Kemosha of the Caribbean

by Alex Wheatle

In 1668, a young Jamaican girl, Kemosha, secures her freedom from enslavement and finds her true self while sailing to Panama with the legendary Captain Morgan.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

In 1668, fifteen-year-old Kemosha is sold by a slave owner to a tavern keeper in Port Royal, Jamaica—the “wickedest city on earth.” She soon flees from a brutal assault and finds herself in the company of a mysterious free Black man, Ravenhide, who teaches her the fine art of swordplay, introduces her to her soul mate, Isabella, and helps her win her freedom.

Ravenhide is a privateer for the notorious Captain Morgan aboard his infamous ship, the Satisfaction. At Ravenhide’s encouragement, Morgan invites Kemosha to join them on a pillaging voyage to Panama. As her swashbuckling legend grows, she realizes she has the chance to earn enough to buy the freedom of her loved ones—if she can escape with her life . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Pirates, LGBT, Audiobook, Fiction, Historical

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2022

About the author

Alex Alphonso Wheatle was a British novelist, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment after the 1981 Brixton riot in London.

Reviews

[thtBlkLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

First impressions: A non-traumatic story about a freed woman; how exciting! note someone is no longer a slave after they win their freedom so describing Kemosha as a slave is inaccurate as most of the book she isn’t enslaved. This is not a spoiler it's in the synopsis

This story is about Kemosha; a dreamer who wins her freedom by defending herself in a sword match against her former owner. She is trained by a Black man named Ravenhide who is free and owns property and has the respect (somewhat) of white men. He shares that he is from the Mandinka tribe and trains Kemosha with his sword. Ravenhide & Kenosha are able to set sail with Captain Morgan to the Spanish Maine where they can earn enough (pillage enough) to buy Kemosha’s family still at the plantation their freedom. This is a beautiful story of a woman willing to do whatever it takes to keep her family together, while still hoping & praying for peace. I loved Kemosha and her compassion for others; she always kept the people she met on her journey in her heart and prayed for their safety. This story was pretty fantastical in the best way, a story of a former slave who wins her freedom and is granted saftey among a ship of pirates. It's wonderful to imagine a story like this; one free from the typical slave narrative. Also a first to read so much Spanish in a book centered around slavery; as an afro latinx person this was really illuminating to me. Alex Wheatle is able to write Black Joy during a time period where we read so little of it. Friendly reminder to others that first person narrative dialect is a literary device used in books that are considered classics and greats when used in books by white men like Mark Twain. Keep common tropes and micro-aggressions in mind when writing reviews about books from cultures unlike your own..

This book can be used for needed representation for Black kids, teens and adults. So much of what gets published from Black perspectives is pain, this story has some of that but it's not the main focus and more of that is desperately needed in these spaces.
There is also great introductory information about Jamaica’s history, the Mandinka tribe & The Maroons

[Cerys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is nobody reading this book!!! I was immediately intrigued by the blurb of this book. WLW, Pirates and Freedom Fighting, it sounded like everything I wanted. AND IT WAS! This was not perfectly written but it was full of atmosphere and the characters were just perfect. This book is not only historical fiction but holds many elements of historical fact including the real-life pirate Captain Morgan (Yes the Rum guy). There were many elements that made me feel sick but that is supposed to happen as this is a story of Slavery and Racism. However, it is also a story of hope and freedom as we follow Kemosha doing everything she can to save those she loves. Kemosha and Isabella's relationship was also everything I wanted it to be. I would definitely recommend this and I can't believe this isn't as popular as it should be.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swashbuckling girl pirates are cool, but piracy isn't cool, kids.

