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Josephine Against the Sea #2
Beware the Heartman
A spooky, heartfelt mystery inspired by Caribbean mythology, featuring the most lovable characters in middle grade fiction!
For once, everything in twelve-year-old Josephine's life is going according to plan. She's finally proved that girls belong on the cricket team and earned a spot as a starting player! And she's confident that she and her best friend, Ahkai, will both be accepted to their dream secondary school. Nothing can stop Jo now -- not even the memory of the vengeful sea spirit she vanquished last year.
But then a series of disasters strike. Ahkai suddenly seems to have a new best friend -- the annoyingly perfect Lynne. Then Jo isn't accepted to the same school as Ahkai! Even worse, Jo keeps having eerie encounters with a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows -- a figure who bears an unsettling resemblance to the fearsome Heartman rumored to steal children's hearts...
Jo doesn't know where to turn. With Daddy away, the only person who'll believe her is Ahkai, but Jo is too proud to ask for help after being replaced. By the time she musters the courage to approach him, it's too late.
Ahkai has disappeared without a trace.
He's been taken by the Heartman.
None of the adults believe Jo. The Heartman is just a legend, after all. But Jo knows that the fearsome creature is real and that if she doesn't find his lair soon, Ahkai will be lost forever.
For once, everything in twelve-year-old Josephine's life is going according to plan. She's finally proved that girls belong on the cricket team and earned a spot as a starting player! And she's confident that she and her best friend, Ahkai, will both be accepted to their dream secondary school. Nothing can stop Jo now -- not even the memory of the vengeful sea spirit she vanquished last year.
But then a series of disasters strike. Ahkai suddenly seems to have a new best friend -- the annoyingly perfect Lynne. Then Jo isn't accepted to the same school as Ahkai! Even worse, Jo keeps having eerie encounters with a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows -- a figure who bears an unsettling resemblance to the fearsome Heartman rumored to steal children's hearts...
Jo doesn't know where to turn. With Daddy away, the only person who'll believe her is Ahkai, but Jo is too proud to ask for help after being replaced. By the time she musters the courage to approach him, it's too late.
Ahkai has disappeared without a trace.
He's been taken by the Heartman.
None of the adults believe Jo. The Heartman is just a legend, after all. But Jo knows that the fearsome creature is real and that if she doesn't find his lair soon, Ahkai will be lost forever.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 19, 2024
Josephine has settled back into her regular life after the events of book one with Mariss. After almost a year, her father has been dating Miss Alleyne and she's actually happy for him. She's a starting player on her schools' cricket team and they're getting close to the championships. Plus she may have a crush on one of her teammates. Things are going well until she takes the Common Entrance Exam and gets into Queen Mary instead of Lamming with her best friend Ahkai. Even worse is he's befriended a girl named Lynne who claims to be from overseas and is clearly trying to steal her best friend. Then things in Fairy Vale are really shaken up when her cricket coach disappears and all signs point to The Heartman, a fabled being who is known to kidnap people after dark and steal their hearts. Josephine and her friends must hurry to defeat the Heartman before they end up his next victims.
In book two readers are introduced to another figure from Bajan lore though not everyone in the village believes the Heartman is anything more than tales made up to scare children. I liked how some of the theories about the Heartman and his rumored society of secret men were included in a way that made sure to address the theories surrounding and bring the creep factor without being too much. We also see some of the lore from book one come full circle.
One thing this series does really well is infusing comedy. Josephine is hilarious as always with a witty quip always in her arsenal. And she and her friends talk like real tweens in a way young readers will be able to relate. Her friend Ahkai is autistic but it's never treated as a hinderance. Though he doesn't like too much attention and touch, Josephine struggles more than him when it comes to fitting in with the other children and the prospect of attending a new school alone. It's very refreshing when I come across media with children with disabilities where those children are treated as just regular children.
Fast-paced, easy to read, and engaging Beware of the Heartman is a fitting sequel that keeps up the momentum of Josephine Against the Sea and leaves room for another installment.
