Daughters of Jubilation
In South Carolina in 1962, Jim Crow is king. Evalene Deschamps comes from a lineage of strong Black women, women endowed with a paranormal gift they call Jubilation, but sixteen-year-old Evvie struggles to learn to control this blessing. She gets help from her Grammie Attie and her churchgoing mother, but despite this Evvie’s powers grow stronger and are hard to manage. Meanwhile, handsome Clayton Andrews and Evvie spend time together, and their relationship gets more serious. But true love doesn’t run smoothly in the racist South. An ugly invader from the forgotten past threatens Evvie’s happiness, her family, and her romance. Will Evvie have the strength to overcome this threat, and will her burgeoning powers be enough to protect those she loves?
Kara Lee Corthron takes on difficult topics—racism, white supremacy, and sexual abuse—in her young adult novel, but the dangerous world she describes is also filled with moments of love and beauty. Readers will be inspired as Evvie confronts her demons and grows in strength. The story and setting will resonate with those readers whose own struggles echo Evvie’s. Others may find that this book opens their eyes to new realities, ones they have not directly experienced. In either case Daughters of Jubilation is a compelling read. Recommended.
