When the Mapou Sings

by Nadine Pinede

Infused with magical realism, this story blends first love and political intrigue with a quest for justice and self-determination in 1930s Haiti.

Sixteen-year-old Lucille hopes to one day open a school alongside her best friend where girls just like them can learn what it means to be Haitian: to learn from the mountains and the forests around them, to carve, to sew, to draw, and to sing the songs of the Mapou, the sacred trees that dot the island nation. But when her friend vanishes without a trace, a dream—a gift from the Mapou—tells Lucille to go to her village’s section chief, the local face of law, order, and corruption, which puts her life and her family’s at risk.

Forced to flee her home, Lucille takes a servant post with a wealthy Haitian woman from society’s elite in Port-au-Prince. Despite a warning to avoid him, she falls in love with her employer’s son. But when their relationship is found out, she must leave again—this time banished to another city to work for a visiting American writer and academic conducting fieldwork in Haiti. While Lucille’s new employer studies vodou and works on the novel that will become Their Eyes Were Watching God, Lucille risks losing everything she cares about—and any chance of seeing her best friend again—as she fights to save their lives and secure her future in this novel in verse with the racing heart of a thriller.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Historical, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming Of Age

432 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2024

About the author

Nadine Pinede is a poet, author, editor, and translator. The daughter of Haitian immigrants who were forced into exile by dictatorship, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and earned her master’s from Oxford University, an MFA from the Whidbey Writers Workshop, and a PhD in Philosophy of Education with a minor in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University. Her professional experience includes working with the American Refugee Committee and Grantmakers without Borders, where she co-led a delegation to Haiti to support the activist and Goldman Environmental Prize winner Chavannes Jean-Baptiste. Her grant writing funded a mentorship program for artists with disabilities and a multi-year summer camp on sustainable development. Nadine was also a speechwriter for the first Black president of a Big Ten university and for an HBCU chancellor and equity advocate who received the Drum Major for Justice award from President Obama.

Nadine is a CASE Periodical Award winner, Pushcart Prize nominee, and Hurston/Wright finalist, with fellowships from the Ford Foundation, Elizabeth George Foundation, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Hedgebrook, VONA, Ragdale, and the Brown Foundation. Her work appears in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Haiti Noir, edited by Edwidge Danticat. Nadine’s chapter on the Haitian Revolution translated from French was published in the Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History: The Black Experience in the Americas. Online, her work appears on NPR’s Poets Weave, the On Being blog, and in Resources for Race, Equity, and Inclusion on Diversebooks.org. Nadine is author of An Invisible Geography, a collection of poetry of place and exile, Sexism & Race, and Women in Film, selected for the SCBWI Recommended Reading List and nominated for a Crystal Kite Award. She has been a mentee for the Representation Matters Publishing Program and We Need Diverse Books, and she is a Poet Laureate for the Global Black Caucus.

Reviews

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written, it had a very interesting concept and plot and I think it was executed very well. The flow was really well done, the story is always moving. It really does a wonderful job mixing some magical elements while also exploring some more political things as well. It does have some hard topics at hand but they were the brutal reality of the 1930's in Haiti.

Beautiful coming of age story mixed with magical realism, and it has a great audiobook! Totally would recommend!

Thank You Netgalley & RB Media for the audiobook!! All opinions are my own!

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a poetic masterpiece that blends magical realism and historical fiction mingled with nonfiction. It is written in verse. Set in 1930s Haiti, just after the U.S. occupation, this immerses readers in the vibrancy of Haitian culture, the stark realities of colonialism, and the resilience of a young woman determined to defy the odds.

Lucille’s journey to find her missing best friend unfolds against a backdrop of systemic corruption, injustice, and societal constraints. The magical realism woven into the story feels organic, with the sacred Mapou trees serving as both a symbol of connection to heritage and almost a source of divinity. Lucille herself is a phenomenal protagonist—brave, resourceful, and fiercely hopeful in the face of daunting challenges.

