Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender | Book Review

Title: Hurricane Child
Author: Kheryn Callender
Publisher: Scholastic
Published Date: March 27th, 2018
Genre: Magical Realism, LGBTQIA, middle grade
Page Count: 256
Format: Hardcover


My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Goodreads Summary: 
Prepare to be swept up by this exquisite novel that reminds us that grief and love can open the world in mystical ways.

Twelve-year-old Caroline is a Hurricane Child, born on Water Island during a storm. Coming into this world during a hurricane is unlucky, and Caroline has had her share of bad luck already. She's hated by everyone in her small school, she can see things that no one else can see, and -- worst of all -- her mother left home one day and never came back. With no friends and days filled with heartache, Caroline is determined to find her mother. When a new student, Kalinda, arrives, Caroline's luck begins to turn around. Kalinda, a solemn girl from Barbados with a special smile for everyone, seems to see the things Caroline sees, too. Joined by their common gift, Kalinda agrees to help Caroline look for her mother, starting with a mysterious lady dressed in black. Soon, they discover the healing power of a close friendship between girls. Debut author Kheryn Callender presents a cadenced work of magical realism.

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My Review:

Caroline is a 12-year-old living with her father on the Caribbean islands. This sounds like it could be a really great life, except for the fact that there's a huge mystery surrounding her mom leaving one day, and now she seeing something that no one else can see more than usual.


This book was unlike any middle-grade book I've read before. Caroline is a character that is dealing with so much and is basically having to figure out things out on her own because no one will tell her anything. She starts figuring things out for herself and breaks rules to get those answers. She makes a friend Kalinda who is so much like her in so many ways. Her friendship with Kalinda helps her in so many ways and it was so so nice to read in a middle-grade novel. The magical realism part was a little confusing to me at first, but after awhile I really got into it. I kept waiting for the person to randomly show up and it never failed to surprise me and make me a little jumpy all at the same time.

Overall I really liked this book. Yes, there were bullies and secrets, and lies from the parents in this book as well. But there were so many good moments as well. All of the bad things in this book made it really realistic. Caroline is a character that we need more of and I am so glad that Callender wrote her. I really wish there had been more books like this one when I was reading middle grade as a middle grader.

I really hope Callender keeps writing books and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!