"Sometimes a legend is history that wasn't written down."It's late summer, and rising sixth grader Misty has just moved to Brooklyn from Trinidad, which, on a positive note, means two Carnival celebrations (her favorite!) this year. But it's undeniably a difficult and lonely transition; her mother struggles to find work, and her dad is back home. Misty and her Brooklyn cousins, Brooke and Aidan, despite being the next generation of their large, fairly tight-knit Trini American family, aren't particularly close-at least, not until supernatural elements force their hands. The frustration of having parents, aunties, and uncles keeping secrets from them is palpable as the young trio learn of the magical Afro-Caribbean heritage they've suddenly inherited as new mokos from a long line of legendary figures dating back to pre-colonial West Africa. Misty now has the gift of foresight and hindsight, Aidan can heal others with his touch, and Brooke can conjure protective shields. These hard-to-control powers will come in handy: They've manifested alongside a great supernatural threat that puts lives (and Carnival itself) at great risk. In this culturally rich and engaging series opener, the young mokos immerse themselves in the oral traditions of their culture and try to determine who can be trusted and who can't. All the while, they discover that their strengths-like the rich food, music, and folk stories detailed throughout-only grow when they're shared.The power of storytelling on full, colorful, exciting display. (author's note, glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Gr 3–7 —Misty and her mom have just moved from Trinidad to her cousins Brooke and Aiden's home in Brooklyn. After a series of strange occurrences, the three tweens discover they are the newest mokos (magic wielders) with special abilities that will be needed for a reason nobody can predict, and it's all happening around carnival celebrations. With a unique magic system, and extremely interesting magical creatures and abilities, Baptiste does an excellent job of making readers feel privy to something secret and previously unknown. The centering of Afro-Caribbean mythology keeps readers eager to delve deeper into the plot. Misty's loneliness and pain is often forgotten in the whirl of action happening around her. However, some tweens may struggle with truly connecting to the three main characters. The first half of the book feels a bit chaotic, jumping from incident to incident. Things pick up in the second half, sweeping readers up in the plot and immersing them in the mystery and magic of Baptiste's tale. VERDICT This is a slightly uneven yet fun addition to middle grade shelves, sure to attract readers of urban fantasy, as well as those who love non-Eurocentric mythologies.—Lauren Sullivan