Each of the supporting characters also offers a distinct perspective on privilege and identity in a stratified society. The love story between Lucille and her employer’s son is tender and rebellious, a meeting of two souls from vastly different worlds who find common ground in their desire for freedom for all.

Pinede’s poetic background elevates the prose, giving the novel a lyrical rhythm that amplifies the emotional depth and allows readers to find the beauty in dark places. The meticulous research and personal connection to Haitian history make this all the more special. The subtle nods to Zora Neale Hurston and her time in Haiti add another layer of history, creating a story that bridges nonfiction, literature, and cultural legacy. It's such a unique book!

When the Mapou Sings is unlike anything else I’ve read. For fans of novels-in-verse, magical realism, and historical fiction with heart, this is an absolute must-read and should be savored. Amazing debut novel!

Thanks so much to Candlewick Press, the author, and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book I'm not sure it was my kind of thing but it was heart breaking and beautiful and interesting from a history point of view

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1930s Haiti, post US occupation, this NIV is heavy on the history of leaders, women’s rights, the oppression of those who were economically disadvantaged and the higher “value” placed on Haitians who were light-skinned. Haiti’s political and social struggles of this time is framed within the story of Lucille, a young, darker skinned teen who loses a friend to forced “outside marriage” where she had to be the mistress of a high ranking official. When Lucille makes her search for Fifina a little too public, she must leave her home and begin life as a maid for a wealthy Haitian family. Lucille’s search continues, she falls in love and becomes the servant of Zora Neale Hurston as she researches voodoo and the societal ills in Haiti.

There is a lot happening in this novel in verse and the author’s passion for her parents’ home is clear. “When the Mapou Sings” is recommended for readers grades 7 and up who enjoy history. Text is free of profanity but there are episodes of violence described that are historical as well as perpetrated against Lucille and Fifina, and Lucille’s cousin relays her rape experience.

Thanks for the print arc, Candlewick Press.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel-in-verse set in 1930s Haiti is "a rich, lyrical story that shows the high cost young women pay for daring to dream of a better life." [Kirkus Reviews]

[Leslie Nightingale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am lucky to have read an ARC of When the Mapou Sings; I absolutely loved it. First, I loved the main characters, particularly the narrator, Lucille, as well as Fifina, Oreste, and Mamzelle (Zora Neale Hurston). Pinede brought each character to life and gave them a unique, compelling voice. She also convincingly showed how their relationships with Lucille changed over time. Second, I loved Pinede's use of language in the poems. The descriptions of people, places, and foods were so beautiful. I wanted to try the different dishes that Lucille described making for others. My favorite descriptions, however, were those of her carving wood. I could feel how important carving was for Lucille and how it connected her to her father. Pinede's ability to make me imagine that I was in Haiti in the 1930s was impressive, and I couldn't put the book down once I started it.

[Erikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was well written and the verse format suited it well, and I enjoyed having Zora Neale Hurston as a character, I have two major complaints about this book. One, you have to have some basic comprehension of French to understand some scenes. It isn’t comprehensible through context. And two, I don’t know who the audience is for this book. It’s teen but it’s not appealing in any way to a teen reader. It’s dry, it’s written for older readers linguistically, and it’s hard enough to get kids to read either historical fiction or poetry. I just truly can’t imagine this getting checked out.

[Sherley's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5.0

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: The first thing that drew me to 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 was the cover. Though the colors were bright and beautiful and alluring, the young woman on the cover captivated my attention and really drew me in. Looking into her eyes, I knew she had a story to tell. Behind those eyes were secrets, pain, agony, and sadness. I knew from the cover alone that I needed to read this book and I am so happy I did.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 tells the story of young Lucille. When we first meet her, she is living in the country side in L'Artibonite, Haiti. It is 1935 and the US occupies Haiti. At 16, Lucille has a lot of hopes and dreams but life has other plans. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 follows Lucille as she is forced to leave the only home she has ever known to go to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. There, Lucille meets an array of characters that change her perspectives and shape her future. There, she finds love and purpose.

