The Jumbies
Written by Tracey Baptiste
Narrated by Robin Miles
4/5
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About this audiobook
Tracey Baptiste
Tracey Baptiste is the New York Times bestselling author of the middle grade novels Minecraft: The Crash, The Jumbies, Rise of the Jumbies, and The Jumbie God’s Revenge. A former elementary school teacher, Tracey is now on the faculty at Lesley University’s creative writing MFA program. Raised in Trinidad until she was fifteen, she now lives with her family in New Jersey. You can visit her online at traceybaptiste.com.
Related to The Jumbies
Titles in the series (3)
The Jumbies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rise of the Jumbies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Jumbie God's Revenge Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for The Jumbies
192 ratings18 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A wonderful and warm tale that takes me back to my island childhood. A blessing for future generations to hear the tales and myths of their people endure in new and creative ways. WONDERFUL narration.
As an educator, I look forward to sharing this with middle-grade readers from the Caribbean.
Thank you - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cute middle grade story about Caribbean folklore. It certainly left me wanting more and now I need to finish the series.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I not only enjoyed this book but I enjoyed why the author created this book. It was an adventure full of self discovery, friendship, and family. I loved it!!!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Such a fun folklore story. I love the characters and plot of the story. I have never heard of Jumbies until now. I highly recommend the audiobook.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reason read: Children's horror, NPR best horrorI enjoyed this young person's book, good story, strong characters, built on folklore from the Caribbean.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love reading folklore from around the world. What I enjoyed almost as much as reading the book was research what Jumbies are and where they come from. I did this shortly after I started the book. I had not heard of them before. Knowing a little bit about them before I started the book made it that much better. Reading this book was a treat for the senses. The world building is so good you can visualize it. You can almost taste the oranges. You are right there with Corinne. This is just creepy enough to pull the reader in and hold them in the world. The author surrounds the main character with other characters who have their own issues. They find themselves a lot stronger working together. This is a common theme in middle grade books. Every culture has their “boogie man” that parents use to warn their children to be good. Children are taught about the evil Jumbies. Corinne doesn’t believe in these magical creatures. But like all good creepy stories the main character will soon have to change their opinion. I began this book during the evening my husband was out moving his bees. I quickly decided this was a book I needed to read during the day. That is something that is an awesome sign for me. It means that the book is so good and creepy that I will want to get a good start real early the next morning. Each Jumbie has its own creep factor that made this so original and such a great read. Books like this one are the reason I prefer reading middle grade fiction. This is now one of my favorite authors.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creepy-ish Caribbean based fairy tale retelling -- loved the setting, the adventure, the things that are not what they seem, the lesson to not destroy that which is different from you, even when it's dangerous. Good stuff
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Corinne La Mer does not scare easily...at least that is what she believes. She definitely does not believe in the legend of the jumbies. That is until she sees a pair of yellow eyes in the forest which makes her question everything she believes in. The jumbies are a local legend based on a Caribbean folktale. Corinne soon becomes more and more suspicious of the legend itself, of the mysterious woman who begins coming to the market, of her own mother's history and where Corinne actually belongs. This is an exciting novel that while a bit reaching at times, however it is based on a folktale so nothing is too out of bounds, manages to capture the essence of a creepy tale, the power of magical possibilities, and what the love of family could overcome. This modern day folktale which takes place on an island would be a great addition to any lesson unit looking for a "fresh twist" on an older folktale which will resonate with and engage readers. I would like to see students write a story with their own twist on a classic folktale of their choice, or maybe a different ending to this book. I would also like to incorporate a quiz at the end of this unit to make sure students understood the text.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Corinne La Mer discovers the secret of her dead mother's identity, and the source of her own power in this exciting middle-grade fantasy inspired by the Haitian folktale of The Magic Orange Tree. When two local boys tie her necklace - the only thing that her mother left her - onto an agouti, Corinne thinks nothing of chasing the little animal into the nearby forest, even though the other residents of her Caribbean island believe that the woods are full of Jumbies, or evil spirits. Despite her disbelief, passed on to her by her fisherman father, Pierre, Corinne soon discovers that Jumbies are all too real, as Severine, her mother's sister, and the most powerful Jumbie on the island becomes aware of her, and decides to take back the island for her own kind. Now it is up to Corinne, and her newfound friends Dru, and brothers Malik and Bouki, to defend their home...I've been meaning to read Tracey Baptiste's The Jumbies since it first came out in 2015, and am glad that I finally managed to pick it up! I enjoyed it so much that I will lose no time in tracking down the sequels, Rise of the Jumbies, and The Jumbie God's Revenge. The story here is engrossing, with a simple but engaging text, and an exciting premise. As Baptiste notes in her afterword, there was a shortage of fantasy based upon Caribbean folklore, when she was growing up, so she decided to write some herself. I know fairly little about jumbies, although I have read the Haitian tale this is based upon - see Diane Wolkstein's The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales for a traditional retelling - so I was glad to read a story in which they featured. My only critique of the book would be that I felt the conclusion was a little rushed, and could have been more fully fleshed out, in the scenes following the defeat of the Jumbies. That said, I did finish this one wanting more, which is surely a sign of a story well told! Recommended to anyone looking for middle-grade fantasy in general, or middle-grade fiction with a Caribbean cultural background specifically.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An exciting story! A bit overreaching at times, but it will keep my fourth and fifth graders reading—and there's nothing better than that. Wish the cover jacket had been more appealing. This book is so much more than what the art depicts.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Everyone knows to stay out of the forest on their Caribbean island- who knows what beasts lurk there? One day, though, when a couple of pranksters take her necklace, the only thing Corrine has of her mother's, and ties it to a lizard's leg, she has to go into the woods to get it back. She sees the yellow eyes watching her and feels the prickles on the back of her neck, but when she comes out she says nothing was in there. But perhaps something has followed her out, something that takes the form of a beautiful stranger who makes bad smelling magic stew and worms her way into Corrine's father's heart. And then there are the village children who go missing. Just enough to spook the reader without too awful much gore. Appropriate for grades 4-6.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Rooted in Carribean folklore, The Jumbies is a classic story of children forced to call upon their wits to contend with magical beings. Corinne La Mer is a brave 11-year-old whose visit to the forest accidentally draws out the ancient beings who inhabited her island before humans arrived. One of these jumbies takes the form of a woman named Severine who enchants Corrine's father. It's up to Corrine and her friends and a reluctant witch to save their island from Severine. There's a lot of creepiness in this story as well as good characater and relationship moments. Robin Miles does an excellent job narrating the audiobook.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy tales continue to be one of the cornerstones of my reading. The age that the story is written for doesn't matter. Give me a re-telling, or a classic, and I'll sit there wide-eyed and invested until the very end. So, it's not surprise that I picked up The Jumbies. I love reading folklore from different countries and, despite never having read "The Magic Orange Tree", I couldn't wait for Tracey Baptiste to tell me a new story. Haitian folklore? Yes please, and thank you very much.
