(Get Blood at the Root book here | Audiobook)
Are you looking for a magical school story starring a young, Black man trying to heal and make sense of his traumatic childhood? Then, you definitely need to read Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams.
In Blood at the Root, 17-yr-old Malik is running away with his younger foster brother, Taye, when he learns of a grandmother living in New Orleans. A grandmother? Now? After Malik's been alone since his mother died in a mysterious, magical incident when he was 7? Nah, eff that. He doesn't need anybody but his brother.
Unfortunately, his brother Taye forgot his insulin at his foster parents' house and falls sick on their way to California. Choosing to save his brother, Malik goes to his grandmother, Mama Aya, who opens her home to the two boys.
Malik isn't sure who he can trust but he sees that they care about Taye and are treating him right. Malik eventually realizes that this is his chance to learn about his magic, which he's been afraid of since he was 7, and finally learn the truth about what happened to his mother.
That begins Malik's adventures at Caiman University, where he enrolls in both gen-ed and magic classes, makes friends, meets his professors, and makes a few enemies. But there's an undercurrent of danger. A dangerous group, the Bokors, seem to be back and they are kidnapping and killing young people. Malik, along with some friends, including his first love Alexis, discover that there's a lot more than meets the eye at Caiman University and that his mother might have been in the middle of some really shady stuff.
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Overall, I really enjoyed reading this magical adventure story. It was such a breath of fresh air to read about a story centering Black boys as magical. The characters are fully developed and dynamic in the book. Malik is your typical 17-yr-old boy--hot headed, stubborn, think he knows everything, but also vulnerable, hurting, and just looking for acceptance and love. The cursing and crude language at times took me aback, but I eventually got used to it. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that it's 100% authentic! lol
I was engaged and hooked the entire story. I had a lot of fun reading about Malik coming into his own, learning magic, and making friends. The story wasn't predictable and I found myself surprised by some of the big reveals! (I still can't believe they did Malik dirty like that!) It also wasn't all fluff. Malik goes through some difficult moments and there is heavy loss in the book. I found myself close to tears at a few moments. Lastly, I really liked how the magical history was intertwined with Black history, such as the Haitian Revolution.
In the end, good triumphs over evil and Malik finds closure regarding his mom. This was a powerful story about ancestry, choices, chosen family, and believing in one's own capacity for magic. Black boys are not only beautifully flawed and magical, but also equally deserving of love.
"I'm ready. Because that little Black boy from Helena. Alabama, is no longer haunted by an outpouring of confusion, but weighted by a levee of weighted determination. He belongs here. His roots are here. He's part of something way bigger. And the magic of resilience is in his blood."
LaDarrion Williams creates something really special with Blood at the Root. I highly recommend it for all fantasy readers and educators--you need this in your classroom libraries.