In book two readers are introduced to another figure from Bajan lore though not everyone in the village believes the Heartman is anything more than tales made up to scare children. I liked how some of the theories about the Heartman and his rumored society of secret men were included in a way that made sure to address the theories surrounding and bring the creep factor without being too much. We also see some of the lore from book one come full circle.
One thing this series does really well is infusing comedy. Josephine is hilarious as always with a witty quip always in her arsenal. And she and her friends talk like real tweens in a way young readers will be able to relate. Her friend Ahkai is autistic but it's never treated as a hinderance. Though he doesn't like too much attention and touch, Josephine struggles more than him when it comes to fitting in with the other children and the prospect of attending a new school alone. It's very refreshing when I come across media with children with disabilities where those children are treated as just regular children.
Fast-paced, easy to read, and engaging Beware of the Heartman is a fitting sequel that keeps up the momentum of Josephine Against the Sea and leaves room for another installment.
August 10, 2024
Shakirah Bourne continues Josephine’s story in this stand alone companion book to Josephine Against the Sea. In the first, Josephine rescues her father and herself from an evil sea spirit straight out of Caribbean folklore. Now Josephine has to battle the Heartman and his steel donkey who snatches those who are out after dark, retreats to his lair and eventually claims their heart. Along with the supernatural, Josephine is dealing with competition for her best friend Ahkai from an odd friend of the family, Lynne, trying to hold her own on the boys’ cricket team, and cope with not making it into the same secondary school as Ahkai.
Great mixture of the usual middle school friendship drama, teacher woes and a parent dating someone seriously plus the action of an evil being kidnapping a teammate, a best friend and the school handyman and the reappearance of the sea spirit that was supposed to be defeated. Plenty of cultural references sprinkled throughout, giving readers a look at the food, academic climate, dress and traditional tales of Barbados. Some may have a bit of difficulty with the dialect used by all characters, but even when “gine” is used for “going to,” context should be enough to aid comprehension and keep frustration low or non-existent for most. Those unfamiliar with the game of cricket may wonder about phrases like “cricket pitch,” “wicketkeeper,” and more, but again, plenty of context for readers to get the gist of the game. There are references to action in Josephine Against the Sea and the villain from that book does play a key role in this one but it is absolutely not necessary to read the first before enjoying Beware the Heartman.
Text is free of profanity and the violence is stated but not overly described. No sexual content, however, Josephine’s dad’s girlfriend is at breakfast some mornings and the couple does go on a cruise together. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-8.
Thanks for the print arc, Scholastic.
Great mixture of the usual middle school friendship drama, teacher woes and a parent dating someone seriously plus the action of an evil being kidnapping a teammate, a best friend and the school handyman and the reappearance of the sea spirit that was supposed to be defeated. Plenty of cultural references sprinkled throughout, giving readers a look at the food, academic climate, dress and traditional tales of Barbados. Some may have a bit of difficulty with the dialect used by all characters, but even when “gine” is used for “going to,” context should be enough to aid comprehension and keep frustration low or non-existent for most. Those unfamiliar with the game of cricket may wonder about phrases like “cricket pitch,” “wicketkeeper,” and more, but again, plenty of context for readers to get the gist of the game. There are references to action in Josephine Against the Sea and the villain from that book does play a key role in this one but it is absolutely not necessary to read the first before enjoying Beware the Heartman.
Text is free of profanity and the violence is stated but not overly described. No sexual content, however, Josephine’s dad’s girlfriend is at breakfast some mornings and the couple does go on a cruise together. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-8.
Thanks for the print arc, Scholastic.
June 13, 2024
This was too cute! I have been loving these Caribbean speculative fantasies!
July 8, 2024
My first ARC book by @shakirawrites.
I love how this book started as it took me down memory lane to when I myself sat the Common Entrance Exam and the nerves I felt upon receiving my marks.
It is absolutely brilliantly written 👏🏾 👌🏾. The excitement, the fear, the adventures of Josephine and her friends 🧡. This book is filled with humor and relatable characters that will definitely keep you glued to the pages.
I love how this book started as it took me down memory lane to when I myself sat the Common Entrance Exam and the nerves I felt upon receiving my marks.
