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Cover of Hurricane Child

Hurricane Child

Kacen Callender

240 pages

A lush, stormy exploration of grief, first love, and the spirits that haunt us, set against a vividly rendered Caribbean backdrop.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like standing on the edge of a beach as a storm rolls in—heavy, atmospheric, and crackling with emotional electricity. The narrative moves at a steady, deliberate pace, immersing the reader in a lush Caribbean setting where the line between the physical and spiritual worlds blurs. It is a deeply interior and melancholic experience, anchored by a lyrical prose style that captures the sensory details of island life and the suffocating weight of being an outsider. Yet, beneath the haunting grief and the sting of bullying, there is a tender, blooming warmth as the protagonist navigates her first queer crush. It will deeply satisfy readers who love magical realism that serves as a mirror for real-world heartache, offering a journey that is as turbulent and ultimately cleansing as a hurricane.

Mood
  • stormy
  • haunting
  • atmospheric
  • lush
Tone
  • earnest
  • melancholic
  • tender
  • resilient
Pace
steady
Themes
navigating first crushes · maternal abandonment · the weight of being an outsider · processing grief · spiritual connections
The writing
Lyrical and deeply sensory, the prose is saturated with the sights, sounds, and spiritual weight of the Caribbean landscape.
The arc
Moves from a place of deep, isolated sorrow and feeling cursed toward a hard-won sense of belonging, self-acceptance, and brave vulnerability.
Who it's for
Readers who crave emotionally resonant, atmospheric middle-grade stories that blend real-world heartache with a touch of magic and tender queer awakening.
Content notes
  • bullying
  • parental abandonment
  • grief
  • emotional abuse

About the book

Being born during a hurricane is unlucky, and 12-year-old Caroline has had her share of bad luck lately. She's hated and bullied by everyone in her small school on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, a spirit only she can see won't stop following her, and -- worst of all -- Caroline's mother left home one day and never came back.

But when a new student named Kalinda arrives, Caroline's luck begins to turn around. Kalinda, a solemn girl from Barbados with a special smile for everyone, becomes Caroline's first and only friend -- and the person for whom Caroline has begun to develop a crush.

Now, Caroline must find the strength to confront her feelings for Kalinda, brave the spirit stalking her through the islands, and face the reason her mother abandoned her. Together, Caroline and Kalinda must set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother -- before Caroline loses her forever.

Description from Open Library.

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