies series and other works rich in Caribbean lore will find this story both entertaining and resonant, celebrating family, community, history, and the power of storytelling. S. R. Toliver

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
It's the summer before sixth grade, and Misty and her mother have recently moved from Trinidad to live with family in Brooklyn. Despite Misty's outgoing and determined nature, she feels like an outsider, attempting to adapt to her new environment and missing her old home, particularly with her father still in Trinidad due to visa issues. One day, while searching for craft supplies in the basement, Misty and her cousin Aidan stumble upon a magical entity made from sequins, feathers, and other assorted materials. The discovery surprises the children but is less startling to the adults, who reveal that their family descends from a lineage of mokos: healers, protectors, and seers with special powers to safeguard their community. As the next generation of mokos, Misty, Aidan, and their cousin Brooke are assigned the duty of protecting the Brooklyn Carnival. Their new roles are soon challenged by a mysterious force threatening both the celebration and those who celebrate it. Baptiste's fast-paced narrative skillfully blends humor, history, and heart. Readers familiar with her Jumbies series and other works rich in Caribbean lore will find this story both entertaining and resonant, celebrating family, community, history, and the power of storytelling.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)