Jezebel Turner is at a difficult time in her life. It’s the year 1963, and on top of losing her grandmother, a local police deputy is harassing her family for their work in the community. The Turners are a family of Root workers; they use herbs and magical combinations to help others or bind evil forces. Jezebel and her brother Jay have always been extremely close, but at the start of a new school year he is making friends, and she isn’t. When a young girl befriend Jezebel, things seem perfect. The only problem is now weird things are happening. Is it her new found practice of root working enough to save her and her family, or is she fighting something far more sinister then she can handle?
Root Magic by Eden Royce is designed for young adults, but it should be read by adults as well. The time period of 1963 is very important for history aspects, but also explores the perspective of a Black family and how they experienced the major events of the time. Root work is not always a subject we see in young adult books, and it was delightful. Root Magic flows so beautifully as a book that it’s hard to put it down.
Root Magic is now available from Walden Pond Press.
