Felt too young for me to enjoy, though I liked the subject matter and inspiration. ( )

It is 1969, and 16-year-old Ruba is an orphan who has just emigrated from Haiti to Pass Christian, Mississippi to live with her Grandmother Jones after the loss of her other grandmother, Ba. Ruba is tattooed, strong, and proud of her African heritage. As the last living Amazon, descendant of the Dahomey people, it is her duty to defend the world and her ancestral king from the evil spirits in the form of hurricanes bent on destruction. As Ruba struggles to adjust to her new life including her Grandmother Jones’ strict Christianity, she learns that there are different kinds of strength. When the son of the KKK Grand Wizard kidnaps Ruba and her family at gunpoint just as Hurricane Camille is about to arrive, Ruba must draw on her warrior spirit and learn how to forgive others - and herself in order to break the cycle of prejudice. A well-researched and engaging story that blends historical fact and fantasy to illustrate the effects of racism and slavery from Africa to the U.S. Recommended. Ages 10-14. ( )