Hoodoo: A Spooky Historical Fantasy About a Boy Learning to Conjure Magic in 1930s Alabama for Children

by Ronald L. Smith

Twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher was born into a family with a rich tradition of practicing folk hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can't seem to cast a simple spell.        

Then a mysterious man called the Stranger comes to town, and Hoodoo starts dreaming of the dead rising from their graves. Even worse, he soon learns the Stranger is looking for a boy. Not just any boy. A boy named Hoodoo. The entire town is at risk from the Stranger’s black magic, and only Hoodoo can defeat him. He’ll just need to learn how to conjure first.        

Set amid the swamps, red soil, and sweltering heat of small town Alabama in the 1930s, Hoodoo is infused with a big dose of creepiness leavened with gentle humor.     

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Horror, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Paranormal, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

I grew up on Air Force bases and have lived in Japan, Maine, Alabama, Michigan, South Carolina, Delaware, Washington, DC, Illinois and a bunch of other places I don’t remember. After reading Ray Bradbury’s R is for Rocket and Eleanor Cameron’s Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet I fell in love with books.

I haven’t stopped reading since.

HOODOO is my debut middle-grade novel. My second novel, THE MESMERIST, is available February, 2017.

My work is represented by Adriann Ranta of Foundry Literary + Media.

My publisher is Clarion, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert - Vacation until Jan 2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandagore...
The One That Did the Deed...

HOODOO
by Ronald L. Smith

No spoilers. 5 stars. Hoodoo, a young black boy living in 1930s Alabama, is marked. He should be a master in hoodoo, but he lacks faith until...

One day...

While Hoodoo was in the town's only store, a tall man dressed in black with a tall black hat walked in...

The man got a bead on Hoodoo and told him: Mandagore. The one that did the deed...

Further...

The tall man said: They call me The Stranger. I'm the sword in the lamb's belly, but you can...

Call me Scratch...

My number is 666, full of tricks. I saw your dead daddy boy. He owes me a debt, and I've come to collect. Give it to me...

Later that day...

Hoodoo learned that many bodies in the cemetery were dug up the previous night, and their left hands were chopped off...

The next evening at the carnival...

Hoodoo learned from the fortune teller that mandagore is the hand of glory (the one that did the deed)...

The left hand of a man hung for murder and he who holds the hand of glory can use the dead man's fingers as candlewicks...

Which, when lit...

Cast an unholy light by which the dead man can be called from the grave to do the owner's bidding...

Hoodoo also learned that...

His dead father is stuck at the crossroads and can't find rest until his unfinished business is resolved and...

He needs Hoodoo's help...

Whatever you do, do not discount this novel as a child's or YA novel! I would be hesitant to recommend this to a young person because it is an eerie and chilling story and, in my opinion, is very adult.

Although this story is told from a young boy's POV, it is more like the dark side of Mark Twain's THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER AND HUCKLEBERRY FINN. This book is the stuff of nightmares!

[✦BookishlyRichie✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!!



"The Princess and the Frog meets AHS: Coven"

THIS WAS AWESOME. It was scary, thrilling, heartbreaking, and one hell of a ride. Hoodoo is one of the best characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading, I just love his heart, and his determination to set things right and save everyone. This takes place in the 1930s in Alabama and though it is a Horror/Fantasy, it still deals with race and class issues which I thought melted beautifully together in this story. There's a talking crow, a creepy carnival, grave robberies, and one of the most ruthless villains I've ever read, the Stranger. This is also a pretty damn dark Middle-Grade book, so don't go in expecting anything light. I love me some Dark Middle-Grade books!

I also liked how Hoodoo included his family in on what was happening to him. There are a lot of books out there that push the parents or guardians to the side and this one did not do that at all. Now I do enjoy books that have the parents or guardians non-existent but it was really great reading something different. It definitely gave the story much more heart. I'll be talking about this more in my January 2017 Wrap Up on my channel so stay tuned for that. I can already tell now that this will be on my Favorite Books of 2017 list for sure, so go pick this up! I loved it and cannot wait to get a copy for my shelf. :)

- Richard
(I read this for #Diverseathon! a Diverse readathon hosted on Twitter.)

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This. Book.

Never before have I seen southern spirituality and hoodoo portrayed so wonderfully in a middle grade book as I have in Hoodoo by Roland L. Smith. This is a magical, gothic, eerie story that has plenty of charm and heart to boot. There were times when I had goosebumps crawling on my skin and other times where I thought I might cry. Not to mention, the humor is spot-on. I highly recommend this short, quick read to anyone who likes the cover. What you see is what you get, and you get something pretty special here.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only partway through this, but I just wanted to note already: HOODOO has one of the most fabulous narrative voices of any MG novel I've read in a long while. It's SO delicious and compelling, and I love the way the (creepy) magic is worked so seamlessly into everyday life! I'm really loving this book.

***

ETA: And now that I'm finished: oh wow. This book is gorgeously creepy and magical. I really mean it about the creepy bit - I had to put it down at one point because I couldn't read it at night! (I am a horror wimp) - but the characters are all SO wonderful, the story is so much fun and the magic feels so real, I had to go back to it afterward. (I just read the rest of it earlier in the day.)

A really wonderful MG book!

[Thistle & Verse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this middle grade debut from Smith. The atmosphere and creepy imagery were wonderful. The antagonistic Stranger, in all his incarnations, was threatening. Hoodoo is an endearing protagonist. He's perpetually the odd one out - his mother's dead and his father lives in a disgraceful exile, he's the only one in his family without an affinity for hoodoo, and he's often bullied by his peers. I liked his relationship with his crush Bunny. Bunny's not quite a tomboy, but she's athletic, good at whittling, and can generally handle herself. Even though she doesn't need Hoodoo to look out for her, he tries to defend her, and when he isn't able to protect her, Hoodoo doesn't twist his embarrassment into a resentment of Bunny.

This had all the ingredients to be a 5-star read for me, but I had some issues with the story. I was unclear on who the target audience was for the book. It seemed like Smith assumed that readers knew next to nothing since he had Hoodoo consistently explaining terms to the reader (which I didn't like because I thought it disrupted the flow of the story without adding much), but if that were the case, I would have expected more context clues about other aspects of the story. The ending felt a bit rushed. Hoodoo learns some very impactful information that I thought would take him some more time to synthesize. The world felt a little flat because it felt like all the side character's lives revolved around Hoodoo, whether it was helping or hindering him. If I were reading this as a preteen, I doubt I would've noticed the critiques I described above.

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Hoodoo as a character. He has a strong presence and is easily distinguishable from a lot of characters in this book and others I've read recently. I also liked the setting and the tone of the book. It's set in Alabama in the 1930's, and Hoodoo is having to protect his family from a Stranger bent on destroying his town with black magic. He must use his faith and his family's hoodoo magic to protect them. It's a little eerie, but I wouldn't say it's overly creepy where a reader would get scared or anything.

However, I just didn't vibe with this book because it is very, very repetitive. Hoodoo constantly replays what other characters say throughout the entire book and the plot is constantly interrupted with definitions of words followed by "if you didn't know." A character will tell something to Hoodoo, and then Hoodoo will repeat it in head immediately two or three times. It feels like the author didn't trust the reader to pay attention to dialogue, and so he throws it at the reader multiple times to be certain. The definitions were fine enough at first, but there are so many of them! And because they're flagged with "if you didn't know," it really pushed me out of the story because he is addressing me as the reader when the definitions could have been better-woven into the story itself. I started getting so annoyed with them, and it really brought my enjoyment down. This already quick book could have been cut down even more if it hadn't been so darn repetitive. I'm sad I didn't fully love this one, but its still a quick read that I enjoyed enough.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1930s in a small town in Alabama, HOODOO is an enticing mix of history and folk magic. Smith's worldbuilding lets you feel the sticky heat of an Alabama summer and taste the juiciness of fried catfish. Meanwhile the arrival of the Stranger and Hoodoo's discoveries of his family secrets are creepy.

I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the spells and mojo bags used in hoodoo magic and following the narrator on his quest to defeat the Stranger. All in all a delightful middle grade story, making me eager to see what Ronald Smith writes next.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have adored this book as a kid. It's really creepy, but in all the right ways. The beginning was a bit slow, but once it picked up I practically flew through it. I loved reading about the practices of hoodoo and especially liked seeing how Christianity is woven throughout all of the rituals and prayers. My one complaint is the asides used to explain some of the concepts kids might not know. Smith uses the phrase "if you didn't know" a little too much for my taste, especially as he leaves great context clues elsewhere. Minor gripe, though, as this is overall a fabulous book.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was my 3rd book by Ronald L Smith. I can safely say now, that’s he’s a favorite author. I’ve loved them all so much. This one was just as amazing-& this was his debut novel!! I couldn’t tell at all, & I read that at the back of the book when I finished, & was shocked. So much talent. This story was creepy & full of so much heart at the same time-brilliant. This is set in 1930s Alabama. Hoodoo was born into a family w/a deep tradition of practicing folk magic-Hoodoo(which they named him after). But he can’t even conjure. Then a strange creepy man shows up in town. Hoodoo starts seeing him everywhere-even in his dreams. He wants Hoodoo. The whole town, especially those closest to him are in danger. He is the only one who can defeat the stranger, so he has to learn how to conjure, & quick. I was born & raised in the south, by a deeply southern mama..so this book in many ways was like coming home. Hearing the twang in my head imaging them speaking the words I was reading..the food-I could smell it & taste it. The heat, the bugs, all of it. The author transported me to 1930s Alabama. Such vivid descriptions. There isn’t many opportunities to see chitlins in a book lol & I loved every minute of this. It was so creepy, & that stranger was just downright scary. It was also atmospheric, suspenseful..full of heart, family, & even humor. It’s also full of faith. The author combines the deep southern spirituality, & deep belief in God(believe me that was my mama lol) with hoodoo so effortlessly it was just magical to read. It felt so real. I loved Hoodoo so much. Such amazing boy. So brave, loving, & loyal. I loved the family dynamic, especially b/n him & Mama Frances(she & Hoodoo have my heart). I also loved the friendship dynamic b/n Hoodoo & Bunny. They were the cutest. One of my favorite things though, is every time Hoodoo tells you something he knows, & explains it for you-he always ends it with, “if you didn’t know”. Lol loved that. Highly recommend. Can’t wait for more from this author. Such a beautifully creepy cover too by Sebastian Skrobol.💜

[Maranda Melange of Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars
You can find all my reviews here.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Set in Alabama during the 1930s, Hoodoo tells the story of twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher, who is born into a family with a rich tradition of practicing folk magic, or Hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can’t seem to cast a simple spell. When a mysterious man called the Stranger shows up in town Hoodoo starts having dreams of a dead man rising from the grave. Even worse, he soon learns the Stranger is looking for a boy. Not just any boy. A boy named Hoodoo.

This book is not an easy one for me to rate, it never seemed to fall in just the middle for me. The first part of the book irritated me to no end and I didn’t really want to continue the story. At some point the story switched to readable and became genuinely enjoyable as I had hoped it’d be. At the most basic it’s an interesting story about a little black boy who lives with his grandmother in a time when they still had to have a separate day for colored people at the fair. In the end I decided to go with just a middle rating of 3 stars. It reminded me quite a bit of the Series of Unfortunate Events Series which to a number of people would be a great thing. To me it reminded me of a story I found a great idea but overall repetitive and aggravating. The biggest problem I had with the Lemony Snicket series was the definitions followed by the same phrases every time. Hoodoo had a habit of defining something followed by if you didn’t know, if you didn’t know. It totaled about 30 times throughout the story. I don’t know why it bugs me so much but it’s not a kind of storytelling I enjoy.

Once the story gets rolling it becomes much more enjoyable and a fun story for kids who like scary stories. It really is an interesting and slightly creepy at times. All in all if you didn’t mind the repetitiveness of Lemony Snicket’s book then this is probably one you would enjoy.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing and carrying a touch of spooky, Smith’s Hoodoo Hatcher is a 12 year old boy, born into a family in depression era Alabama. With both parents dead, his grandmother (Mama Francis) and Aunt Jelly are his parental figures. Named Hoodoo for the birthmark, he’s been unable to conjure even the smallest of folk-magic spells, unlike the rest of his family.

But, a mysterious stranger comes to town and everything changes. Soon, Hoodoo must find, with the help from his friend Bunny, a way to outwit and defeat this stranger who means to cause trouble for everyone he knows, most importantly him.

Lovely imagery that gives a glimpse into depression-era days gone by, full of realities like segregation, poverty, legends of Railroad quilts and even some moments of brimstone. While on the surface this is a very typical boy finds the power within himself and saves the world plot, Smith imbues the story with heart, history and several facts that add greatly to the story while never missing a beat in the action. Characters are completely built as they arrive, never delving into over the top stereotypes, but carrying that nugget of possibility that helps make them strike a chord of familiarity. Several twists bring the story through a path of increasing tension, while keeping a steady pace to the finish.

Perfect for middle grade and reluctant readers, there is a touch of whimsy in the premise that is sure to engage imaginations and kindle the flame that spurs more reading. A wonderful character set in a place that is familiar yet not, and he will resonate with readers from all places.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Akoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoodoo Hatcher was born with a red mark under the eye, shaped like a heart. That led his grandma to declare he had powerful magic in him, which in turn earned him his first name. Unfortunately poor Hoodoo can't even manage a spell. However, things started to change when a strange and unsettling man came to town looking for him.

This book felt like home away from home, the same way Bayou Magic did but much, much stronger.
The culture of mixing Christianity and Paganism is very common in Togo, including some of the beliefs about the dead and graveyards. I could tell more but I consider those details full of spoiler.
My parents were very careful in their attempt to shield me from that aspect of my culture so even though I knew about people mixing folk magic with bible verses and such, this is the first time I got to experience it with so much detail.
Granted, it is fiction but there will always be that little voice in my head asking "what if it is not all fiction?"

The story was harsh at times but never lost the subtle humor that carried through the entire book.
I laughed with Hoodoo, got angry with him and even got misty-eyed when he cried.
I am definitely re-reading this gem of a book.

It is uniquely woven, the characters are believable, and it will give you the right amount of chill plus mystery all wrapped in fast paced action.

[Scott Fillner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes books leave you speechless. Sometimes books leave you wanting more. And sometimes books are so creepy, scary good that you have to put them in the freezer for a bit (Reminded me of Friends episode) This book has all three and more. The figurative and descriptive language in the book is amazing. It has you hanging on words and phrases and even rereading chapters.

Enjoy, but don't say I didn't warn you that it is creeptasticly awesome!

[Betsy Cornwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOODOO is an engrossing and eerie middle grade novel. Following the story of twelve-year-old Hoodoo, a boy from a folk magic practicing family who can't do magic himself, the book perfectly balances chills and sweetness. It's atmospheric and character-based without ever being slow. I loved HOODOO, and I'm looking forward to Ron Smith's next book!

[Erin Entrada Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's unique, compelling, and wonderfully written. Hoodoo is an engaging, likable, genuine main character. Enjoyed it from start to finish.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad that I pick this book.
it's all about supernatural, magick, omen, superstition, spell--I learn a lot about hoodoo and it is hella interesting.
the story does a well-done job in creeping me out in some parts, manage to get shiver on me! wow, finally nailed the real sensation of how your hair raises up on your neck.
Hoodoo cannot hoodoo me into 5 stars because I wish for more actions between him and The Stranger. the boy takes a little too long for preparation and all the like. but I am considering he is still a kid, barely a full teenager yet, so.
and I wish for more elaborate ending especially of how Hoodoo deals with his grief because he was putting lots of emotion before it comes to the end so I wish for a better explanation about his folks and his conditions as well.
still, through the pros and cons the book is pretty much an enjoyment to read!
glad that I pick this book (2). I repeat once again to underline my feeling, lol.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of cute because of the young narrator, but also so creepy and gothic that I legitimately had trouble getting to sleep last night when I finished reading. XD

The pages dripped with lore and folk magic and religion and I devoured it.

I won't say it's flawless (and I know some might find the fact that it's told in a child's first-person pov annoying, so it's probably not gonna be everyone's cup of tea), but I will say that I enjoyed it a great deal! :D

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this historical middle grade thriller. Such a perfect read for the Autumn/Halloween season. The story follows young Hoodoo, a boy that was born into a magical family and he is working on his abilities when he finds the Stranger has came to town looking for what is owed to him. Hoodoo starts having dreams of the dead rising from their graves. The book is set in Alabama during the 1930's and I can't recommend it enough! I loved it!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoodoo Hatcher lives with his grandma Mama Frances in rural Alabama in the 1930s. His momma and daddy both died. The Hatchers all practice hoodoo, or magic, and Hoodoo got his name because of a heart shaped birthmark on his face. Hoodoo has tried to do a few spells and it doesn't seem to work for him. Mama Frances and Aunt Jelly tell him his magic will come if he just believes.

Hoodoo sometimes helps out Cousin Zeke by sweeping up at Miss Carter's. One day while he is in the back, he hears a stranger come in and start asking about a boy named Hoodoo. The stranger is like no one Hoodoo has ever seen and really scares him. He starts having dreams about the stranger as well. Then he goes to the county fair and has his fortune told by Miss Snuff. She tells him to beware The Stranger and to listen to the Crow.

Hoodoo tries to get help from Mama Frances and Aunt Jelly, but they both want to keep him in the dark, even after he tells them a crow talked to him. Turns out Hoodoo's family history is tied to this evil stranger and he has something The Stranger wants. It is only after a death that Hoodoo finds his magic and is able to take on The Stranger to save himself and those he cares about.

I almost felt like I was reading two different books here, like the author wasn't sure what story he wanted to tell. The first half of the book seems more like a historical fiction tale about a rural Alabama boy who is being raised by his grandma and aunt. He gets bullied and has questions about his friendship with a girl. He likes to tromp through the woods collecting things and gets in a bit of trouble every now and again. The second half was a paranormal horror tale about a demon come to collect on a debt. It was mysterious and scary. I think the book would have been better had the paranormal aspect been front and center throughout. As it was the beginning felt really slow and the ending felt rushed.

I was also completely irritated by Hoodoo explaining what something was and then adding "in case you didn't know" after his explanation. This happened repeatedly and made me want to scream. Bad writing! The explanation was enough and the reader doesn't need this interjection. Most of the things he defined I knew what they were. Some young readers might not, but most are smart enough not to need the narrator talking directly to them as if they were idiots.

I really enjoyed the end of the book and just wished the rest of it could have been as enjoyable.

[Cosima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoodoo Hatcher is basically an average kid living in 1940s rural Alabama. He gets picked on, has a crush on a girl, and struggles with his self esteem. Unlike most others though, he comes from a family of people who practice powerful hoodoo, or folk magic. Hoodoo was named after the practice and yet he has never been able to conjure anything. One day he sees a mysterious stranger in town and senses that trouble is coming. Little does he know that the trouble is tied to his family's past and the strange dreams he's been having. Will he have the courage to stand up for himself when the time comes?

This book was exceptionally written and I breezed though it wanting more. I know this is a children's book, but it was compulsive reading for me all the same. The characters are richly drawn, the setting is realistic and nuanced, and I like the underlying message of believing in yourself despite your circumstances. I don't think it's that scary but I wouldn't recommend it for kids who scare easily. Will be on the lookout for more books from this author. I'm giving it 5 solid stars, if you didn't know.

[Patrick Samphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a little bit of David Almond, a touch of Stephen King and a whole lot of atmospheric 1930s, small town Alabama and you might get an idea of this beautifully-written middle grade fantasy.

Hoodoo is the story of twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher, born into a family who all have the the ability to use folk magic, all except Hoodoo himself. But when a mysterious man called 'The Stranger' comes to town, looking for Hoodoo, he is going to have to find his magic.

Hoodoo is a wonderful character: naive, vulnerable, brave and loyal. He's a small boy facing a threat far out of his league but determined to do what he needs to protect his family. Ronald Smith has a great way with language and description, bringing to life a rich culture and a setting that you can almost touch, smell and feel with a great economy of words.

If there is any justice, Hoodoo will be a contender for 2015's literary awards. It's unique and masterful, a great debut.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the beautiful cover, stay for the diversity and celebration of culture.

You know what is both amazing and really sad? This is the first middle grade book I have ever read where not only the main character, but the vast majority of the characters were PoC and were CELEBRATED because of it. It's not just coincidental that they are PoC, their culture and community and relationships are the core of this book. They are not othered, they are not painted as a single group with all the same beliefs and characteristics. This might also be the first book I've read where, without direct description from the text, I have automatically read all of the characters as PoC.

Sometimes you don't know how badly you need more diverse books until you get handed one (by a recommendation shelf at Powell's books) that helps to fill the enormous gap in the type of characters represented in our media.

Read it.

[Dondee Gocongg · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book hoodoo this kid his family die every time and he try to find how they die so he look then look he went to the graveyard and he found his dad and mama France right. Mama France said that the one that made the deed come back. At the end he found out who killed them it was a devil that there family sold there soul to and the devil what'd hoodoo soul but hoodoo killed the devil. And he went to heaven and be came a angel.

[Erin Cashman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored every page of this original and atmospheric middle grade novel. Set in the 1930s, Smith deftly weaves the historical time period into the fast paced narrative, ripe with sinister plots and magic. I adored Hoodoo and rooted for him from the first page. I highly recommend this gem of a novel!

[Lee Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 Challenge: 30. A book with a blue cover

This debut is just spectacular. Our narrator Hoodoo is engaging and singular, and I guarantee you his voice is going to stay with you long after you turn the last page. The story manages to be both heartfelt AND extremely spine-chilling, and the setting is so rich and evocative it feels like a character itself. Do not miss this one!!

[Kimberley Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spine-tingling story of the south in the 1930s about a resilient boy and his family, the love he has for them and the things he'll do to save them - and himself. Loved his best friend, Bunny, too - she was awesome.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wound up being a fun little read with bits of scary stuff. I'll recommend this at my store.

[Jerby Verderosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s definitely been taking me way too long to read lately.

I really should have finished this book much sooner. It’s a fun little novel and not at all long. Other aspects of my life have been intruding on my reading time; I’m going to try my best to read my next novel at a more reasonable pace.

Hoodoo, in many ways, is like savoring a rich piece of Southern dark chocolate. I adored how vivid the descriptions are in this book, from the swamp and the trees and the town to the food. And oh, there is food. The author never passes up an opportunity to describe the very luscious meals that the protagonist’s guardians provide for him in great detail. I always felt hungry while reading this book. These descriptions — food or otherwise — really made the novel come alive to me. I truly felt like I was in that warm, swampy village while reading this.

The narrator’s voice also really brings the story to life. It’s written in first person, and you really feel like the protagonist’s sitting at your ear, telling you this story. Everything from his vocabulary to his sentence structure enhances the protagonist’s personality as well as the time period.

Speaking of time period — this novel is not about racial tension, but still carefully and gracefully addresses the race issues that would appear in the South during segregation. For example, the protagonist references that black civilians are only allowed to attend a festival on a certain day, and how he doesn’t think that’s right. This information educates younger audiences, creates awareness for racial inequality in history, and also pushes an older audience to look for more subtle signs of inequality in the novel.

But my favorite aspect of this novel: its gothic soul. This novel really is the personification of the Southern gothic. Demons, old hymns, spirit worlds, talking crows, hoodoo, pacts with the devil, the hangman’s noose, the Free Masons... this novel is just brimming with a dark, particularity Southern, essence. I loved every minute of it.

So why not five stars?

While its setting is vivid and gothic, the book’s plot moves rather slowly. Much of the novel is the main character gathering ingredients for magic ‘mojo bags’ that end up not helping him. The scenario that the blurb at the back of the book describes does not happen until the very, very end of the novel — like the last thirteen pages.

There’s also a couple of logical hiccups (in my opinion, at the very least) — Why is this demon only appearing now? Why did the main character’s abilities only manifest now? What is this demon figure doing while the protagonist is wandering around, collecting magic items?

Otherwise, I felt that the relationships between the characters could have been more interesting. Hoodoo, our protagonist, only really has one friend — and they mostly sit around talking or eating. Couldn’t we have seen them in some tense or more emotional situations? Maybe investigating together? There’s a moment where Hoodoo sneaks into an old, abandoned building; maybe his friend could have could have come with him. There is a brief moment where him and his friend face bullies — but it’s diffused rather quickly, and the scene is a rare one in the book.

I did appreciate, however, that the main character looks to a lot of older women for guidance throughout the story. Both Mama Frances and Mrs. Snuff are a nice touch.

Overall, wonderful gothic imagery, but could have moved a little more quickly and has a little more character interaction.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith features a young boy living in a place with magic. Hoodoo–the young boy–lives with his grandmama and their traditions of wielding folk magic. Unfortunately, though, he struggles to find himself cast a single spell "But even though Mama Frances named me Hoodoo, I couldn't cast a simple spell." (Smith 4-5). This book covers the mysterious wonder of casting off the dreaded curses and demons while also trying to find purpose without his parents. It is a simple and cute book that is easy to read and is binge-worthy if you enjoy fantasy. I would recommend this book to those who don’t want to read something big or hard. It reveals a childhood that is both adventurous and exciting. I really enjoyed how it reminded me of the innocent child I used to be. In search of new things to explore, and places to see.

[Arthur Petrosian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoodoo by Ronald J Smith is about Twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher a boy who can't cast a simple spell.In Hoodoo’s house.Hoodoo’s family practice rich folk magic known as Hoodoo. Hoodoo finds out Hoodoo’s dad murders a man when he was protecting himself and now that man is out looking for hoodoo’s left hand the mandaglore the hand that did the deed. During the book hoodoo and his friend bunny have to find certain materials to make a mojo bag so he can be protected from all these evil spirits and the stranger and the genre of the book is gothic fiction.
Based on my research investigation about Hoodoo,I noticed Hoodoo is in fact written within the gothic fiction genre, because there is a lot of spiritual and paranormal activity and crime and sin activities going on in the book after evaluating poem the raven we see paranormal as the raven just flies into the house out of nowhere and justs sits down on the chair.. For example “Your daddy killed him trying to protect himself.Took Ernests Fords ax and chopped his fool head clean off”. It aligns within the novel because the action that his father took on chopping Ernests Ford's head off which is crime and sin because his dad's soul went into his son hoodoo’s bodie.
I enjoyed the book because the author used a lot of well figurative language and actual scary symbols and figures that made it seem as this things were actually happening. Also children and adults of all ages who enjoyed reading gothic novels would like the book because it has a lot of paranormal activity and lots of crime and sin activites.I would recommend this book to people who actually like gothic novels and like scary stories as well.So if you're looking for a great book to read pick up Hoodoo at one of your local libraries,and start to read it today