It is absolutely brilliantly written 👏🏾 👌🏾. The excitement, the fear, the adventures of Josephine and her friends 🧡. This book is filled with humor and relatable characters that will definitely keep you glued to the pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2024
What worked:
One of the main characters is autistic but the author includes him from a different angle. Ahkai doesn’t like physical contact or interacting with others but Jo is his best friend and neighbor. In some ways, Jo has more difficulty dealing with human relationships than him. She’s anxious about starting a new school year but becomes especially fearful when she learns Ahkai will be going to a different building. She’s desperate to get her assignment changed but she’ll need to convince her father first. To complicate matters, the daughter of a family friend is staying with Ahkai and his grandmother so Jo is afraid she’s losing her best friend.
There is a supernatural element to the story set in Barbados but the author introduces it gradually. Jo senses things are off and recalls a clash with a malevolent creature named Mariss from a previous book. Tales are told around town about the Heartman but Jo suspects they’re just stories to scare kids into behaving. However, she hears rattling sounds in the long grass and sees shapes in the night which makes her imagination take over. A magical tree holds malevolent spirits and she wonders if something wicked may have escaped. Could Mariss somehow be the one responsible for the disappearances of Jo’s cricket coach and teammate?
The strange things are unsettling but readers will become suspicious of two characters. Lynne has a problem with Jo even before they meet and it’s unclear why. She makes snide comments and amused facial expressions when Jo is upset. Jo overhears a conversation where Lynne says she doesn’t understand why Ahkai puts up with Jo. Readers will wonder about the untold secrets behind Lynne’s presence and wonder if she’s good or bad. Mr. Atkins is a teacher and he’s been behaving oddly. One of Jo’s teachers is dating her dad and Mr. Atkins has been treating the woman poorly. He can be found patrolling the streets each night and he seems nervous around the magical tree. Lynne and Mr. Atkins are behaving suspiciously which allows readers to speculate about what they are hiding.
What didn’t work as well:
Ahkai is described as being on the autistic spectrum but he doesn’t seem much different from other characters. As mentioned, he helps Jo deal with anxiety and offers her suggestions on how she might interact with others. There’s nothing wrong with this per se but I’m not sure why the concept of autism is attached to Ahkai. Maybe he behaves differently in the first book of the series.
The final verdict:
The concept of the Heartman is gory but the author adds an unexpected twist to the tale. The character relationships highlight the book, especially the clash between Jo and Lynne. Overall, I recommend you give this exciting book a shot.
One of the main characters is autistic but the author includes him from a different angle. Ahkai doesn’t like physical contact or interacting with others but Jo is his best friend and neighbor. In some ways, Jo has more difficulty dealing with human relationships than him. She’s anxious about starting a new school year but becomes especially fearful when she learns Ahkai will be going to a different building. She’s desperate to get her assignment changed but she’ll need to convince her father first. To complicate matters, the daughter of a family friend is staying with Ahkai and his grandmother so Jo is afraid she’s losing her best friend.
There is a supernatural element to the story set in Barbados but the author introduces it gradually. Jo senses things are off and recalls a clash with a malevolent creature named Mariss from a previous book. Tales are told around town about the Heartman but Jo suspects they’re just stories to scare kids into behaving. However, she hears rattling sounds in the long grass and sees shapes in the night which makes her imagination take over. A magical tree holds malevolent spirits and she wonders if something wicked may have escaped. Could Mariss somehow be the one responsible for the disappearances of Jo’s cricket coach and teammate?
The strange things are unsettling but readers will become suspicious of two characters. Lynne has a problem with Jo even before they meet and it’s unclear why. She makes snide comments and amused facial expressions when Jo is upset. Jo overhears a conversation where Lynne says she doesn’t understand why Ahkai puts up with Jo. Readers will wonder about the untold secrets behind Lynne’s presence and wonder if she’s good or bad. Mr. Atkins is a teacher and he’s been behaving oddly. One of Jo’s teachers is dating her dad and Mr. Atkins has been treating the woman poorly. He can be found patrolling the streets each night and he seems nervous around the magical tree. Lynne and Mr. Atkins are behaving suspiciously which allows readers to speculate about what they are hiding.