This was almost a three stars, as in: meh, good and bad points, can't get excited about it but not mad at it, but Kemosha rules. She's also immature and makes poor decisions, either because she's poorly educated in the ways of the world or to move the plot along: I am unclear which. Kemosha is an enslaved girl on Mr. Tate's plantation in Jamaica, and she's there long enough to set up some side characters we'll come back to later, when a tavernkeeper by the name of Powell buys her and brings her to Port Royale, a den of twisted sin and insidious vice, populated by pirates on shore leave and other Englishmen who are just absolutely dead set on ruining the world for everyone else and returning to England with Spanish gold to build opulent country houses which I will spend chunks of my vacation organizing pictures of for https://www.thedicamillo.com/ There is nothing good or clean about enjoying British history. Back to Kemosha, who has absolutely no interest in being an enslaved prostitute. The first man who tries it on, she stabs and flees to a Mandinka cooper called Ravenhide, who is fighting institutionalized oppression in his own way by training up sword maidens. Kemosha learns the art of the blade from him; he seems iffy about her skills but she thinks she's badass because she's a teen girl with a sword. She is at least able to hold her own by defending herself against her enslaver for a count of one hundred, thus winning her freedom. Ravenhide, who is Captain Morgan (the rum guy)'s personal cooper gets Kemosha hired on as cook on the Captain's next raid on the Spanish Main. Kemosha is okay with the work but hates being on the boat and, because she is a formerly enslaved teen with no money, is convinced that the earnings from one raid will be enough to free her friend and brother from Mr. Tate and live comfortably. Moored on a desolate beach and waiting for the pirates to come back with their booty, Kemosha leaves the ship against orders to get food, because it's 1668, they're in enemy territory, she has no money and one sword she hasn't really been practicing with, but she can just get off the boat and get food. Amazingly, she does find food, but she also finds that the true meaning of piracy isn't carrying a badass sword and fighting the CGI undead aboard the Black Pearl, piracy is getting off the boat, murdering and raping everyone in the town except the one orphan girl who is trauma screaming in the surf, stealing all the things, and getting back on the boat. Kemosha is over cooking for pirates forever now, even though she has a standing invitation to be a cook on Captain Morgan's boat, which really isn't bad for a formerly enslaved girl in the worst place on Earth. After the piracy, everything happens in a way that really should have been another book or a longer book: Kemosha fights with Ravenhide, makes love to a woman, teaches the woman sword skills, tries to free her people, causes an uprising, kills a man on the street, and she and her friends sail away to a land of sequestered peace and freedom with very little preparation. Like, holy buckets, they should have laid in some seeds and chickens before they left. What are they doing? How safe are four people going to be abandoned on an island? What is their plan here? Why is Captain Side Noodle facilitating this? Kemosha and her bad, immature decisions. But, cool sword girl. Cane Warriors was better because it had one plot instead of three or four, but massive respect to Alex Wheatle for writing about Caribbean slavery in the 1600s, because, as a USA person, I only think about slavery in antebellum terms and I appreciate these earlier and not US-centric novels. Thank you!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite Kemosha of the Caribbean by Alex Wheatle being a work of fiction, aspects of Jamaican history felt well researched which lead to this book being brought to life. I particularly liked the references to Akan spirituality, which sits well with what we know about the Maroons and the Koromanti who survived the Middle Passage.

It was also really nice to see that Pirates of the Caribbean did not always look like Captain Jack Sparrow or Long John Silver, The book will give the younger generation a role model to look to.

***Thank you Netgalley and Andersen Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

[GG_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pirates>>>
This damaged me too much to write a review so just go read it for yourselves and realise how amazing it is!

[reading_with_ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kemosha grown up in slavery, she’s sold away to work at the port royal, they had her cooking and cleaning, but men paid me Powell to have Kemosha as company and when one arrived she held the dagger to him he stumbled back and she escaped.
She stumbled upon someone’s house, he’s the only one that can help her so she lets him. Ravenhide offers her a new life and to teach her how to defend herself with sword fighting.

She was trained to fight mr Powell so he didn’t kill her and to defend herself and her brother, she wants to set her brother free but the only way to do that is buy him but sword fight mr Powell first.
She won and got her freedom now Ravenhide and Kemosha are going on a voyage, he stopped when Isabelle appeared and told Kemosha to go with her until he gets back, but Kemosha persuaded him to take her to the Spanish Main.

She cooked and cleaned for the captain to keep her place on the ship, and now finally they have found land. But Ravenhide won’t let him get off the ship, as there will be war. She went down anyway and tried to find food for the rest of the people on the ship.
As soon as Kemosha saw what they did to the families she told Ravenhide after they get to port royal she never wanted to see him again.

Kemosha decided she wants her own boat to travel, but before she does she has to buy back Marta and Gregory.

When she gets off the boat she finds Isabelle and makes love to her but when they both see men coming near the stream Kemosha gets her sword and tells Isabelle to stay put while she checks, when she realises it’s Ravenhide and Tenoka she puts it down they have decided to help her get back Gregory and Marta.

But when captain Tate refused to take money from her she fought him with her sword and she won now he was dead, she looked around and four bodies on the ground, Ravenhide didn’t make it and Isabelle and Tenoka was alive.