I really enjoyed reading this book. As someone who left my country, Haiti, and all that I knew and loved about it, I felt seen reading this book. This is my culture, my first love. I miss my country so much and long for the day that I can return, but in reading this book, I felt transported back home. The places, the food, the people, the language. Wow! Just wow!

One of the things I enjoyed most about 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 was that it featured my mother tongue--Haitian Creole. There were so many proverbs included in the story that I was taught by my grandparents growing up, and just hearing them and reading them again, brought tears to my eyes because my grandparents are no longer here. I cannot put in words how much this book truly meant to me.

Pinede's writing style/structure was perfect for the story. I think that writing 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 as a verse novel really helped in shaping the story and made it a very quick read with great pacing. There were no dull moments or empty spaces. Every chapter, every verse, every line, every word, had meaning and importance. This narrative style was unexpected but quite enjoyable.

The world building in this book was also really good. Like I stated above, this book brought me back home. Not only did I love the cultural references but I loved the historical nature of the book. I felt like I was back in 1935, during the American occupation of Haiti. The way that the author discussed and explored classism, colorism, the religious complexity (voodism vs. catholicism) and the intricacies of preserving the Haitian culture and identity as it relates to the language war (French vs. Haitian Creole) was very well done in this book. These are things that we as a country have been grappling with for years and its great to see where we have come from and how far we have progressed since the 1930s.

The characters in 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 were phenomenal. I just loved Lucille. Growing up in poverty, without a mom, and coming of age in a time where your country is in a state of disarray, can be quite challenging. But I just loved how Lucille always tried to have a positive outlook in life. Though a little naive at the start of the book, she grew into herself by the end of the story. I loved how she never played small. Her inquisitive nature made her such a great character. I loved her creativity when it came to her carvings, her entrepreneurship, even at such a young age, (selling her stuff at the market), her loving nature (never giving up on her search for Fifina, her romance with Oreste). She was a dynamic character that was very well written. As someone who loves Zora Neale Hurston and her writing, her inclusion in this story was such a bonus. I think Zora was a pivotal part of Lucille's entrance into adulthood/womanhood and I really enjoyed their scenes together.

Overall, this was a great book that I would highly recommend! Though this was my first Nadine Pinede book, it will not be my last!

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I read and listened in tandem. Doing this enhanced my reading experience. 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆-𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏ç𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒆 did a really great job narrating this book and bringing the characters to life.

🆆🅷🅰🆃 🆃🅾 🅴🆇🅿🅴🅲🆃
🇭🇹 Historical Fiction (Set in Haiti, 1935)
❤️ Forbidden Love
🇭🇹 Coming of Age Story
❤️ Spirited FMC
🇭🇹 Inclusion of Real Historical Figures In The Story
❤️ Political Conflict / Rivalries
🇭🇹 Discussions of Classism
❤️ Discussions of Colorism

🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂 🆃🅷🅰🆃 🅲🅰🆄🅶🅷🆃 🅼🆈 🅴🆈🅴🆂
🇭🇹 "The trouble with love is the cracks in your heart never mend."
🇭🇹 "She doesn't see me. And I know she never will. I decide not to care."
🇭🇹 "...please don't make fear her master. We need more courage in our young ones, before life breaks them down."
🇭🇹 "Stones in water don't know t he pain of stones in the sun."
🇭🇹 "French is the language of the people who enslaved us. Language is another form of occupation. It keeps us chained ot them and their history."
🇭🇹 "We may not have snow and ice on our mountains, but our rain has passion and our mountains are magic."
🇭🇹 "Democracy is as fragile as an orchid, which can wither in the wrong soil."
🇭🇹 "Love is like water, which never forgets its home."
🇭🇹 "My body is my land. Decide how you'll plant it."
🇭🇹 "love should spread joy, not steal it."
🇭🇹 "Don't let anyone shrink your horizon. Make it as wide as you can."