What didn’t work as well:
Ahkai is described as being on the autistic spectrum but he doesn’t seem much different from other characters. As mentioned, he helps Jo deal with anxiety and offers her suggestions on how she might interact with others. There’s nothing wrong with this per se but I’m not sure why the concept of autism is attached to Ahkai. Maybe he behaves differently in the first book of the series.
The final verdict:
The concept of the Heartman is gory but the author adds an unexpected twist to the tale. The character relationships highlight the book, especially the clash between Jo and Lynne. Overall, I recommend you give this exciting book a shot.
June 12, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jo is enjoying playing on the Barbados Youth Cricket team, and hanging out with her friend Ahkai. She's a bit worried that he is hanging out a lot with Lynne, who is from "overseas" and isn't one of Jo's favorite people. She's accepted that her father and Ms. Alleyne are dating, and is hoping that her entrance exam results are good enough so that she and Ahkai can both go to Lamming Secondary. When she finds out that she is actually supposed to go to Queen Mary College, she begs her father to put in for a transfer so that she can remain with her friend, especially since Lynne also got into Lamming. There are bigger problems, however. Her cricket coach has gone missing, and when a boy from the cricket team does as well, rumors start to swirl that the Heartman is on the prowl. This dark and shadowy figure stalks people and eats their hearts out, and Jo thinks she might have brought him into the area. She starts to think that maybe Lynne is the Heartman, or at the very least has Ahkai bewitched. When Ahkai also goes missing, Jo knows she needs to figure out what is going on. Where has her friend gone, and what is Lynne's relationship to the villain of the first book, Mariss?
Bourne, who also wrote the excellent Nightmare Island, has created another eerie tale about evil creatures preying on unsuspecting tweens, and has infused this horror with interesting facets of life in Barbados. This is perfect for readers who want creepy tales with some different cultural aspects, like Ireland's The Boo Hag Flex or Howard's Bumps in the Night.
Jo is enjoying playing on the Barbados Youth Cricket team, and hanging out with her friend Ahkai. She's a bit worried that he is hanging out a lot with Lynne, who is from "overseas" and isn't one of Jo's favorite people. She's accepted that her father and Ms. Alleyne are dating, and is hoping that her entrance exam results are good enough so that she and Ahkai can both go to Lamming Secondary. When she finds out that she is actually supposed to go to Queen Mary College, she begs her father to put in for a transfer so that she can remain with her friend, especially since Lynne also got into Lamming. There are bigger problems, however. Her cricket coach has gone missing, and when a boy from the cricket team does as well, rumors start to swirl that the Heartman is on the prowl. This dark and shadowy figure stalks people and eats their hearts out, and Jo thinks she might have brought him into the area. She starts to think that maybe Lynne is the Heartman, or at the very least has Ahkai bewitched. When Ahkai also goes missing, Jo knows she needs to figure out what is going on. Where has her friend gone, and what is Lynne's relationship to the villain of the first book, Mariss?
Bourne, who also wrote the excellent Nightmare Island, has created another eerie tale about evil creatures preying on unsuspecting tweens, and has infused this horror with interesting facets of life in Barbados. This is perfect for readers who want creepy tales with some different cultural aspects, like Ireland's The Boo Hag Flex or Howard's Bumps in the Night.
September 19, 2024
Friendship and folktale combine in this fantastic middle grade adventure. Shakirah Bourne recreates Barbados and brings to life local legends in her gripping fantasies. In Josephine Against the Sea, the young girl discovered that sea spirits were not merely folktales. Now life seems to be going well for Josephine, until new situations start to threaten her relationship with her only friend. Having battled against a supernatural creature in the past, when people talk about the Heartman, she knows that he may also be more than a simple local urban legend. When people turn up missing, the intrepid girl sets out to battle the supernatural once again. The friendship and school drama keeps the reader rooted on the island at the same time the fantasy whisks the reader into another realm. Bourne spins a great tale and although the plot seems strait-forward, the story has a few twists that will take the reader by surprise. Although the premise of the Heartman may seem quite grisley, the story is not graphic and the way it plays out is quite appropriate for young readers. This book may be a sequel, but there is enough background provided in the narrative to make this book enjoyable as a stand alone. I received an advance print copy of this book, however I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of middle grade fantasy adventures. I enjoyed both stories and I hope to read more about Josephine in the future.
