Honeysuckle and Bone

Gr 9 Up–Desperate for a fresh start, 18-year-old Carina assumed her best friend Joy’s identity, right down to her job offer as an au pair in Jamaica for the Halls, a high-society political family. As a Jamaican American on her first trip to the island, Carina occupies a complicated position among the staff of Blackbead, the Halls' opulent estate—she’s far more privileged than her young Jamaican counterparts, who nevertheless wrap her into the tight-knit clique they call the Young Birds. The Halls, on the other hand, call her “a member of the family” while subjecting her to exacting standards. As she immerses herself in Jamaica, Carina is increasingly tormented by sleeplessness, the pervasive scent of honeysuckle, and dark hallucinations. Aaron, one of the Young Birds, suggests that it could be the influence of a duppy (spirit), and the two begin an investigation into the history of Blackbead and the Hall family that threatens their safety—and the safety of Carina’s most closely guarded secrets. Tobias’s debut is an atmospheric ghost story that shines in multiple respects, from its tense, satisfying mystery and tight pacing to its thoughtful commentary on class in Jamaica and Jamaican American identity, as well as its vibrant secondary characters.