[Patricia Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In exquisite yet accessible poetry, Nadine Pinede tells the story of Lucille’s coming of age in “When the Mapou Sings” (Candlewick 2024). The story is set in 1935 Haiti, when the nation is just emerging from the USA occupation that has lasted from 1915 to 1934. Haiti was first inhabited by the Taino people, then was occupied by Spain in 1496. The eastern half of the island of Hispaniola was ceded to the French in 1697. In 1791 African-born slaves and their descendants revolted against the French and in 1804, Haiti became an independent country ruled by itrs own citizens. But Haiti’s problems weren’t over.

Teenaged Lucille claims traces of all these cultures mentioned above.

On Lucille’s first day at the Mission School, she befriends beautiful Fifina, who is “drawing a bird/ in red earth with a twig/ from Mapou.” Mapou is the kapok tree, and Lucile is delighted to have befriended Fifina. “We walked back to the classroom/ inside me/ a sunrise.” The two girls soon make plans to start their own school: “We’ll teach girls how to carve, sew, draw, climb trees./ We’ll teach girls the songs of trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, the sun, moon, mountains, clouds.”

The mapou tree sings to Lucille, whose mother has died. The girl says, “A mother whose face/ I can’t remember/ and whose songs/ I can’t forget.

Their teacher, Sister Gilberte, shows the girls a map of her home—Belgium. She became a nun when her fiancé was killed in World War I. The nun says, “The trouble with love/ is the cracks in your heart/ never mend.”

The girls are the same age, but Fifina has matured into a woman sooner than Lucille and one day she disappears. In a dream the mapou tree tells Lucille to go to the village section chief. Something horrible has happened to Fifina at the section chief’s hand, and whereas Lucille doesn’t know exactly what happened, she knows the chief is corrupt and tells him so. This puts her in grave danger.

Lucille must leave her home and village. She’s hired as a servant for a wealthy Port-au-Prince woman. Foolishly she falls in love with the woman’s son. The educated young man helps raise Lucille’s consciousness concerning the corruption occurring in Haiti. Having become an activist in the reform movement, Lucille must move again to save herself. All the time she searches for Fifina.

Now she works for an America scholar who is doing fieldwork and studying Haitian voodoo and writing a novel. This turns out to be Zora Neal Hurston who is writing Their Eyes Were Watching God. Because of Hurston’s research and their activism, the two women find themselves fighting for their lives and the country of Haiti, all the time Lucille searches for her childhood friend and the man she loves.

This story, set in a time and place of important but little-known history, is not only poetry, but it’s a page-turner.


Patricia Hruby Powell is the author of the award-winning books: Josephine; Lift As You Climb; Loving vs Virginia; and Struttin’ With Some Barbecue all signed and for sale at Jane Addams bookstore. Her forthcoming books are about women’s suffrage, Martha Graham, and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as waterfowl. talesforallages.com

[Tristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede is a stunning debut that immerses readers in 1930s Haiti through the poetic voice of Lucille, a young girl navigating love, loss, and the struggle for justice in a politically fraught time. Written in verse, this novel is both a tribute to the resilience of its characters and a celebration of Haiti’s vibrant culture and history.

The writing in verse is a standout feature of this book, capturing the emotions and growth of Lucille with breathtaking beauty. I loved how the style evolved as Lucille matured, giving the story a dynamic quality that made her journey all the more powerful. This was my first experience with a novel in verse, and it left me eager to explore more books written in this format.

The story itself is deeply moving, blending themes of first love, political intrigue, and cultural identity with the magical realism of Haiti’s sacred Mapou trees. Pinede’s meticulous research is evident in the rich historical context she weaves into the narrative. From the bustling streets of Port-au-Prince to the societal challenges of the era, the setting is as much a character as Lucille herself. The inclusion of Zora Neale Hurston as a character was a delightful and thought-provoking addition, providing another layer of complexity to the story.