Kemosha tried to find Edward Caspian to navigate the boat, he wasn’t in the church like he told her, so she tried to find him herself.
They found Edward Caspian, drunk so they took him out of there and got on the boat.

When he woke up he told Kemosha he had to get the boat alone, they didn’t trust him, so they went down to rob the boat until they saw Edward and they boarded it the next day.

They got to the boat safely and had to hide in the water as men on horses were looking for them, but Edward told them he didn’t have a clue where they were, they got back on the boat and set sail.

[Karen_RunwrightReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kemosha Of The Caribbean is a thrilling story of a Black teenage girl taking charge of her own life in 1600s Jamaica during the time of the Bucaneers and plantation slavery. I admire how author Alex Wheatle portrays the tension of everyday life with the hopes and dreams the characters harbor and how easily they may have to be exchanged for mere survival. The characters are all breakout stars in their own way and I appreciate how much we get to know of their stories and what they say about the melting pot of Caribbean culture. Wheatle weaves lots of language and dialect into the narrative but also shows the places where the sword and money (or pieces of eight) speak the loudest.
Read for #CaribAThon2023 and definitely recommend this as a place to start exploring Caribbean history
Thanks Akashic Books for the complimentary copy of this YA novel.

[Jennifer Ayre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read and I liked the concept and some of the characters, however, there were parts that I didn't enjoy. One of my least favourite tropes/ plot devices is the 'montage'- ie when a character becomes an expert at something with no apparent time passing. (I have the Montage song from Team America in my head now..."Even Rocky has a montage")
Anyway, this happened a couple times in this book. Fairly sure that Kemosha became an expert swordswoman in 4 days... I just can't suspend my disbelief that far. I also found Kemosha a very stubborn character who made many questionable decisions. Some of the decisions I can see were as plot devices, but this could have been done better with someone else relaying the story rather than Kemosha having to witness everything first hand.

CAWPILE: 5.28 3*
Characters-5: Some I liked, some I disliked
Atmosphere- 6: The setting, the struggles etc were great, but there were some parts that just weren't for me
Writing Style- 5: It felt quite basic, and I feel that some more inventive writing would have made this a lot better
Plot-6: I liked the story, the plot was interesting and I think it is a story that needed to be told
Intrigue-6: I wanted to know what would happen next
Logic-4: As I said above, I can suspend my disbelief for some things, but some are just not reasonable
Enjoyment- 5: I liked it, it was decent.

[Becs · Rating 2 out of 5]

We are finally presenting characters in young adult literature who young readers can see as spectacular, powerful and positive role models. This book absolutely nails that. And they don’t always have to be special, have a traumatic family dynamic or be white! Kemosha is every bit the role model I would have wanted to see growing up.

But, this novel isn’t so much. Whilst I appreciate the exploration of freedom, slavery and of course swashbuckling adventures, I didn’t appreciate the writing or character development at all.

Kemosha is awesome, but she becomes awesome incredibly quickly and I just can’t overlook how unrealistic that was. On top of that, she makes some really ridiculous choices, some of which don’t even add up, and whilst these do redirect the plot, they’re just too silly to overlook. The narrative is also quite simple, lacking much depth or thought provoking dialogue to get readers thinking about wider issues.

Overall, there were too many elements which frustrated me and the positives didn’t quite tip the scales back into favour. I am really pleased to see better representation though, and I look forward to seeing if a sequel comes onto the market to develop the characters a little better next time around.

ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Musings on Living · Rating 4 out of 5]

In #KemoshaOfTheCaribbean we meet a 15 year old enslaved girl in 1668, who dreams of freedom and fulfilling her mothers wish to “fly away home”. However when Kemosha is sold to work in a lawless pirate tavern in Port Royal, Jamaica, her life is forever changed.

This book is not only brilliantly powerful, it was also engaging and such a fun read! Kemosha is a wonderful, strong-willed and positive character to root for throughout and she meets so many others that brought different perspective's and characteristics to the story, my favourites were Ravenhide, Tenoka and Edward Caspian.

I particularly liked how it tastefully not only covered realistic historical portrays of slavery but also the many abuses and discrimination that women are forced to experience. Kemosha as a strong Black female lead going on daring adventures amongst all of that was amazing and so refreshing to read! Plus we got a beautiful sapphic romance!

Then there was the distinct Creole used that would immerse any reader into the story and the pirate lore which was eye opening and educational. After reading the author's note, I am completely fascinated by the history of Port Royal and would love more tales of Kemosha of the Caribbean and her friends.