September 2, 2024
Friendship, jealousy, and danger all woven together into a high stakes fantasy kids will love! Jo thought life was finally going her way, but when school expectations and friendships go in completely the wrong direction, she sets out to put things right. Sometimes we don’t realize that our best intentions are not what is really for the best, and Jo has a lot to learn. The book read really well, even without having read the prequel. Shakirah Bourne gave me just enough to understand the backstory, while still making me want to go back and read the first book. I love how the adventure took unexpected turns and resolutions. The characters’ personalities were real and relatable. I can’t wait for more from Bourne.
July 23, 2024
Great book by Shakirah Bourne! I really enjoyed this adventure with Josephine and Ahkai. I hope there are more adventures by Bourne following this group because I am invested. Feel like I am reliving my Caribbean childhood when reading these books down to the little things of families having people from different islands/countries....which is so typical in the Caribbean....the great cook-up vs pelau war of 2024.
July 29, 2024
In this second installment to this fantastic realism story about Josephine going up against a powerful Heartman, it is at its heart a story of friendship and forgiveness. I always felt bad for Mariss in the first book, so I was glad to see her story come full circle. At times, it was a pageturner and at times, moved a bit slowly. Overall, it is a worthwhile tale that is better than the first.
April 26, 2024
Read an advanced copy and I am so thrilled to have a chance to follow Josephine again. What a spunky and fun little girl. I hope this is not the last we see of her. It was also great to see the legend of the Hartman brought to life. My little Caribbean heart is overjoyed to see Caribbean mythology in print.
January 5, 2025
In this sequel to “Josephine and the Sea”, we meet Jo 10 months later.
Jo’s best friend Akhai has a new friend named Lynn and Jo does not like her instantly. At the end of the school year, some people have started disappearing from the village in Barbados. This includes Jo’s cricket coach, a fellow cricket player, & finally her best friend Akhai. Jo suspects that the Heartman has taken these people and she will need to try to rescue them even if she has to have Lynne help her do so.
This is an optional purchase. Only buy where the first one is available.
S.T.
School Librarian
Jo’s best friend Akhai has a new friend named Lynn and Jo does not like her instantly. At the end of the school year, some people have started disappearing from the village in Barbados. This includes Jo’s cricket coach, a fellow cricket player, & finally her best friend Akhai. Jo suspects that the Heartman has taken these people and she will need to try to rescue them even if she has to have Lynne help her do so.
This is an optional purchase. Only buy where the first one is available.
S.T.
School Librarian
July 9, 2026
Even better than the first book!! So funny and packed full of surprises 🩵
April 25, 2024
I love every word in Beware The Heartman by Barbadian author Shakirah Bourne. Every. Single. One.
I was fortunate to snag an ARC for this "spooky, heartfelt mystery inspired by Caribbean mythology" which, although written for children ages eight to 12, can be read and enjoyed by teenagers and adults too.
Beware The Heartman, the third installment of a series of stories featuring 12-year-old Josephine and her best friend Ahkai. The other books in the series are Josephine Against the Sea and Nightmare Island which are standalone stories. This latest one is fast paced, full of humour, fantasy, and suspense and you find yourself turning the pages to find out happens next.
De Heartman, as we called him, is my favourite folklore character and I've always wanted more details so I could satisfy my childhood curiosity. Shakirah has done this in a gripping story that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.
Now if you grew up in Barbados in the 1970s and 1980s you would have heard stories, often told in hushed tones, about the heartman and what he would do, namely steal people's hearts and eat them. The country was living under a cloud of fear. Adults used the threat of the Heart Man to get children to behave well.
In the story, life is good for Jo. Not only is she on the cricket team but she's showing her male teammates that she belongs there. The big exam is coming up and she's hoping she and Ahkai will be accepted to their dream school together.