Despite its many strengths, the book has a few minor drawbacks. While marketed to a YA audience, the advanced writing style and nuanced historical themes may feel too sophisticated for younger readers. Additionally, as someone unfamiliar with French, there were moments where untranslated phrases left me struggling to grasp the full context. While these linguistic elements added authenticity and beauty to the story, a bit more translation would have made it more accessible.

When the Mapou Sings is a beautifully written and evocative novel in verse that brings 1930s Haiti to life with heartfelt emotion and historical depth. While some aspects may feel challenging for younger readers, it’s a captivating read for those ready to dive into a unique and powerful story.

Thank you to Nadine Pinede, Candlewick Press, and Storygram Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Patrick Jean Baptiste · Rating 5 out of 5]

The minute I opened thid book, I was grateful that I did not suffer from agoraphobia. All that white space. Vast, open, uncharted. The kind that makes you pause before stepping forward, uncertain of whether you’ll find ground beneath your feet.

And yet, in that emptiness, in those careful silences, Nadine Pinede maps an entire nation—its ache, its defiance, its survival.

Coming from a background in math and computer science, I have always found poetry to be a familiar, if unexpected, companion. Certain verses hold meaning the way an equation holds infinity—layered, demanding, refusing to reveal themselves too easily. You must sit with them, turn them over, hold them against the light until the full shape of their truth emerges.

Some passages refuse to let me go.

“Why does a cook/look like she’s starving?”

And there it is, the unbearable paradox of Haiti—where the hands that feed are often the first to go hungry. Where labor is a performance of dignity, and dignity is the last thing that laborers can afford.

And:

“We all know/men like young flesh,/but this is too much!…Will those kind never let girls/just be girls? Never let them/grow into their bodies/and decide for themselves/whose touch they want?”

A single stanza, and yet it unspools an entire history of violence. Haiti—a land where blood is currency, where a girl’s first bleed marks her worth in the market of suffering. A country where exploitation is tradition, cloaked in silence, carried in whispers, passed from one generation to the next like an heirloom no one wants but everyone inherits.

Pinede does not write to make us comfortable. She does not fill the empty spaces with unnecessary words. She lets them stretch, unrelenting, daring us to sit in their discomfort. And in that space—between breath and break, between wound and witness—Haiti sings.

Not a hymn. Not a dirge.

Something older. Something truer.

A song as deep as the roots of the mapou tree.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This is more of a young adult book due to content.

In 1935, Lucille is living in a small village in Haiti with her father, who is a woodworker, and her aunt Lila, since her mother passed away shortly after Lucille was born. Lucille can hear the mapou tree sing to her, and feels that her mother communicates with her that way. She attends a convent school run by Belgian nuns with her friend Fifina, for whom she has deep feelings. While the people of the village are happy that the occupation by Americans has ended, the new government is not particularly helpful. When Fifina's father, who runs a newspaper, runs afoul of the section chief, he is beaten, and Fifina is forced to become an "outside wife" to him. Lucille is devastated, and shortly after this, her mapou tree is cut down. She reports the tree as stolen to the police, and even takes them to the section chief's house to see that he has cut down the tree. Of course, this puts Lucille in danger. Her father and aunt arrange with her cousin, Phebus, for Lucille to go to the big city and live with Madame Ovide. She has to deal with the housekeeper, Celestina, but sells carvings and wood polish at the market to earn some money to try to get home. Madame's son, Oreste, is home from attending college in New York City, where he is involved with the NAACP. The two slowly fall in love, and when Celestina finds out, Madame Ovide sends Lucille to work in a house she is renting to an American. This American turns out to be Zora Neal Hurston, who is very sympathetic to Lucille. Through a visitor, Lucille finds out that Fifina might have run away from the section chief and lost a baby. Eventually, Lucille helps Hurston with some of her research, but later gets embroiled in the political unrest, reconnects with Oreste, and even helps save his mother.
Strengths: While there are a few books about life in Haiti (Danticant's Eight Days and Behind the Mountains) and books about Haitian immigrants to the US, (Farrar's A Song for Bijou, Arnold's The Year I Flew Away, Rigaud's A Girl's Guide to Love and Magic), I haven't really seen anything about different historical periods in Haiti. This was a fascinating look at an area of the world that is still having many difficulties. Lucille was an interesting character, and seeing her interact with Zora Neale Hurston was quite interesting.
Weaknesses: Novels in verse are beautiful to read, but often don't have the backgroud information necessary to understand concepts or background that are unfamiliar to young readers. I'm usually pretty good on world history, but even I struggled with putting this story into historical context.
What I really think: This is similar to a more Young Adult version of Amal Unbound, when it comes to a young woman having to work in domestic servitude, and had a lot of intersting Haitian history in it, but would be better placed in a high school library than a middle school one.

[Stephanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede is a stunning debut. 16 year Lucille dreams of opening a school with her best friend. One day her friend disappears. Lucille’s journey to find her missing best friend unfolds against a backdrop of systemic corruption, injustice, and societal constraints. The magical realism woven into the story feels organic, with the sacred Mapou trees serving as both a symbol of connection to heritage and almost a source of divinity. Lucille herself is a phenomenal protagonist—brave, resourceful, and fiercely hopeful in the face of daunting challenges.

This book is written in verse. It blends magical realism with historical fiction. It is set in 1930s Haiti after the US occupation. The nod to Zora Neale Hurston’s time in Haiti just adds another layer of complexity. When she references Their Eyes were Watching God I was overjoyed. It is one of my favorite books of all time.

I really loved how brave Lucille was. She faced danger throughout the book dealing with the corrupt government officials but she continued to keep pushing boundaries and never gave up searching for her friend.

I loved this book. It is one of my favorite reads of the year.i will recommend it to anyone that will listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for this audiobook ARC provided to me in exchange for my honest review.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher's blurb gives a decent description of what this historical novel in verse is about but fails to capture what a moving experience it is. Although her life was much different from mine, I found our main character Lucille very relatable. She was clever and resourceful and tried to make life better for others despite the dangers this sometimes posed. I also appreciated the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Haiti in the 1930s from a feminist perspective.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys free verse poetry and has an interest in Haitian culture and 20th century history. There are French and Haitian Creole lines throughout the story, but I found it easy enough to follow along with minimal familiarity with either language.

I think poetry is best enjoyed aloud, and I wouldn’t have known the Haitian pronunciation of many of these words, so I recommend the audiobook, which is skillfully narrated by Marie-Françoise Theodore. The audiobook production is good, and Theodore does a beautiful job narrating. Her voice is pleasant, her pacing is good, she creates unique voices and appropriate accents for the characters, and she conveys tone and emotions effectively.

Thanks to RBmedia and Recorded Books for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mapou listens / to our dreams / falling like gentle rain / on her leaves”

When I saw the announcement for When the Mapou Sings, I was immediately hooked. I love when an author decides to do something different. I love it even more when they do that brilliantly. This book weaves Poetry, History, Feelings and Nature. That results in something as soft as it can be violent, just as appealing as it can be overwhelming.
Lucille is a touching and strong character. I loved her relationship with Nature, how it was her way to also feel connected to her mother. Her feelings are burbling, but she is also strong-minded and keeps her goal in mind, no matter how difficult her situation is –even though it threatens her own life.
The book’s “form” adds another valuable layer to the emotions you feel while reading, but the pages also “turn by themselves” thanks to the captivating mystery story.
I also loved the dive into Haiti’s History, the magical realism that appears from time to time. This book truly made me travel through time and space.

Thank you to the author, Candlewick and coloredpagesbooktours for the ARC. My opinions are my own
Rate 4.5/5

[Hues of Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

What takes many a lifetime to learn and understand, Lucille discovers womanhood, the way the world truly works, and finds her purpose in life in a matter of a few short years. Rooted in the lesser known but pivotal years of Hati’s newfound independence of the 1930’s, Lucille navigates corruption, class division, racism and love to find her voice and speak her truth. When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede examines not only the growth of Lucille but also the rights of women to spotlight lessons in perseverance and determination.

I truly enjoyed this verse novel written in narrative poetry that gave true beauty and light to Lucille’s story. I was captivated by Lucille’s personal narrative; a page turning plot that emersed me into Lucille’s life and 1930’s Hati. Pinede breathes life into Lucille; giving her a voice when little information is available about her actual life.

Perfect for readers of black historical fiction, When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede brings to light loss, love, and joy through the eyes of Lucille as she navigates the trials and tribulations of Haiti on a journey of self discovery.

Thank you Colored Pages, Candlewick Press, and Nadine Pinede for the advanced reader copy!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Representations: Haitian, Multi-racial, Black, Indigenous, Kreyol, Bi, Straight
TW: rape, violence, police brutality, government corruption, foreign occupation, sexual coercion

I was excited to read a YA historical fiction about Haiti, and the strength of this book is the author's familiarity with the history and Haitian culture. I loved her descriptions of Kreyole culture and Lucille's connection with the Mapou. However, this book commits the cardinal sin of fiction: telling instead of showing, and it's glaring because it's written in verse. Another problem the poetry exacerbates is the lack of context. With such spare verse, the book relies on the reader having background knowledge of Haitian history, French, the difference between French and Kreyole, Zora Neale Hurston (and her professional rivalries), the Harlem Renaissance, etc.

Not recommended, but more appropriate for HS due to fade-to-black gang rape

[Katherine Van Halst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderfully powerful book. I loved the unapologetic, unhindered emotion that pours from the narrator, and the way it comes through in verse. I felt so connected to Lucille and to Haiti, and I was wholly impressed that which such sparse use of language I could feel so immersed in the story.
Set in the mid to late 1930s just after the US occupation of Haiti, I think it would make a fantastic companion read to Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak, which is set during the Haitian revolution in the 1790s. Though Mademoiselle is a much more adult book-- heavier in every single way, and a much more punishing read-- I think these two read together would paint an incredibly potent picture of Haiti's struggles to freedom and self governance. When the Mapou Sings is the hope of a bright future to Mademoiselle's bloody lurch toward change.
I highly recommend this book! I think it would be enjoyed by any readers who like historical coming of age stories and novels in verse.

[DeeJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blending lyrical free verse with a plot of magical realism, author Nadine Pinede tells the story of a teenager named Lucille who searches for a beloved friend who has vanished. The story of colonial damage to the Haitian people’s psyche and the rebellion against colonialism is told through this teenaged heroine and her connection to a mapou tree. The novel covers corrupt leaders, father-daughter relations, servant-boss interactions, secret loves and teenaged angst, Haitian-style. Pinede layers Haiti’s colonial history between the plagues of sexism and racism Lucille and Haiti confront. I was enthralled by the magic of the mapou and the magic of Pinede’s free verse, including a portrayal of Zora Neale Hurston that paints pages with vibrant color. I think you will be, too. Please let the mapou sing to you on December 3rd, when this book is due to be released.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1930s Haiti, When the Mapou Sings follows Lucille as she comes of age when US occupation is ending. She is sent to Port-au-Prince to work for a wealthy society woman when her father fears retaliation after and incident with the section chief.

When the Mapou sings is certainly beautifully written but it just lacked a some connection to the characters. I believe that is partially because of it's novel-in-verse format. It starts off very strong and relatable but then loses it's way when Lucille starts working with Mamzelle, an American writer researching Haitian culture and vodou. This is a book that I could see being a teaching tool for teens in the classroom while also having discussions about the history of Haiti but it definitely requires you to have some prior knowledge going in.

[S.A. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have learned more about the interior life of Zora Neale Hurston in this book of poetry informed by archival research than any other book I have read and I have read many. Nadine has an amazing gift. It is lyrical. It is persuasive. I want to know Lucille. I want to see Lucille and Zora on the big screen. May someone with gifts and funding make this happen. I can't think of a more deserving author nor more deserving characters. Thank you for bringing to life a story about a folklorist-anthropologist about whom we are only beginning to scratch the surface interior-wise. Thank you for bringing to life the Haitian woman who helped her when she was writing her most celebrated work Their Eyes Were Watching God. Even if the imagined is not entirely real, you have given us a place to start.

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the magical, spell binding aspect of this book. It's also set in the 1930s in Haiti, so it gives you a bit of historical fiction vibes as well. I also loved Lucille as a main character. She is brash and determined to get answers and was a joy to follow through the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this verse novel written in narrative poetry.

Overall, this was a great coming-of-age YA novel. The authors intense research conjured such a powerfully authentic story. Her writing was straightforward and engaging.

Content warnings: racism, slavery, child abuse, sexual assault, grief, suicide reference

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

[Dahlia (ofpagesandprint) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When the Mapou Sings is a bold, brilliant, and beautiful YA historical fiction story in verse that captivated me from the first line.

I love this story. Nadine’s writing is gripping and gorgeous. The lush, well-developed characters hooked me, and the tender romance was lovely. I adored the mix of historical fiction and magical realism, and the plot was fascinating. The pacing was great, and the story's strength, resilience, and boldness were addictive. I highly recommend this brilliant story.

Marie-Francoise Theodore narrated this story perfectly. Her voice and accents fit the story and characters very well, and the emotion and depth she brought were beautiful.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

[Michelle Nott · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Mapou Sings is so well crafted that I found myself pausing from the beauty of the verse, just to sit with what and how Nadine Pinede was telling this incredible story.

The narrative takes place in Haiti while Zora Neale Hurston is there writing Their Eyes Were Watching God. Indeed, she is an important character to the protagonist Lucille.

Although this is historical fiction, Nadine does a wonderful job of weaving historical, political, and social issues of the mid-30s into a captivating narrative and in outstanding yet accessible verse.

I highly recommend this novel in verse to anyone and suggest that it would be a valuable companion text to Hurston's novel, whether for personal interest or in a literature class.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review 🎧 | NetGalley ALC

Books like these are the hardest for me to articulate how I feel about them.
It’s written in a very poetic way that was easy to listen to. Magical realism paired with historical fiction centred around Haiti following young Lucille in finding her best friend and finding that despite what others say about her, she is valid, capable, smart, resourceful and beautiful in her own way.

“Love should spread joy, not steal it”
Lucille

Narration Overall: 5

Voice: 5
Energy: 5
Tone: 5
Emotions: 5

Story/Writing Overall: 5

Prose: 5
Entertainment: 5
Emotions: 5
Storyline: 5

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing an advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[DC · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the world, with compelling characters, some insider easter eggs for those in the know, and a window into a place and piece of history that my schools (awesome as they were in many ways) skipped right over: Haiti in the 1930s.
The ending was rather tidy, but what I was hoping for anyway.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA historical with magical realism elements, set in 1930s Haiti and inspired by real events. I absolutely love this novel in verse! Gorgeously written, I was completely captivated by Lucille’s journey … this is one of my favorite YA books published in 2024.

[Fablefern Bookshop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great audiobook. I loved the story, and the perspective. The way it was written was so descriptive, I could picture everything even though I've never been there. It had a lot of the same feelings as Esperanza Rising, so if you liked that, I think you'd really like this.

[Allison]

This lyrical novel in verse is a moving coming-of-age tale rich with 1930s Haitian history; a pocket of history that isn't often touched on in American schools.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, engaging read! I thoroughly enjoyed When the Mapou Sings!