Instagram: @musingsonliving

[Mariah · Rating 1 out of 5]

TW: semi-graphic attempted sexual assault, many references to potential sexual assault and rape, period-typical racism

Kemosha of the Caribbean has a fantastic concept. A former slave taking back her power in a time when she is viewed as little more than a slightly smarter horse at best and a vessel for all manner of disgusting sexual depravities at worst is not only compelling, it’s important.

A Black woman is rarely allowed to have this level of agency in historical fiction. And young Black people deserve stories where they get to see themselves in the past without being shackled by realism. There are so many white stories where kids or teenagers are not limited by the reality of the era and allowed to be heroes or find period-atypical happiness. When I first picked up this book I was delighted to see an opportunity for a Black author and Black character to do the same.

Unfortunately, the concept is the only good part of the story.

Kemosha was unbelievably frustrating as a character. She was extremely naive which was to be expected at the beginning, however, as the story went on she never grew. She felt much younger than her actual age because of how limited her view of the world was in spite of what she experienced. Everything was so black and white with her that it made her very unlikeable.

For example, she has a falling out with Ravenhide because she’s upset that he and the crew murdered everyone in a village. They did not need to do so, technically speaking, because the village was not the end goal, but Ravenhide says that some of the men could not be curtailed. He maintains that he did not murder anyone in the village, but Kemosha refuses to believe him. (It is never revealed if Kemosha is just stubborn or if Ravenhide is lying. I believe Wheatle wants us to side with Kemosha based on the way the entire book is written, but I do not automatically feel that way since Kemosha is known to never listen to anybody else once she’s made up her mind).

She is explicitly told before signing up for the voyage that the goal of this trip is to murder Spanish men for their gold and that women will even be violated as part of the journey. She gets on some high horse with Ravenhide about how he should be fighting for something important when she was perfectly fine with these men being murdered and women raped as long as she got money before witnessing the result herself. She argues that the people in that village should not have died because these people didn’t want to fight, they only wanted to live their life by the sea side.

Except she has no way of knowing that. She’s told to stay on the ship during the initial raid so she doesn’t know the details. She also has no interest or understanding whatsoever in the larger global and political machinations at play between the English and Spanish nor does the book seek to elucidate on the matter either. Despite a complete lack of knowledge on the topic she sees fit to judge a man who has done nothing except show her unbelievable kindness and grace.

A Black man who, mind you, had his family utterly massacred by the Spanish and his sister literally raped to death by those same men. A Black man who in spite of his freedom is still at risk everyday, the same as Kemosha, if the white men were to suddenly turn on him. You cannot apply the same system of morality to the past in this manner. Is it objectively incorrect to take his suffering out on (potentially) innocent victims? Sure. But, to demonize him for it when it is unconfirmed he actually slaughtered any of the villagers and when he has every reason to hate every Spanish person he encounters regardless of their perceived blamelessness is a very shallow, close-minded way of looking at a very complicated issue.

Kemosha can be upset about this. Hearing that people will die and seeing the outcome with your own eyes is different. Also, Kemosha having a different opinion generally speaking should be a good thing because that’s where conflict and character development can come from.

But, the problem is that Kemosha is presented as unequivocally correct when she is not. In the end Ravenhide is shamed into coming to her with his head hung low for his ‘sins’ while she is allowed to lord over him as morally superior for actions she will never be able to comprehend. I think it’s harmful to promote such a myopic perspective to the intended demographic for what is such a nuanced subject. Especially when you consider how much teenagers trend toward ignoring complexity in order to avoid the discomfort of acknowledging their failings.

Kemosha is always right. Her obstinate behavior is a perfectly acceptable quirk of her personality rather than a facet of her character that needs to be improved. It makes for a tedious reading experience when the main character is constantly being rewarded for making things difficult for everyone else around her.

The romance is terrible. It is one of the worst cases of insta-love I have ever read. It is particularly terrible because it being a lesbian relationship when Kemosha previously was unaware she could have such feelings for a woman should have a lot more impact on her overall character. There is no way that it should be so easy for a woman in the 1600s to completely embrace her love for a woman. I can suspend a lot of disbelief, but this was a bridge too far when the racism and misogyny are so realistically established. I cannot for one second believe that there would be no vague sense of internalized homophobia.

Isabella is purely a trophy for Kemosha. As the reader, you are told nothing about her feelings, her desires for her life or what her basic personality is. Kemosha meets her on page 90 in which they have one singular conversation over the next 10 pages where Ravenhide is present the majority of the time. On page 192 Kemosha returns from the voyage totally in love with Isabella, Isabella randomly returns her feelings and they proceed to have sex immediately. This is only their second time meeting. It’s been months since they last saw one another. Yet, now they’re pledging their undying love for one another? It’s ridiculous.

It was also very obvious that Kemosha viewed Isabella as an extension of herself not a fully fledged person.

Isabella asks Kemosha to cut her hair and Kemosha is reluctant to do so. She even states:

“I found it harder to slice Isabella’s hair than kill Captain Tate”.

She even starts crying. Why would you care about your significant other cutting their hair to this extent? Especially when it was done for Isabella’s safety as her long, beautiful hair made her stand out to the men at Port.

Then later when the two have a disagreement. Kemosha wants to go with Edward Caspian to purchase a boat. Caspian promises he’ll do it, but Kemosha cannot come with him because they will draw too much suspicion being a white man and free Black girl.

‘Isabella sat beside me. She held my hands and gazed at me for a little while before she spoke.

”Debes permiterle comprar solo el bote,” she said, You must allow him to buy the boat alone.

“No,” I said. “Why you talking like this, Isabella? Me have to go wid him. Misser Caspian love him drink too much.”

“No! Kemosha!” Isabella shouted at me. For a moment I was shocked. I’d never imagined she would raise her voice at me. I glared at her hard.

She shook her head. “Debes confiar,” she added. You must trust.

Could this be the same Isabella who mek beautiful love to me? I snatched my hands away from her, stood up and marched to the back of the yard.’

She actually gets mad that Isabella contradicts her. That’s not normal behavior for a healthy relationship. Yet, because the two getting together is written in such a rushed fashion the entire baseline of the relationship is just Isabella doing whatever Kemosha wants. It’s expected Kemosha would be surprised that Isabella has her own opinions when Isabella’s defining trait is accommodation.

(Literally when we first meet her, she is terrified of sailing because she was kidnapped and forced across the sea. Yet, by the end she’s ready to sail with Kemosha to her island of freedom with no mention of her previous fear or what might have changed her mind when her fear had kept her landlocked in Jamaica for over a year.)

I just don’t see why Wheatle bothered to include this point of contention between the two in the last twenty pages. There is absolutely no time to rectify this imbalance properly. All it does is reflect poorly on Kemosha. She is all about doing whatever she wants, but cannot handle when someone else exercises a similar right to autonomy. This is the end of the book. Shouldn’t she have learned something by now?

I never read YA any more; Kemosha of the Carribbean reminded me exactly why. It’s a book that is coasting on the originality of its premise and not much else.

[Giovanareadshere · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½

This Book Gave Me:
🏴‍☠️ A teenage sword-wielding pirate fighting for her freedom
🇯🇲 Spanish Town beginnings and Port Royal peril
🩷 found family vibes with a protective papa pirate (RIP Riverhide 😭)
⚔️ duels, betrayals, and lessons in balance
💘 a sapphic romance that came outta nowhere but still cute
🚢 seasickness, satisfaction, and sailing toward Panamá
🧒🏾 A vow to rescue her baby brother no matter the cost
🗡️ a stolen sword, a teenage boy with heart, and a donkey named Freedom
🌊 stolen futures, violent raids, and grief buried at sea
💔 naive decisions, unnecessary deaths, and painful miscommunication
🔥 liberation, escape, and final promises kept

Kemosha’s journey was messy, loud, and bold, just like freedom often is, especially as a teenage girl. From cookhouse girl to pirate on a mission, her fire never dimmed even when her choices had me yelling at the pages. Riverhide was my favorite! I cheered for Gregory and Marta’s freedom, and even though the romance felt rushed, I’m happy for Kemosha and Isabella. I’ll never forget this Jamaica-to-Panama adventure. I felt my people as I read.

RIP Alex Wheatle. 🪽

Read for the Read Caribbean challenge 🇯🇲🇵🇦 and it scratched that BIPOC pirate itch in the best way.

A more detailed review is coming soon on my blog! Giovanareadshere.com 🫶🏾🏴‍☠️📚

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place on the island of Jamaica and includes some memorable characters. Creole and Spanish were a nice touch and emphasised the diverse culture in which it takes place.

Kemosha gains her freedom and enlists with Captain Morgan aboard his ship, the Satisfaction, where she earns enough to determine her future. Even though she is never far from slavery, violence, and death, she remains upbeat about her life.

A quick read with an interesting tale that I found very engaging.

[James Wakenell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this 3.5 stars, but since that's not an option, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and round it up.

Whilst it's not quite the vast swashbuckling adventure I was expecting ( a la Pirates of the Carribbean), the intensity and thrill resides within the context and history represented within this story. Kemosha overcomes the worst types of treatment towards black people during this period of history, and does so with an impressive, if not naive optimism, that makes her an easy character to cheer for.

Highly worth a read.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an easy, fast paced read and gave a nice change of view from the usual white washed pirate stories. It also covered some more difficult topics very well.

Kemosha did not know much of the world and had never seen the sea before, she was impulsive and naive. I did question some of her choices however they fit with her character well and helped develop the story.

I really like the use of Cerole and Spanish to differentiate the characters and give them their own personalities and voices, it was really effective.

Overall a good YA read with a nicely done touch of LGBTQ+ representation.

[Jaden⚡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5

[Porshea DiMera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni Morrison is often quoted as saying, “If there’s a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Alex Wheatle, author of Kemosha of the Caribbean definitely had this sentiment in mind as he crafted the story of Kemosha Black, an enslaved teenager turned free privateer in 1668 Jamaica. In the author’s note of this novel, Wheatle points out his dissatisfaction with the lack of representation in pirate lore dominating society for hundreds of years, but particularly in the recent blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean. This novel serves his mission to bring this representation to life so well that Kemosha of the Caribbean is easily the best pirate tale I have ever encountered.


If that seems a bold statement, its boldness pales in comparison to Kemosha’s enduring bravery and steadfastness. At the beginning of the story she is called to leave her brother and all of the people she has grown up with to tend to the tavern of a man she has never met before, a life he promises will be humiliating and at his every whim before he even changes coin with the owner of the plantation where she resides. Her anxiety of leaving behind everything she’s ever known has her leaping from the cart on their journey to Port Royal, incurring his ire and watchfulness before she learns of her fate. Once she arrives in his tavern, a white patron immediately makes clear that he intends to rape her, while paying the tavern owner for the act. Her escape from this new life sends her into the path of a father figure who will help her control her life going forward. The level of independence and freedom that Kemosha gains is hard-won and joyous. She finds love in the arms of another woman of color who has beaten the odds to thrive alone on an island where white men are in constant pursuit of claiming ownership over her body. Read more here: https://blackgirlscreate.org/2022/02/...

[Jungian.Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of perseverance in the face of cruelty, slavery and death.

Thanks to Andersen Press, Tandem Collective UK for making this book available to me as part of the read along.

This book follows Kemosha who is a slave on Captain Tate's plantation until she is bought by Mr Powell who takes her to his tavern by the sea where most of his customers are sea men and pirates. These men, of course, want to rape Kemosha and the badass that she was, she ends up stabbing a disgusting pig that tried to rape her. When she escapes in the middle of the night, she is aided by a black man named Ravenhide. He protects her and teaches her to sword fight. After learning for a period of time, she duels Captain Tate for her freedom.

This book is just so riveting, Kemosha was not just strong willed but had great hope and courage. Even in the face of uncertainties and fear, she held strong to save not just herself but her brother and motherlike figure Martha. She finds love with Isabella another Islander on the run. It was quite interesting to see this take on queer identity, were it was less about identity crisis but her knowing that her feelings for Isabella were more. There was no denial, so questions, it was just a feeling that she had and she needed no justification or labels. This, I found really interesting.

With the dark themes of slavery, war and death, Alex was able to write a character that was just bursting with humour and sometimes Kemosha made me laugh my head off with her takes not just on the white men but of her place in the world and her relationships with her Ancestors.

[2TReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A certain chapter in Born in Blackness and the author's note made me appreciate this story for what it is.

“Nosotras tenemos una segunda vida,” she said. We have a second life.

All through reading this fictive historical remix, I kept wondering if I could suspend what I knew of my island's history and the dark name of Port Royal and enjoy this story for what it was. For the most part, the answer was no.

Until I read a chapter in Howard French's Born in Blackness. This chapter was highlighting the forgotten role that Black men played in many of the conquests of Spanish America. Seguros Negros (safe negroes) made me appreciate what Wheatle was doing here with Kemosha. Is it possible that Henry Morgan would have allowed a 15 yr old newly free Black girl on his ship, signing an Article of Agreement for a portion of the booty? No.
Could our Black women of the Slavery era been capable of being such a crew member? Yes.

And keeping that in my mind and what I coincidentally read in Born in Blackness definitely made me like Kemosha of the Caribbean.

Though the Jamaican in me had minor issues with the depiction of patwa, it really was maybe personal preference of word choices and spelling, yet it didn't hinder the pace of the story.

[Helen Precious · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kemosha of the Caribbean follows the titular character as she is bought by a new master and thrust into the lively town of Port Royal. Purchased as a tavern girl , men are able to bid for her body until an act of pure spirit upturns Kemosha's story. As a fugitive, a swordsman, a cook and a member of a 'pirate' ship, Kemosha's journey is anything but expected.
Wheatle has created a world rich with historical flavour, vibrant characters and plenty of adventure. An enjoyable read.

[Karen Meharg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe too quick paced. Not much depth, and it was hard to imagine Kemosha as a 15 year old doing all the things she did. I wanted to like it, and the basic plot was fun, but it just wasn't the best writing.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Never knew I needed read to a book with a black female pirate lead but this book really delivered in every way.

[Lauren Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book satisfied my Jamaican heritage, my queerness and my pirate obsession. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is I found the pacing a little fast.

[Cindy Vallar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifteen and a slave. One who is curious, always asking questions. Kemosha also has dreams. No matter what she witnesses or endures, she refuses to allow Captain Tate or any of the overseers on the plantation to take away her dreams. One day she will be free!

But Tate has different plans. He sells her to Quartermaster Antock Powell – a move that separates her from her little brother and her friends. Kemosha will be a welcome addition to the tavern that Powell owns. She can cook and she is chaste; with her dark skin his patrons will pay extra for a night with her. Frightened, Kemosha has no choice but to go with her new master, but she vows to one day return to free those she loves.

When her worst fears are realized, Kemosha defends herself and then runs. As a free Black man, Ravenhide understands what awaits her if she’s found. He hides her from her pursuers and, afterwards, trains her to fight with a sword. Once Kemosha can hold her own, he arranges a duel between her and Powell. If she wins, she will be free. Fulfilling one dream isn’t enough, though. Those left behind deserve their freedom too, but that requires money.

Ravenhide, a cooper, sometimes goes buccaneering with Captain Henry Morgan is planning a raid on Porto Bello. When word spreads of a new venture, Kemosha insists on joining Ravenhide at sea even though she’s never set foot beyond Port Royal. Much to everyone’s surprise, Morgan hires her as his cook. Going to sea, however, is fraught with peril, especially since both Powell and the customer she knifed will also be joining this venture. Kemosha soon realizes that dreams and reality differ, sometimes in frightening ways.

The story’s first-person narrative provides young adult readers with a startling, yet realistic portrayal of slavery, seventeenth-century piracy, and Port Royal (and Jamaica) as it was, rather than as Hollywood often portrays the pirate haven. The one drawback is the use of dialect, which only occurs in dialogue. It may give the feel of authenticity to the story, but it can distract readers and is sometimes difficult to decipher. Although some may object to Kemosha’s relationship with another girl, this is a but a fraction of the story as a whole.

While Kemosha may be a product of her times, her dreams, thoughts, and emotional reactions are ones to which modern readers will readily relate. She is a Black heroine who struggles to survive in a world that relegates her to the status of property, yet time and again she shows everyone that she is a person. Morgan’s 1688 raid on Portobello is considered one of the highlights of the Buccaneer Era and, while Kemosha doesn’t participate in the actual sacking, the aftermath that she witnesses is a raw and gut-wrenching portrayal that provides readers with a vivid glimpse into both the realities of her world and the emotions she experiences.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content warnings: Sexual assault (a lot and also towards underage characters), sexual harassment, violence, death, murder, misogyny, racism, slavery, loss of a loved one

An empowering tale of a young kick-ass enslaved-but-now-free black girl. And boy is she a badass! Along with her new-found friends, Kemosha fights tooth and nail for the freedom of her friends and family back on the plantation she came from - and for her new found love.

I loved the writing, you could feel the emotions and actions. The characters' arcs felt good and made sense for the most part (even with Kemosha’s very fast learning, I feel like that is more than feasible in that kind of environment) and the progression of the story made sense. The ending felt good and solid though I would love to read even a short story about the events after that ending. The use of Creole and Spanish alongside the base English made the book feel unique and have a lot more character. It was certainly a surprise when I started to read the book, but was a very pleasant one nonetheless!

The morals and messaging of the book isn’t hidden even slightly. Kemosha comes from a Jamaican plantain, a slave who’s brutally treated alongside the other slaves there. She’s sold off to a man, who doesn’t try to hide the fact he’s wanting her *body* to make money with. This book doesn’t shy away from how horrific conditions were towards Black people back then, but that does make me minorly concerned about the fact this book is marketed towards children as young as 12 even. There is a lot of sexual assault that happens, on page and off and it’s nearly constantly talked about. Additionally with all the violence, death and severe grief, I can’t see how this can be suitable for children so young, even as an educational tool.

In short, I highly recommend this. Just make sure you’re aware of the content warnings before diving into this as it does get very heavy. It is not a story about a trauma-ridden black girl suffering through life, it’s a story of perseverance in the face of injustice, fighting for what you feel is right, fighting for love, friends and life.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Jamaica in 1668, the story follows fifteen-year-old Kemosha, a courageous Black girl who escapes slavery in search of freedom, ultimately becoming a pirate. Wheatle's work challenges historical imbalances by centring a strong black protagonist.

Wheatle's writing style is engaging, and Kemosha's vibrant Jamaican-style patois adds authenticity and charm to her character. The author expertly brings the brutal conditions of plantation life and the dangers faced by slaves to life, while injecting moments of fun and wit.

The central themes of Kemosha of the Caribbean revolve around resilience, identity, and the pursuit of freedom. Wheatle effectively conveys the message that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, one can find strength within themselves and their heritage. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities endured by enslaved people while celebrating the indomitable spirit that allowed them to survive.

Kemosha is a well-developed character. Her transformation from a naive and curious girl into a formidable pirate showcases her growth and determination. The book's supporting characters, including Ravenhide and the pirate ship's crew, contribute to the richness of the story. This book has the potential to inspire and empower young readers, opening their eyes to the often untold stories of marginalized communities and encouraging them to question and challenge societal injustices. KS4+

[Nads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I want to read more like this. I want to be educated. Suitable for ages 12-17, I want to use this to educate my school children and my own children.

Blurb 📖
This is the story of Kemosha. A young feisty girl with dreams working on a plantation for Captain Tate, a pig-headed bully who loves to torture his slaves. She has no mother, she died when she was younger. She does have her friend Marta and her brother Gregory. Yet, when she least expects it, she's sold away from everything she knows. She makes a daring escape from her owner and befriends a kind man who teaches her how to defend herself with a sword. Desperate to free her brother, she sets sail on the ship of the notorious Captain Morgan to earn herself enough. Where will this journey take her?

I teach slavery in school. I teach the cruelty of the white man to the black man. And yet it always shocks and disgusts me to my core when I read what it was like for a black person, is like.

As well as plantation owners, we meet pirates, English men who have taken the Island for their own to do with as they please. Some of these pirates have been glorified over the years, especially Captain Morgan whose rum we still drink today. Yet the honest truth is they poached, beat, raped, tortured and murdered the people of the island who belonged there. (Triggers throughout the book!)

This book will go a long way in spreading awareness to the younger generation. To help them understanding why footballers are taking the knee. Why black people deserve to be treated equally. It may have been centuries ago but its a heritage and its had lasting effects and we should never stop being sorry for it.

I read something today: 'People get more angry about being called racist than they do about racism.' I hope this changes.

Thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk
@alexwheatle @andersenpress for gifting me this incredible book.

[Rach (pagesofpiper) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This is not an easy read, it's uncomfortable in places, it's horrific but it's full of heart. Kemosha is a slave she moves from plantation to a ship dreaming of freedom and being reunited with her family. She's such a brave character, ready to learn and to save everyone.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is brilliant, she did all the voices in different accents. Fantastic.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros:
-Enjoyable and gripping read with a fast-pace
-Quicker novel with an interesting voice for the protagonist
-Great and interesting on the historical side with amazing Sapphic rep!
Cons:
-Would've appreciated us to see Kemosha improve her swordsmanship as opposed to see it happen 'off-screen'
-Similarly, little more development of Kemosha and Isabella
Overall: Interesting and thrilling YA novel perfect for anyone who likes pirates and historical fiction :)

[Bryony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to as an audiobook. strong story and really loved the empowered female lead. Addressed a lot of important topics surround slavery and what occurred during that time. Really enjoyed the relationship between kemosha and isabella. Thought the pacing was well thought out too, nothing felt like it went too slow. I did struggle slightly with how good kemosha got with her sword but maybe the time frame in the book was longer than i remember.