The rich and privileged have fled the city of Toronto and the inner city people who are not able to leave, survive in whichever ways they can. Ti-Jeanne and her Baby are living with Ti-Jeanne's grandmother, who practices herb medicine. Ti-Jeanne's former boyfriend Tony is badly messed up with powerful and cruel Rudy's posse, and when the rich want some fresh organs, he is in even bigger trouble, where he drags Ti-Jeanne with him. Ti-Jeanne must open herself to ancient truths and powers in order to survive and help her nearest ones.

Paperback. I bought this at internet book store, because the author is a guest of honour in Worldcon75 held in Helsinki on August 2017 and I wanted to read something she's written before that.

This turned out to be an excellent book. I appreciate the skill in which Hopkinson mixes urban dystopian setting and Caribbean myths and magic. Tony was infuriating, but I really liked Mami (although she was often very hard and strict) and Ti-Jeanne, who is very human with her mixed feelings, but who turns out to be brave and strong when it is most needed.

I'm keeping the book at least for now.

10.7.2017: Borrowed to Mecu

Skillfully written story full of ancient magic and beliefs. In the beginning I was hoping for Ti-Jeanne to come to her senses, and luckily she did grow up eventually. It was hard to remember that events took place in Toronto, Canada, since the atmosphere, the people and partly the language were Caribbean. It took a little time to get used to read written Caribbean English.

This book is the winner of the Locus Award for Best First Novel and the John W. Campbell Award, so it fits the Helmet 2017 challenge on the Finnish Forum.

Thanks a lot Kemppu for borrowing this book!

The book has returned to me.