Josephine Against the Sea

By Shakirah Bourne

Book #1 in the Josephine Against the Sea series

A girl battles a sea creature to save her father from a magical threat.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 465 ratings

304 pages· 58,418 words· Est. 8 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Josephine, a spirited eleven-year-old in Barbados, is determined to keep her father single by scaring off his girlfriends. When her cricket dreams are dashed, she accidentally unleashes a magical threat. Her father's new girlfriend, Mariss, is more than she seems—a vengeful sea creature. With her father's heart at stake, Josephine must rally her friends and use her cricket skills to confront Mariss. Can she outwit the sea creature and protect her family before it's too late?

From the publisher

Meet Josephine, the most loveable mischief-maker in Barbados, in a magical, heartfelt adventure inspired by Caribbean mythology.”A heart-wrenching adventure with big laughs and well-earned surprises.” -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Eleven-year-old Josephine knows that no one is good enough for her daddy. That’s why she makes a habit of scaring his new girlfriends away. She’s desperate to make it onto her school’s cricket team because she’ll get to play her favorite sport AND use the cricket matches to distract Daddy from dating.

But when Coach Broomes announces that girls can’t try out for the team, the frustrated Josephine cuts into a powerful silk cotton tree and accidentally summons a bigger problem into her life . . .

The next day, Daddy brings home a new catch, a beautiful woman named Mariss. And unlike the other girlfriends, this one doesn’t scare easily. Josephine knows there’s something fishy about Mariss but she never expected her to be a vengeful sea creature eager to take her place as her father’s first love! Can Josephine convince her friends to help her and use her cricket skills to save Daddy from Mariss’s clutches before it’s too late?

At a glance

Format
Pages: 304
Words: 58,418
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 810L

Themes & topics

Books about father-daughter relationships Books about mythical creatures Books about girls

What readers & critics say

Reviews

“Twining fantastical elements with a steady pace and a contemporary setting, Bourne nets a relatable story of processing grief, trust in one’s family and community, and Black girl magic.”

Publisher's Weekly

Critic

“A heart-wrenching adventure with big laughs and well-earned surprises.”

Kirkus Reviews

Critic · Starred review

For readers who can't stop at one