THEY WILL NOT SAVE US

Twelve-year-old Lena Etienne, who lives in a small village in Haiti, is no stranger to getting in trouble.

Her best friends, poetry lover Luke (who’s half Dominican) and aspiring journalist Jesula, always go along with her plans. Since losing her father, Lena has been deeply upset with the Loa, the spirits that followers of Vodou call upon for help. These feelings affect her training to join her mom and grandmother in becoming a Mumbo, someone who bridges the gap between the Loa and the people. She can’t bring herself to forgive them and accept her father’s death, which prevents her from summoning them. Inexplicable things begin happening: People smile a little too widely, and their eyes turn a strange milky white. Sometimes people and animals freeze and go silent. Worst of all, Lena keeps hearing creepy voices singing a song with gruesome lyrics. The leisurely beginning quickly ramps up, drawing readers in. Arnold creates a strong sense of place by weaving in Haitian Creole phrases and descriptions of daily life and Vodou practices. The grief Lena and her mother experience is palpable, like a “one-hundred-foot wave of sadness” that will pull her “down to the bottom of the sea.” The intensity of their feelings comes across clearly and movingly, taking center stage as Lena attempts to dull the pain by not allowing herself to think about her dad for too long.

A compelling, textured blend of Haitian culture, supernatural suspense, and the challenges of living through grief.