Before I get started on the actual story itself, let me say that the audio version of this book is fabulous! Robin Miles does an excellent job of bringing this story to life, complete with wonderful accents and dialect. If you're looking for a way to get the whole experience, I highly recommend the audio. I know I would have loved this story either way. Still, having Robin Miles read it to me made it infinitely better.
Which leads me to the fact this is a gem of folktale! Just scary enough to give shivers, without being too over the top, this is the perfect story to share with a young reader. Corrine and her friends are brave and true. There is plenty of family love. A heaping helping of magic. Even better, there's a thread at the bottom of this story that shares the importance of living in harmony. About the importance of nature, and living in harmony with others. I adored every bit of it. This was the perfect blend of heroism, and childlike wonder.
If you're a fan of fairy tales, folklore, or just stories that will make you shiver and smile in equal measures, this is for you. I honestly wish I still worked with children so that I could share this with them. It was wonderful! - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This made a great read aloud for third graders. The first chapter ended on a spooky note that will hopefully encourage the kids to read further.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Corrine La Mer is a brave, bold girl who is not afraid of the tales the villagers weave about the Jumbies in the forest. Since her mother died when she was only two, Corrine knows how to take care of herself and her Papa. Little did Corrine know her trip into the forest would bring the Jumbies out, discovering they are not only real, but she may be the only one able to stop them.Author, Tracey Baptiste, is a master at pacing the events and the emotions, keep the reader eager for more. I could not put the book down because I HAD to know what was coming next. You will love the way Tracey develops the characters, you will root for Corrine and her newfound friends as they try to save the village. You will not regret purchasing this book. I cannot wait to share it with my students!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creepy adventure for middle graders! Reminds me a bit of Coraline by Neil Gaiman at times. Especially the relations between Severine and Corinne.
Corinne is a young girl who lives with her father on a small island. The is a large forest on the island where there are rumored to be monsters in the forest called Jumbies. But Corinne does not believe until she finds one in her very home! Severine is a powerful jumbie that is angry at the loss of her sister. She blames the humans.
With little men-like jumbies who kidnapped children, to fire elementals to creepy insects and witches, this book is sure to have something to give a child chills. Not per-say scary but might unnerve the young reader a bit.
The writing style seems more for a younger audience but the content I feel ups it a few grades. Please note, this is not a picture book. I actually wish it did have a couple. Would have loved to seen how the author visualized these creatures of old.
Overall a fun adventure. Loved the variety of characters for courageous Corinne, to intelligent Dru, to prtective orphan brothers. It is deep enough teens and even adults can enjoy but simple enough for readers (recommended age 10+). And as a bonus, this book really left me craving some sweet oranges!
*I was loaned a copy of this book to read in exchange for a fair/honest review. All opinions expressed are strictly my own. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Jumbies is a unique take on an old folktale. It's beautifully written and although it’s intended for younger readers it held my attention throughout the entire book. I love the main character Corinne and her friends. Especially the two brothers, Malik and Bouki. I could totally see my twelve year old niece reading and enjoying this book as much as I did. Side note: I craved oranges the whole time I was reading. *Received an ARC through Goodreads*
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. It was a nice story with a lot of Caribbean folklore (something I haven't really read about before). It was a bit spooky, but not super spooky and fits the middle grade age bracket well. It was one of those books that I thought was okay, but I didn’t find it incredibly engaging. I think kids will probably like it more than adults.Corinne La Mer lives with her father by a dark forest and grows the sweetest oranges in town. One day she chases an animal into the dark forest and is followed out by a Jumbie. The next day a beautiful woman, Severine, appears at market and ends up spending time with Corinne’s father and bewitching him. Suddenly it is up to Corinne and her friends to stop the evil Jumbies attacking town and defeat the beautiful, yet deadly, Severine. There is a ton of wonderful Caribbean folklore in here which was something new and interesting to read about. This story is loosely based on the Haitian folktale “The Magic Orange Tree”.I liked how the characters, who are kids, figure out how to help the village. Additionally I liked how the adults in the story were loving and supportive.This was a super quick read. I think kids in the middle grade age range will enjoy it. I had a bit of trouble engaging with the story and the writing/story was very easy/straight-forward. The plot is incredibly predictable as well, so I definitely think this is something younger middle grade aged kids (rather than adults) will enjoy.Overall this was an okay book. It’s a quick read and I did enjoy reading about Caribbean folklore. I had a bit of trouble engaging with the characters and the story was very predictable. However, it is well enough written and has a lot of action in it so I think younger middle grade readers will enjoy it more than older readers.