When the Mapou Sings

Debut author Pinede’s historical verse novel centers a 1930s Haiti filled with magic, cultural tradition, and danger. Inspired by the music of Haiti’s tall mapou trees (“I hear a woman’s voice singing”), 16-year-old Lucille and her best friend Fifina dream of opening a school where they can teach girls “the songs of the trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, the sun, moon, mountains, clouds.” The author juxtaposes the grounding magic of nature with ongoing civil unrest throughout Haiti: after Fifina is taken by a section chief, an authority figure who often abuses their power, Lucille’s beloved mapou also goes missing. When she discovers the tree at the section chief’s home and is subsequently sentenced to exile, Lucille immerses herself in the world beyond her village, where she begins working for affluent Madame Ovides and falls for her son Oreste, a young burgeoning revolutionary. Historical figures such as Zora Neale Hurston, depicted in Pinede’s vibrant text, become key players in Lucille’s life. While the ending of this lengthy, densely packed tale feels abrupt, culturally rich descriptions and examinations of occupation and class division, as well as the perceived differences between spiritual and material wealth, make this a thought-provoking read. Ages 14–up. (Dec.)