"A stunning historical adventure that upends stereotypes."
—The Times (UK)
"Kemosha’s indomitable spirit, determination and wit make for an unforgettable heroine."
—The Guardian (UK)
"Readers are in for a wild ride through this rich mix of cultures, lifestyles [and] languages."
—Children's Literature
"Set in 1668, this swashbuckling tale follows Kemosha as she escapes slavery to become a pirate at Jamaica’s Port Royal."
—Booklist, recommended read-alike for fans of Our Flag Means Death
"While Kemosha may be a product of her times, her dreams, thoughts, and emotional reactions are ones to which modern readers will readily relate."
—Pirates and Privateers
"Kemosha’s heart and tenacity are endearing."
—Kirkus Reviews
Critical praise for Cane Warriors:
"Wheatle brings the struggle of slavery in the Jamaican sugar cane fields to life . . . A refreshing and heartbreaking story that depicts both a real-life uprising against oppression and the innate desire to be free. Highly recommended."
—School Library Journal, starred review
"Alex Wheatle writes from a place of honesty and passion, with the full knowledge and understanding that change can only happen through words and actions."
—Steve McQueen, Academy Award–winning film director
"Alex Wheatle departs from his award-winning contemporary novels for a superb foray into historical fiction . . . Wheatle's characteristic kennings and coinages . . . heighten this intense, affecting story of courage, bloodshed and commitment to freedom at all costs."
—The Guardian (UK)
"I read it in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. Cane Warriors is such a powerful narrative of trauma and triumph . . . Wheatle celebrates the heroism that Tacky inspires. He tells the riveting story of 14-year-old Moa who bravely joins Tacky's army."
—The Gleaner (Jamaica)
"Set in 1760, Cane Warriors, the latest young adult novel by Alex Wheatle, is a fictional account of a key but often overlooked event in Jamaican history: Tacky's Rebellion, a major revolt by enslaved Africans, planned via an island-wide conspiracy. In Wheatle's narrative, a 14-year-old named Moa is caught up in the growing revolt, driven by a fierce desire for freedom and self-determination."
—Saturday Express (Trinidad & Tobago)
"Tension-filled and heart-stopping, a work of edgy brilliance that brims with existential fervor . . . Excellent."
—Kaieteur News (Guyana)
Critical praise for Home Girl:
"With a tough exterior and brash attitude, Naomi is an authentic character in an unfortunate yet accurate picture of modern-day foster care in the UK . . . The ending is neither predictable nor sugarcoated, leaving readers rooting for this determined heroine."
—School Library Journal
"Wheatle returns to the world of his award-winning Crongton books with what [his publisher] Atom is calling his most powerful and personal novel yet. Naomi Brisset is a teenage girl growing up too fast in the UK care system. Her journey through a series of foster homes exposes the unsettling, often heartwrenching truth of this life. Yet despite the grit, Wheatle's writing is as rich and warm as ever, bringing courage and hope to an unforgettable heroine's story."
—Bookseller (UK), Editors' Choice
"Teenager Naomi, old before her time and as vulnerable as she is fierce, is growing up in the care system. Foster homes and pupil referral units revealing the unsettling, often bewildering reality of this existence. Wheatle's empathy, authentic characters, and rich dialogue illuminate the dark."
—Observer Magazine (UK)
"Another powerful and poignant novel deftly created by one of the most prolific master novelists on either side of the pond. Home Girl is a page-turner, with not a dull moment. Loved it from the rooter to the tooter."
—Eric Jerome Dickey, New York Times best-selling author of Before We Were Wicked
2021-11-16
An enslaved Black girl runs away in search of freedom and becomes a pirate.
Fifteen-year-old Kemosha lives on a plantation in St. Catherine, Jamaica, in 1668. Naïve and inquisitive, her life centers around the cookhouse, where she cooks and cleans, and taking care of her younger brother, Gregory, the only family she has. She does her best to protect him from the harsh plantation owner, Capt. Tate, who is prone to violent rages. One day, Mr. Powell, a White man, arrives at the plantation and purchases Kemosha, separating her from everything she has ever known and taking her to his tavern in Port Royal. Determined to return for Gregory and buy freedom for both of them, Kemosha risks her life by escaping. She is assisted by Ravenhide, a Black man who teaches her sword fighting and survival skills, even helping her to win her freedom. Kemosha’s journey is filled with dangerous challenges, the greatest of which is learning to hack it aboard the ship of the infamous pirate Capt. Morgan. This novel, filled with disturbing, graphic descriptions of violence, has an interesting premise, and Kemosha’s heart and tenacity are endearing. However, readers may have difficulty becoming immersed in the story due to writing that feels heavy-handed and inconsistencies in the language that can come across as more contemporary than historical.
An inventive concept but unsatisfactory delivery. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)