Then she starts noticing things lurking in the shadows and although she knows Ahkai will believe her and better still help investigate her suspicions, he seems to be getting closer to the new neighbour Lynne and she isn't too pleased about that.
Josephine, determined to get to the bottom of what's going on, sets out a mission that's filled with twists and turns. It's one in which she makes some interesting discoveries as well and learns the value of friendship and what it means to love someone.
I loved the fantasy, the twists, and the places I could identify in Barbados. I love to see/read about Barbados in books so more people get to learn about this wonderful place I call home.
I loved how the author approached the super natural elements and while this is a standalone story, it contained enough bits of the previous two stories to let me know what happened and piqued my interest enough that I now have to read them.
I love how Ahkai is depicted. I loved the representation and what it means for children on the autistic spectrum and how seen they are.
What I also loved was the secondary story that plays out alongside the main one. Shakirah aptly tackles the fear children have about moving away from their familiar as they transition to another stage of their lives, how to handle their emotions when their friend dynamic changes and how they too can become their friend. She also explores new relationships and love interest when a parent finds someone new.
Beware The Heartman goes on sale on September 17. It's available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target now.
I was fortunate to snag an ARC for this "spooky, heartfelt mystery inspired by Caribbean mythology" which, although written for children ages eight to 12, can be read and enjoyed by teenagers and adults too.
Beware The Heartman, the third installment of a series of stories featuring 12-year-old Josephine and her best friend Ahkai. The other books in the series are Josephine Against the Sea and Nightmare Island which are standalone stories. This latest one is fast paced, full of humour, fantasy, and suspense and you find yourself turning the pages to find out happens next.
De Heartman, as we called him, is my favourite folklore character and I've always wanted more details so I could satisfy my childhood curiosity. Shakirah has done this in a gripping story that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.
Now if you grew up in Barbados in the 1970s and 1980s you would have heard stories, often told in hushed tones, about the heartman and what he would do, namely steal people's hearts and eat them. The country was living under a cloud of fear. Adults used the threat of the Heart Man to get children to behave well.
In the story, life is good for Jo. Not only is she on the cricket team but she's showing her male teammates that she belongs there. The big exam is coming up and she's hoping she and Ahkai will be accepted to their dream school together.
Then she starts noticing things lurking in the shadows and although she knows Ahkai will believe her and better still help investigate her suspicions, he seems to be getting closer to the new neighbour Lynne and she isn't too pleased about that.
Josephine, determined to get to the bottom of what's going on, sets out a mission that's filled with twists and turns. It's one in which she makes some interesting discoveries as well and learns the value of friendship and what it means to love someone.
I loved the fantasy, the twists, and the places I could identify in Barbados. I love to see/read about Barbados in books so more people get to learn about this wonderful place I call home.
I loved how the author approached the super natural elements and while this is a standalone story, it contained enough bits of the previous two stories to let me know what happened and piqued my interest enough that I now have to read them.
I love how Ahkai is depicted. I loved the representation and what it means for children on the autistic spectrum and how seen they are.
What I also loved was the secondary story that plays out alongside the main one. Shakirah aptly tackles the fear children have about moving away from their familiar as they transition to another stage of their lives, how to handle their emotions when their friend dynamic changes and how they too can become their friend. She also explores new relationships and love interest when a parent finds someone new.
Beware The Heartman goes on sale on September 17. It's available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target now.
July 7, 2024
Beware the Heartman is at times lyrical (so many beautiful lines) and other times laugh out loud funny. What a great combination in a middle grade horror! Our favorite mischievous heroine Josephine is back, along with some familiar characters to solve the mystery of the Heartman. A few of her favorite people have gone missing and Jo, who is no stranger to evil mystical characters, believes that it can only be due to one person, the Heartman. Of course no one believes a kid - not even one a little older and tad wiser. And Jo, admittedly, doesn’t always play it straight. But with long-standing tenacity, and fierce loyalty to her best friend, she’s willing to risk it all and descend into the Heartman’s lair to make things right. Based in Caribbean folklore, this tale is the right balance of spooky, heart-warming and fun.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews