Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti

by Frances Temple

Every Life
Makes a Story

Djo has a story: Once he was one of "Titid's boys," a vital member of Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide's election team, fighting to overthrow military dictatorship in Haiti. Now he is barely alive, the victim of a political firebombing.

Jeremie has a story: Convent-educated Jeremie can climb out of the slums of Port-au-Prince. But she is torn between her mother's hopes and her own wishes for herself ... and for Haiti.

Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide has a story: A dream of a new Haiti, one in which every person would have a decent life ... a house with a roof ... clean water to drink ... a good plate of rice and beans every day ... a field to work in.

At Aristide's request, Djo tells his story to Jeremie -- for Titid believes in the power of all of their stories to make change. As Jeremie listens to Djo, and to her own heart, she knows that they will begin a new story, one that is all their own, together.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult Historical Fiction

179 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 30, 1991

About the author

Frances Temple grew up in Virginia, France, and Vietnam. About her third book she wrote, "The Ramsay Scallop is about our need for adventure and motion, for throwing in with strangers, trusting and listening. The story began to take form in northern Spain along pilgrim trails; was fed by histories, stories, letters, by the testimony of a fourteenthcentury shepherd, by the thoughts of today's pilgrims. Concerns echo across years-clean water, good talk, risks welcomed, the search for a peaceful heart. Traveling in Elenor's shoes, I found out how strongly the tradition of pilgrimage continues." Ms. Temple received many honors during her distinguished career. Her other critically acclaimed books for young people include: France Taste of Salt A Story of Modern Haiti, winner of the 1993 Jane Addams Children's Book Award; Grab hands and Run, cited by School Library journal as one of the Best Books of 1993; and Tonight, by Sea another novel set in Haiti.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taste of Salt is a fascinating read about the rise of Jean Bertrand Aristide in Haiti from the perspective of two of his followers from the slums whose paths and lives intersect meaningfully. Djo and Jeremie's circumstances as children in poverty show two (of many) different paths available to those who sought to do something different: either try to "climb the ladder" through education as Jeremie did, seeking to escape Haiti through education, or embrace an education by and of the people as Djo did, being taught to read by his sister, then later teaching and leading the sansmamans, or street boys, that Aristide (Titid) took in in his shelter. Both, however, realize through the poverty, violence, and injustice that they witness that they must do something to change Haiti's future, and both choose supporting Titid as the avenue for that change.

Interestingly, Djo and Jeremie both come to follow Titid in very different ways: Djo because Titid showed love to him by allowing him to come into the shelter, supporting him, and giving him responsibility and a sense of importance, and Jeremie by listening to Titid's speeches and resonating with them after seeing the slaughter at the elections at Ruelle Vaillant and failing to alert Titid of the Tonton Macoute attack on his church. However, despite their different origins and beginnings, their hope for a new Haiti and a new future under Titid's presidency unite them. As Djo indicates after Titid's election, having the people rise up and clear out the Tonton Macoutes (the thug army former dictator Duvalier used to terrorize people) and then vote Titid into power made people feel celebratory but also almost overwhelmed by the responsibility of remaking Haiti into a place where the poor could make a decent living. Yet, Djo and his friends' efforts to spread the word about behavior in the "new Haiti" after the election (no begging, no fighting - resolve things in court instead) seem tragically naive.

There is so much to digest in this book: the grinding poverty of the setting in the first place, the challenging quotes from Aristide himself, the fraught relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti (and between Haiti and the US), and liberation theology and its ramifications. Although the ending is hopeful (and of course I have the luxury of saying this in hindsight), it seems a little too triumphant and naive, even th

As for the narrative itself, I appreciated how Temple interwove the perspectives of Djo and Jeremie, and felt that their love story was more powerful because of that. Giving two views on some of the events that happened kept this from seeming completely one-sided, though the characters' faith in Titid is unwavering. There are some beautiful metaphors and descriptions of people's emotional states in this book, but these flourishes are controlled enough that the narrative is still pretty readable and clear. I also appreciated the use of dialect and French, Spanish, and Creole vocabulary, as it lent more atmosphere and authenticity to the story without becoming overwhelming (although I say this being able to understand French and Spanish to varying degrees, and being aware of the glossary's existence before reading would have definitely been helpful). I really liked the story behind Taste of Salt in particular (with the voodoo zombies becoming freed once they got a taste of salt paralleling the poor becoming free through political education/solidarity).

Some traditions addressed in this book are syncretism/voodoo beliefs, exploitation of Haitians by people in the Dominican Republic, strong parallels between the situation of the modern poor and that of the slaves, and split families (with fathers leaving to go look for work and often not returning, as happened with Donay, and both Djo and Jeremie's fathers). Changes obviously involve Titid's rise to power along with everyday people challenging the Tonton Macoutes and Duvalier's power instead of submitting to it (and electing their first democratically elected president!). Titid also preaches a new kind of theology that encourages people, through the church, to band together and seek freedom without malice or revenge, rather than urging peace at the price of slave-like conditions, as Jeremie's nun teachers do.

[Yasmeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade/Interest level: Middle School
Reading level: 650 L Guided Reading: W
Genre: Multicultural Fiction
Main Characters: Djo, Jeremie
Setting: 1980's Haiti
POV: Djo, Jeremie
The Taste of Salt: a story of Modern Haiti is written by Frances Temple and Illustrated by Mina Greenstein. It is fiction but many of the events in the book are factual. The book takes place in the 1980’s in a country called Haiti. It is about a young man named Djo who wakes up in a hospital after being brutally beaten in a Macoutes attack after the inauguration of Father Jean Bertrand Aristide. A young woman named Jeremie was sent by the new president of Haiti to tape record Djo’s story. Djo tells of his life on the streets, stealing to get food until Aristide took him and some other boys to live in a boy’s shelter. Djo becames politically aware if what was going on in Haiti and gets on Aristide’s team. He was taught how to read and life began looking better for him until he was kidnapped and taken to the Dominican Republic as a slave. After some time, Djo manages to escape and finds that his old priest Aristide is now running for president. When the people head to the poles to vote, the generals and Macoute massacre everyone. Djo soon helps in spreading awareness on the political change that Aristide was offering. This is when the reader arrives back to the present where Djo was attacked and continuously fighting for his life. As Djo tells his story and Jermie sees the courage and hope that he holds, she begins to realize that there is a hope for change and a future for Haiti.
Classroom Uses/Themes:
Prior to reading Taste of Salt, I would first provide some background knowledge on the history of Haiti. There would need to be an understanding of who Francois Duvalier, Jean Claude Duvalier, and Jean- Bertrand Aristide were. I would also want there to be an understanding of the current affairs in Haiti now such as the devastating Earthquake that took place in 2010. This book can be tied into a Social Studies lesson such as genocide or repression. It can go along well with a curriculum focusing on social justice and human rights. To introduce Taste of Salt, I would discuss the meaning of the title. I would read aloud Temple’s description of the Haitian folktale that the title comes from which is “If the zombie can get a taste of salt, he will understand. He will open his eyes and see that he has been made a zombie. And he will turn against his master. He will obey him no longer. He will make himself free” (26). This book can lead to engaging discussions about Haiti and the continuing struggle and plight of the Haitians since 1991 and how the situation there can relate/compare to our own society here in the U.S. The novel can be extended to the students own lives and the current state of the world.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is a fictional account of events in Haiti in the 1970's, it is based on fact.
President Duvalier had been deported and replaced by a military general. The U.S. urged an election, but it was a total sham. The country was lawless; economic and social inequality appalling. Some time later, Jean Bertrand Aristide was elected President. Given the sad state of the country and Aristede's reform-minded governance, as well as the interference of the U.S., Aristide was eventually driven out of Haiti to So. Africa. He was not allowed to return for many years.

This being a story for children, the political situation is only touched upon. The story is focussed on a poor Haitian boy and a girl telling their experiences and their feelings over several years during this period
Their situation might seem like a fairy tale to children, as though it happened long ago and far away. It might also be an opportunity to discuss real life situations in the present.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was ok. I have trouble starting to read the book, but after a bit I couldn't stop. I would recommend this book if you are ok with violence. There is not that much violence, but there are some gory scenes.

[Nicole O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My students chose this book, so I read it with them.

[Jeremy Galland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice way to combine history of Haiti with a young adult type story and plot.
Our country mostly ignores and misunderstands the tragedy that has been caused by international involvement in this neighboring country.

[Andre Gagnon]

Title: "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti"
Author: Frances Temple
Main character: Djo

"Taste of Salt" is a young adult novel set in modern-day Haiti, following the story of a young boy named Djo and his family as they navigate the political and social turmoil of their country. Djo is a curious and adventurous child, but as he grows up, he is forced to confront the harsh realities of life in Haiti, including poverty, violence, and corruption. Along the way, he learns important lessons about sacrifice, selflessness, and the power of community. The main conflict that Djo faces in the book is the struggle to protect himself and his family in a dangerous and unstable environment. As he grows up, he becomes increasingly aware of the dangers around him, and must navigate complex social and political situations in order to stay safe. Over the course of the book, Djo undergoes significant character development. He becomes more mature, responsible, and thoughtful, and learns important lessons about the value of family and community. Ultimately, he is forced to make a difficult choice that will have major consequences for himself and his family, and emerges as a stronger and more resilient person as a result. One of the things that I liked about this book was its rich and vivid depiction of life in Haiti. The author does an excellent job of bringing the setting to life, and the characters are engaging and relatable. My favorite character in the book was Djo himself, as I found him to be a sympathetic and inspiring protagonist. Reading this book was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The struggles faced by Djo and his family are real and devastating, but their resilience and determination are also incredibly inspiring. I found myself rooting for them throughout the book, and was deeply moved by their story. What kept me reading this book was the compelling and well-crafted plot. The author does an excellent job of pacing the story, and the tension and drama never let up. Additionally, the characters are so engaging that I found myself invested in their fates from the very beginning. One thing that I disliked about the book was that some of the dialogue felt a bit contrived at times. There were a few moments where the characters seemed to be speaking in a way that felt overly formal or stilted, which took me out of the story a bit. However, this was a minor issue overall, and did not detract from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

[Sarah Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after a high school unit on the Haitian Revolution, where students will have their own literature circles to discuss texts. What will remain with me from here: “the Haitian church is rich, thanks to the poor, in a country that is poor because of the rich.”

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book!

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way the story is told is somewhat lacking, and I felt the main characters lacked an excess of personality. However, I did enjoy the writing style and story itself, so the book earns 4 stars.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well written. It was very boring in the beginning but then gradually grew more and more interesting.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first this book was kind of confusing, but it was a pretty good book.

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The grimmer made it very confusing.

[Marie Hurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy subject matter for a kid’s book, but I liked the telling of the story from the point of very of young people.

[Zzeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Taste of Salt has stuck with me hard since I read this as a teenager. I can't wait to read it again.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, sad inspiring.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic middle grades book

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great YA book to read to learn about problems and modern-day history in Haiti. Frances Temple tells a great story.

[Starr]

Preparing for literature circles at school.

[Janna Bunosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts off with Djo, a Haitian teenage boy, lying in a hospital bed waiting for someone to come and record his story. He has been in an attack from an organization who opposes Father Aristide and his upcoming position as president of Haiti. A teenage girl named Jeremie, sent by Father Aristide, comes with a tape recorder, and Djo tells her his life story.

Djo tells Jeremie that he began living at Father Aristide’s compound for young boys when his mother could no longer feed him. He shined shoes and washed windows, and upon Father Aristide’s request, began teaching the younger boys how to read and write. He was kidnapped and taken to the Dominican Republic to work as a slave in the sugarcane fields. He worked there for three years and finally escaped with a fellow slave named Roro.

Midway through the book, Djo slips into a coma, and Jeremie tells him her life story to Djo to try to wake him. Jeremie’s mother sent her to a Catholic school so that Jeremie could one day get a scholarship to a foreign university and escape Haiti. She worked hard and the nuns gave her a job washing the floors of the school and convent so that her mother no longer had to pay for her tuition. One day, Jeremie accompanied her aunt to the polling center so her aunt could vote. The polling center was raided by Macoutes and many people were shot and killed. Jeremie became very depressed because of this experience. She heard Father Aristide’s sermon where he spoke of the violence of the Macoutes and how the Haitian people had to work together to create meaningful change for their country. These words inspired Jeremie, and she began working with Father Aristide.

Djo finally wakes up and tells Jeremie how he escaped from the Dominican Republic, how he campaigned for Father Aristide’s presidential election, and finally how he ended up in the hospital through a fire-bombing raid that killed his brother and many other innocent young boys. Jeremie finds out that she received a scholarship to the University of Paris in France, her mother’s dream for her, but she defers her acceptance in order to see Djo through his recovery and to continue to help Father Aristide improve Haiti.

I have never read any fiction or nonfiction books about Haiti, so I guess it’s appropriate that I start with a children’s book. I had no idea that in the late 80’s, people from the Dominican Republic kidnapped Haitians and forced them to work on plantations. I naively thought that slavery ended a long time ago in most parts of the world, but especially in nations so close to the U.S. I had also never heard of Father Aristide, a Roman Catholic Priest in Port-au-Prince who became the 40th president of Haiti due to his popular sermons.

The book ends on a hopeful note, with Father Aristide newly elected as president of Haiti and Jeremie and Djo eager and afraid for a future that Jeremie says is “in their hands.” As a reader in 2016 though, that hopeful note is twisted with knowledge of the poor state that Haiti is in today. Then through Googling, I found that the fate of the characters is even more depressing. Father Aristide was ousted from office twice and exiled to the Central African Republic in 2004. He was only allowed to return in 2011 after he pleaded to return to help survivors of the 2010 earthquake. Today, Haiti continues to experience political instability and severe economic hardship with little end in sight.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about 20 pages before I was really caught up in this novel, but once I was hooked, I couldn't put it down! Set in Haiti, at the time of the revolution, Taste of Salt is told through the first-person perspectives of two teenage revolutionaries.

Djo lies in his hospital bed, the victim of a political firebombing that also killed his best friend, and he is now fighting just to stay alive. Jeremie is a poor, but well-educated young woman who has been assigned the task of recording Djo's story. As the novel progresses we learn what life is really like in Haiti under an oppressive and militant government--what it is like to grow up in the slums, what it is like to be sold into modern-day slavery, and what it is like to fight against a dictator in order to become a citizen of a free and democratic society. Temple's narrative alternates between Djo and Jeremie's present-day interactions in the hospital and the stories of their childhoods; their relationship develops as they learn about each others' pasts.

I highly recommend this short novel for my more mature students--ones who want to continue learning about history and the way that people in other cultures and in other countries live.

[Andrea Blythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a time when Haiti in the process of political change, Djo has been brutally attacked and beaten and lies close to death. Jeremie, a young woman from a local convent school, has been assigned to come sit with him and record his tale, so that it will not be lost. As he tells her his story -- how he became one of "Titid's Boys", became a car washer, and was dragged off to the Dominican Republic to cut cane -- an affection and friendship grows between them.

This is the kind of book I would have read in school, serving as kind of educational tool to show what live might have been like for young people in a country torn apart be violence and how they choose to wake up and take a stand in what ways they can. It is a good story with good writing, however, the association I had with school reading took away some of the enjoyment. I kept feeling like I was supposed to learn something from this, as though I might have to write an essay about it later, rather than getting wrapped up and passionate about the storyline. But this probably has more to do with my own bias rather than any flaws in the book.

[Liang Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite romantic because in this story, Jeremie falls in love with Djo. Jeremie did not just want sex, she really wanted love in her life. She gave up her good future to stay with Djo until he recovers at the hospitals. Who knows why Djo just fainted, but he knew Jeremie would always be there for him, and he knew Jeremie loved him. I give this book 3 stars because it`s not very descriptive of the areas the characters are in and sometimes they even skip some parts. This book also has 2 narrator, Djo and Jeremie. This is the only book I know of that has 2 narrators.And I know Jeremie really wanted to do the things she wanted to do, even though she knew that her mother did not approve, She did not want her to be in dangerous situations. A lot of teenagers do things or go places that their parents worry for their safety. This is why this book is great to teach high school students, as it is a fictional book with real life events.

[Sandra]

It was written in the point of view of a Haitian boy, Djo. He tells his story to Jeremie, a smart girl that is sacrificing her school time to stay with Djo in the hospital. This story is about Djo growing up in the poorest area of Haiti where this place was under dictatorship. He was accepted into the caring of a well known priest, Jean Bertrand, like many other little boys that couldn’t be supported by their own families. Until one day, he was kidnapped to the plantations where he was forced into labor, but eventually escapes with the help of a guard and the hopes given to him by another young boy, Roro. One thing I learned from this book is that another person’s stories could give life to anybody who is there to listen. This was said many times by Jeremie.

[L.P. Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book for the truth it told about life in Haiti, it didn't reel me in emotionally. I felt it did a lot of telling, rather than actually allowing the reader the opportunity to experience it what the characters felt. That may be the fault of the vehicle the author chose to tell the story. Djo, one of the two pov characters tells his own story into a tape recorder of a girl sent by the newly elected President Aristide for her own education. The heartbreaking story felt glossed over despite the depth of the tragedy of events in Haiti. Nevertheless, for an accessible story for young people this one serves.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great to teach with high school kids because it's a fictional account of real events. What I love about this book is that it lets classes have discussions about power and authority, about using your voice for good or evil, about the right choice v. the easy choice, about the power of education. And I never feel beat over the head with it. Nor do I feel like I'm beating my students over the head.

Thank you Adolescent Lit class in my M.Ed program for introducing me to this book.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really good because the author, Frances Temple was able to tell the story of the haitian people and their turbulent times during the early 90's. Personally I was also able to connect to the book because as a haitian, I could really visualize the things that were happening, and the culture of Djo and Jeremie [the main characters of the story]. It was fast reading, but overall, I didn't put it down much because I was able to learn more about Father Aristede and his journey to power as the first democratically elected president of Haiti. Overall it is a really good book.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great young adult novel about 2 young people growing up in Haiti. It takes place in a hospital room where a young man lies at death's door and a young woman is sent to record his story but ends up also telling her own. Among other things he gets kidnapped and brought to the DR to pick sugar cane, and she witnesses some violent incidents surrounding an election. It is very simply written but engrossing and interesting, and the stories feel real.

[Cookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am I really that out of it? Am I really that unaware? As I read stories of the lives of others in places so unlike America, I am shocked by the cruel brutality that has taken place. Why? Why is there so much hatred, anger, and violence? This beautifully sad, inspiring, and heartfelt story made my fingers itch...desiring to google Haiti and learn more. I am once again thankful for all that I have.

[Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this book because it's about a story in Haiti and it seems real. It's about 2 connections of people wich have been in a lot of trouble in Haiti because of political actions.
The author is Frances Temple and I didn't know him until this book.
I choose it because it was attractive and I like the fact that it's about a story in Haiti.

I think that this read could interest people who like