Tales from the Isle of Spice

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

The three stories in this collection of folk tales were originally
published individually, each to high acclaim. “The Nutmeg Princess”
celebrates the fruitful abundance of the island of Grenada and the spice
for which it is known. Children are the heroes of this tale, which
teaches that belief in yourself makes all things possible and that those
with purity of heart will be rewarded with protection and prosperity.
“La Diablesse and the Baby” features an island folk character who
appears to be a very beautiful woman, except that she is hiding a cloven
hoof under her long skirts, as well as an evil intent—she tries to
steal babies away from their families. Clearly the love and protection
of one’s family is what keeps children safe from such threats.
“Freedom Child of the Sea” describes the horrors of the slave trade
period. A child of oppression and cruelty, who carries the scars of that
painful time and can never forget, becomes an angel of the sea so that
he can rescue innocent souls.

The tales work extremely well as a collection, since are all set on the
island of Grenada. In addition, they share a sense of the island’s
possibility for magic, as well as its underlying potential for tragedy.
Each of the tales has mystery and suspense—things are not what they
seem to be—and the discovery of the truth is a source of wisdom. The
themes are serious, but the author’s style is clear and easily
accessible to young readers. The whimsical but shadowy illustrations
nicely unify the tales with a consistent style and aura of mystery.
Recommended.